Jamaican-American singer and civil rights hero Harry Belafonte (Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.) will be the sole recipient of the Order of Merit at this year’s National Honours and Awards ceremony.
His award will be for outstanding contribution in the field of music.
In total, 130 individuals will be recipients of national honours and awards at this year’s ceremony, which will be held at King's House on October 15.
Godfrey Dyer, Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica National Group Earl Jarrett:, singer/song writer Grace Jones;,and Giuseppe Francesco Maffessanti will be conferred with the Order of Jamaica.
Mr. Maffessanti will be recognised for his exceptional contribution to the construction industry, soical development, welfare and philanthropy.
Among those who will be recognised with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander are Michael Ammar Junior; Olympian Alia Atkinson; Mayor of Montego Bay Homer Davis; Justices Courtney Daye and Leighton Pusey; Trade Unionist Senator Kavan Gayle; Jamaica's high commissioner to the United Kingdom Seth George Ramocan and Jamaican American Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.
Some of the recipients of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer will be Radio Broadcaster Dermot Hussey; cultural commentator Barbara Blake-Hannah; writer/storyteller Joan Andrea Hutchinson, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Novelette Grant and Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry Dr Grace McLean.
RJR's Donovan Dacres will receive the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service to the music industry.
Gallantry
Nine individuals will be honoured for gallantry.
Among them are three persons who showed courage and heroism during the fire at the Walker's Place of Safety in St. Andrew on January 16 this year will be among the nine recipients of the Badge of Honour for Gallantry.
Grace Allen and Kimani Anderson will be awarded for ensuring the safety of residents at the place of safety in the joint effort to rescue those trapped by the fire.
Selana Reid will be awarded for alerting other children and ensuring the safety of residents at the facility.
Meanwhile, Sophia Cameron; Verlyn Douse and Camille McIntosh will be recognised for saving the lives of twenty-two infants during a fire at the Neonatal Care Unit of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.
The fire in October 2014 was caused by an electrical short circuit in one of the air conditioning units.
Jevon Lewis; Lloyd Nelson and Aristel St. Joy will be recognised for rescuing six persons who were trapped in a building during heavy rains in St. James.
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