THE EDITOR, Sir:
RADICAL REFORM in the National Honours system could make it an instrument to promote inclusiveness, motivate the nation and allow it to become genuinely national.
If you happen to have chosen (or had no other option but) to work in the uniformed services (army, police, nursing, fire, prison and the like), or in the Civil Service (including teaching, trade unionism and politics), then you have the best odds of getting National Honours. Moreso than any of your peers at school or university who made career choices in other areas of the national labour force and the wider society.
The odds of your becoming a National Hero in occupations outside of politics, trade unionism and social activism are minuscule. The odds of your achieving high honours in these areas, at the policy levels and for long service, are good. The odds are not so good for those in innovation, invention, change, development; in the sciences, and trades, the professions, intellectual discipline and those jobs that execute, implement and underpin development.
As it stands now most people do not feel that they could be considered for honours. When honours time comes around, most people begin to think of those they know "on the inside" and look for those persons' names. The challenge for the reformers will be to engage the broad society, and connect the modest job, performed well, "sweep streets like Bob Marley made music," to the motivational cutting edge. The person will then be wondering, "will my name be there this year?"
The National Honours system must become part of the tool kit for development. The effect of intelligent reforms on national performance could be quite significant.
I am, etc.,
FRANKLIN JOHNSTON
Kingston 4
