Veteran dancehall entertainers Moses ‘Beenie Man’ Davis and Rodney ‘Bounty Killer’ Price are among 150 Jamaicans being bestowed with national awards as Jamaica celebrates its 62nd anniversary of Independence.
Both Davis and Price, long-time rivals turned friends, are being hailed for their contribution to the development of Jamaican music and specifically dancehall and are to join the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer.
Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, who is currently at the Paris 2024 Olympics in France, is being honored with membership in the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander for his exceptional achievements in athletics at the World and Olympic levels.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang are among eight Jamaicans receiving membership in the Order of Jamaica, the nation’s fourth highest national honor.
The two are being awarded for outstanding contribution to public service and politics, with Chang serving over 31 years in representational politics and 22 years as a government minister and Bartlett 38 years and 21 years, respectively.
The category also includes Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, Professor Wendel Abel, philanthropist and businessman Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, businessman William Shagoury, Lyttleton ‘Tanny’ Shirley and business executive Senator Don Wehby.
At the same time, 30 Jamaicans have been honored with membership in the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander, including Supreme Court Justice David Batts for his contribution to the development of the judiciary and Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake for outstanding service to national security and public safety.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health & Wellness Dunstan Bryan; Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) President Professor Andrew Spencer; Commissioner of Customs Velma Ricketts Walker; and Reverend Gary Harriott are also among the awardees.
The late Daniel Dawes, former CEO of the Universal Service Fund, has been awarded posthumously with membership in the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer.
Dawes, Constituency Development Fund head Kedesha Campbell Rochester, Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club veteran coach Paul Francis, and Dr Paul Wright are among 38 Jamaicans also awarded in that category.
Professor Randolph Henry and Jermaine Hurst are the only two Jamaicans awarded with the Badge of Honor for Gallantry this year.
On September 11, 2019, Henry, while travelling along Red Hills Road in St Andrew, saved the life of a man who had been shot multiple times, by rendering assistance until the police and ambulance services arrived.
Hurst, meanwhile, is reported to have demonstrated exceptional courage and compassion in preventing a potential victim attempting suicide.
A Medal of Honor for Gallantry has been posthumously awarded to Constable Ricardo Fairclough who is reported to have, earlier this year, displayed great courage in the face of extreme danger.
Fairclough is said to have gone above and beyond the call of duty, to challenge an armed man who shot and injured a vendor in St Ann on April 15.
Fairclough was shot during an ensuing gun battle and later died in hospital.
The Badge of Honor for Meritorious Service has been awarded to 35 Jamaicans, including Senior Medical Officer at Bellevue Hospital Dr Myo Kyaw Oo.
Oo has given 33 years of service in the field of psychiatry at the hospital.
Thirty-six Jamaicans have been awarded the Badge of Honor for Long and Faithful Service. Among them is Ainsworth ‘Big A’ Higgins for 34 years of service to the broadcasting industry.
The awardees are to be presented with their honors during a ceremony at King’s House in October on National Heroes Day.
