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- Six Jamaicans will receive the Order of Jamaica at the 2026 Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards at King's House.
- The OJ recipients are Richard Byles, Daryl Vaz, Christopher Zacca, Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Maxine Henry-Wilson and Derrick Smith.
- The ceremony begins at 9:00 am on the lawns of King's House and will be presided over by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.
- Twenty-five people will receive the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander, 41 in the rank of Officer, 33 the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service and 30 the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.
- Three civilians will receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry, while uniformed groups will be awarded the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service.
Six Jamaicans are to receive the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation's fifth highest honour, at the 2026 Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards at King's House on Monday.The OJ recipients are former Bank of Jamaica Governor Richard Byles; Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Daryl Vaz; Sagicor Group Jamaica Chief Executive Officer Christopher Zacca; philanthropist Donette Chin-Loy Chang; former Government minister Maxine Henry-Wilson; and former Government minister Derrick Smith.The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am on the lawns of King's House and will be presided over by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.According to the published honours list, 25 people will be conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander; 41 with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer; 33 with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service; and 30 with the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.Three civilians are to receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry: Danielle Anna-Marie Barnswell and her husband, Councillor Scean Barnswell, as well as Susan Annmarie Higgins.Members of the uniformed groups will also be awarded the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service — 25 from the Jamaica Constabulary Force; 13 from the Department of Correctional Service; 15 from the Jamaica Fire Brigade; and 12 from the Jamaica Defence Force.The National Honours and Awards Act, promulgated on July 18, 1969, provides for outstanding Jamaicans to be conferred with one of the honours of the Orders of the six Societies of Honour. The six honours by rank are 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 of Honour and Badge of Honour, which recognises gallantry and meritorious service.