Order of Merit (Jamaica)

The Order of Merit is part of the Jamaican honours system, and it is the fourth-highest honour awarded by the nation of Jamaica. The Order of Merit is conferred upon Jamaicans or distinguished citizens of other countries who have achieved international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavour.^[1] The award can be held by no more than 15 living persons.^[2] It is not given to more than two people in any one year.^[1]

Order of Merit
Awarded for	Eminent international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavour
Presented by	Jamaica
Eligibility	Citizens of Jamaica and foreigners
Post-nominals	OM
Motto	"He that does truth comes into the light"
Status	Currently awarded
Ribbon of the order
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Excellence
Next (lower)	Order of Jamaica

Members and Honorary Members of the order are entitled to wear the insignia of the order as a decoration and to be styled "The Honourable". In addition, they can append the post-nominal letters OM to their names, or OM (Hon.) in the case of Honorary Members. The order's motto is "He that does the truth comes into the light."

The Order of Merit was originally one that was awarded to foreign heads of state, but this function was taken over by the Order of Excellence in 2003.^[3]

Recipients

Source:^[4]

Living

• Donald Jasper Harris (2021)^[5]
• Orlando Patterson (2020)^[6]
• Anthony Abraham Chen (2008)^[7]
• Jimmy Cliff (October 20, 2003)^[8]
• Gerald Lalor^[9]
• Albert Belville Lockhart, co-inventor of Canasol^[10][11]
• Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre^[12]
• Mervyn Morris^[13]
• Sir Shridath Ramphal^[12]
• Edward Robinson (2008)^[7]
• Sir Willard White (2000)^[14]

Deceased

• Bunny Wailer^[15]
• Louise Bennett-Coverley (2001)^[16]
• William Knibb (1845) ^[12]
• Thomas Lecky^[12]
• The Most Honourable Edna Manley (1980)^[17]
• The Most Honourable Michael Manley^[12]
• Bob Marley (February 1981)^[18]
• Herb McKenley (2004)^[19]
• Rex Nettleford^[20]
• Mary Seacole (1990, posthumously)^[21]
• Sir Philip Manderson Sherlock (1989)^[22]
• M. G. Smith (1972)^[23]
• Carl Stone (1993)^[24]
• Peter Tosh (2012, posthumously)^[25]
• Cicely Williams^[12]
• Fidel Castro^[26]
• Sir Derek Walcott^[12]
• Manley Elisha West, co-inventor of Canasol^[10][11]

References

1. "National Awards of Jamaica". Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
2. "Jamaica hails heroes today". The Jamaica Observer. October 21, 2002. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007.
3. "Chancery of the Societies of Honour - Ensuring that Jamaicans are Rewarded for Excellence". Jamaican Information Service. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
4. Order of Merit (OM)", Government of Jamaica (Office of the Prime Minister), 2008. Archived December 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
5. "Prof Donald Harris, father of US vice president, to receive Jamaica's third highest honour". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
6. Balford, Henry (August 7, 2020). "Orlando Patterson heads list of national honours awardees for 2020". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
7. Manning, Gareth (October 21, 2008). "Glory for ordinary heroes". The Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.
8. "Jimmy Cliff, OM - Singer receives Ja's third highest honour; Baugh, Harding, Hendrickson, Miller get OJ Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine", The Jamaica Observer, August 7, 2003.
9. "Order of Merit to Prof Lalor National honours and awards list revealed", The Jamaica Observer, August 7, 2019.
10. Brady, Pete (January 16, 2000). "Ganja medicine in Jamaica". Cannabis Culture magazine. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011.
11. M E West and J Homi. "Cannabis as a medicine." Br. J. Anaesth. (1996) 76(1): 167 doi:10.1093/bja/76.1.167-a
12. "Order of Merit (OM) Archived 2009-12-06 at the Wayback Machine", Government of Jamaica (Office of the Prime Minister), 2008.
13. "103 for national awards", The Jamaica Gleaner, August 6, 2009 Archived June 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
14. "White heads list with OM", The Jamaica Observer, August 7, 2000. ^{[dead link]}
15. "Bunny Wailer to receive membership in Order of Merit today". October 16, 2017.
16. "Jamaican folklorist Miss Lou dies at 86", CBC News, July 27, 2006. Archived June 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
17. Scott-Williams, Tamara. "The courthouse burned, but the art lives", The Jamaica Observer, March 4, 2007. Archived March 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
18. David Vlado Moskowitz (2007). Bob Marley: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 132. ISBN 978-0275989354. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
19. Davidson, Taneisha (October 17, 2004). "Honour to whom honour is due". The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on November 28, 2009.
20. Taylor, Dr. Orville. "Dutty tuff! Archived 2007-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, The Jamaica Gleaner, July 30, 2006.
21. Mary Seacole Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, National Library of Jamaica, retrieved February 5, 2012.
22. "Sir Philip Manderson Sherlock (1902-2000) Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine", The National Library of Jamaica.
23. "Michael G. Smith, 71, Anthropology Teacher", The New York Times, January 7, 1993.
24. "Ailing Pollster's Contributions Are Recognized", The Miami Herald, February 25, 1993.
25. Bonitto, Brian (2012) "Tosh gets OM", Jamaica Observer, 7 August 2012, retrieved 7 August 2012.
26. Order of Merit Archived 2015-03-22 at the Wayback Machine, Office of the Prime Minister.

External links

• Official website