Professor Abraham Anthony Chen and Professor Edward Robinson (right) will both be conferred with the Order of Merit, the third-highest honour in Jamaica. - file photos

The venue for the National Honours and Awards ceremony, which is to be held this morning, has been shifted from King's House to the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew. This is due to unpredictable weather. October is one of Jamaica's rainiest months.

Guests should be seated by 8 a.m.

The venue was also switched to the sports centre last year as a result of uncertain weather conditions.

A total of 128 outstanding Jamaicans, who have contributed to nation building, will be recognised.

Order of merit

Heading the list of recipients this year are Professor Abraham Anthony Chen and Professor Edward Robinson, who will be conferred with the Order of Merit, the third-highest honour in Jamaica, for their distinguished contribution to the field of climatology and the fields of geology, oceanography, and environmental science, respectively.

Meanwhile, six persons will receive the Order of Jamaica for their outstanding contribution to education, health, business and philanthropy, religion, the public service and the legal profession.

They are Professor Barbara Evelyn Bailey for distinguished contribution to education and gender studies, Professor John Peter Figueroa for outstanding service in the field of epidemi-ology and in the development of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programme, Ronald Henriques for service in the legal profession, the Very Reverend Father Richard Ho Lung, OD, for outstanding service to religion and the care of the poor, Michael Lee Chin for outstanding service in business and philanthropy and Danville Walker for outstanding public service.