By Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
McKenley
LEGENDARY TRACK icon, Herbert McKenley tops the list of 100 persons to receive National Honours and Awards, as published today by the Office of the Prime Minister. The awards will be conferred on recipients on National Heroes Day in October.
Mr. McKenley is the only recipient of the Order of Merit (OM) this year, the third highest award to be given to any Jamaican. He was presented with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the fourth highest award some years ago.
THREE OJs
This year's list of awardees includes three OJs that will be presented to Professor Kenneth Hall, principal of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, for his outstanding contribution to education and regional development. The other two OJs will be presented to Christopher Blackwell, for his philanthropy and outstanding contribution to the entertain-ment industry, and Shirley Miller for her distinguished service in the field of law and her contribution to legal reform.
Among the recipients in the Order of Distinction, Commander class (CD) are Neville Blythe in recognition of his contribution in the fields of business and community development, as well as Cecil (Sonny) Bradshaw, for his contribution in the field of music and entertainment.
Dr. Erna Brodber will also be bestowed with the CD for her contribution in the fields of history, literature and community development. Dr. Mavis Gilmour-Petersen, for her work in the field of medicine and politics and Ryan Peralto, former chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party, are also among the list of persons to receive the CD. Mr. Peralto is being recognised for his over 20 years of service in the legislature and on the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC).
In the category of the Order of Distinction, Officer class (OD), renowned artiste John Holt will be honoured for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music at home and abroad.
Vivalyn Latty-Scott will also be recognised in this category for her contribution to the development and administration of women's cricket in Jamaica and the West Indies. Ambassador Marjorie Taylor is recognised in this category for service to community development and politics and Franklyn St. Juste for his contribution to the development of the film industry in Jamaica.
Two persons will receive posthumous awards under
the Badge of Honour for Gallantry. They are Heron Cousley, who died while saving a fellow scout who was
in danger of drowning on February 2003 at Yallahs, St. Thomas. Jorghinio Johnson is also being honoured for the highest degree of bravery manifested in the same incident where he rescued two fellow scouts who were in difficulty while on his way to rescue another.
BADGE OF HONOUR
Twenty-one persons will be presented with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service and another 19 for the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service in the areas of public service, the field of education and the field of nursing.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson will today host the awardees and other dignitaries at a gala on Jamaica House grounds. Six luminaries will receive the Prime Minister's prestigious Award for Excellence. They are drawn mainly from the field of theatre Father Easton Lee, Marjorie Whylie, Leonie Forbes, Oliver Samuels, Peter Ashbourne and Third World Band.
Performances at the PM's Independence Gala will come from the Area Youth Foundation Players, the University Singers, Geoffery Anderson Gunther, Bello and Blacka, Peter Ashbourne with guests Karen Smith and Boris Gardener, L'Acadco and Third World.
