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150 Outstanding Jamaicans to Receive National Honours and Awards This Year

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Seaton Richards

Kingston, Jamaica, August 7, 2024 – One hundred and fifty Jamaicans will this year be recognised by the Government  with honours and awards for outstanding service in various fields.

These will be bestowed on them during the annual investiture ceremony on National Heroes Day in October.

Heading the list of honourees is Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, CD, who is one of eight individuals to be conferred with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), for invaluable contribution to the field of tourism, promoting human resource sustainability, and climate resilience.

He is also being recognised for 40 years in the public service, including more than 38 in representational politics and 21 years as a government minister.

Other notable Jamaicans being bestowed with the OJ are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, for outstanding contribution to public service and politics, including more than 31 years in representational politics and 22 as a government minister; Professor Wendel Abel, OD, for outstanding and invaluable contribution to psychiatry, particularly in the area of mental and community health; and Gary “Butch” Hendrickson, CD, for sterling contributions to entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Rosalee Marshall

Others shortlisted for the nation’s fifth highest award are Her Excellency Audrey Marks, for outstanding service to the Government and people of Jamaica in her contribution to economic development, promotion of social development enterprises, and nation-building; Hon. William Shaghoury, CD, for contribution in business development, philanthropy and community development; Lyttleton “Tanny” Shirley, CD, for sterling contribution to the public and private sectors; and Senator Donald Wehby, CD, for sterling contribution to business and entrepreneurship.

Thirty persons will be conferred with the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander [CD]; 38, the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer [OD]; two, the Badge of Honour for Gallantry {BH (G)}; 35, the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service {BH(M)}; and 36, the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service {BH (L)}.

Among the awardees are several Jamaica Information Service (JIS) team members.

The OD will be bestowed on L. Seaton Richards for 50 years of dedicated contribution to Media Production in Television Broadcasting at the JIS.

The Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service will be presented to Dave Reid for contribution to photography and photojournalism, and Rosalee Ann Marshall for dedicated and distinguished service to the Public Sector. The Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service will be presented to Maxine Shrouder for 40 years of service in the field of communication and media through the JIS.

Meanwhile, the Medal of Honour for Gallantry will be awarded posthumously to Police Constable Ricardo Fairclough, for displaying great courage in the face of extreme danger.

He went above and beyond the call of duty to challenge an armed man

Maxine Shrouder

who shot and injured a vendor in St. Ann on Monday, April 15, 2024.

During an ensuing gun battle, Constable Fairclough was shot and later died in hospital. His action in saving the life of the vendor is deemed heroic.

Under the National Honours and Awards Act, promulgated on July 18, 1969, provision is made for outstanding Jamaicans to be conferred with one of the Orders of the six Societies of Honour.

The six honours are the Order of National Hero, Order of the Nation, Order of Excellence, Order of Merit, Order of Jamaica and the Order of Distinction.

There is also the Medal or Badge of Honour, which recognises gallantry and meritorious service.

 

Contact: Latonya Linton

Release: JIS

 

CAPTIONS:

Seaton – Seaton Richards will receive the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD) for dedicated contribution of 50 years to Media Production in Television Broadcasting at the Jamaica Information Service.

Rosalee – Office Manager, Jamaica Information Service, Rosalee Marshall, is to receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for dedicated and distinguished service to the Public Sector.

Maxine – Senior Photo Librarian, Jamaica Information Service, Maxine Shrouder, is to receive the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service of 40 years in the field of communication and media.

 

JIS File Photos

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Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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