Six Outstanding Jamaicans to Be Conferred with OJ on Oct. 19

Six outstanding Jamaicans will receive the nation’s fifth highest honour, the Order of Jamaica (OJ), at the 2026 Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 19.

They are the former Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles; Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, MP; Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Group Jamaica, Christopher Zacca, CD; Philanthropist, Donette Chin-Loy Chang; former Minister of Government, Maxine Henry-Wilson, CD; and former Minister of Government, Derrick Smith, CD.

They will be among the 140 Jamaicans who will be recognised for their sterling contribution to nation-building. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on the lawns of King’s House, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Twenty-five persons will be conferred with the Order of Distinction (in the rank of Commander [CD]; 41 with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer [OD]; 33 with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service {BH(M)}; and 30 with the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.

Three civilians will receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry {BH(G)}. They are Danielle Anna-Marie Barnswell and her husband, Councillor Scean Barnswell, and Susan Annmarie Higgins.

As customary, several members of the unformed groups will be awarded with the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service – 25 from the Jamaica Constabulary Force; the Department of Correctional Service, 13; the Jamaica Fire Brigade, 15; and the Jamaica Defence Force, 12.

The ceremony, to be presided over by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, will be streamed live on the JIS’s website at www.jis.gov.jm.

Guests attending the function should be seated by 8:30 a.m.

Under the National Honours and Awards Act, promulgated on July 18, 1969, provision is made for those outstanding Jamaicans to be conferred with one of the honours of the Orders of the six Societies of Honour.

The six honours are Order of National Hero, Order of the Nation, Order of Excellence, Order of Merit, Order of Jamaica and the Order of Distinction. There is also the Medal or Badge of Honour, which recognises gallantry and meritorious service.