Top things to know
- Ten Jamaicans living in the United States and Canada were recognised at the National Honours and Awards ceremony at King's House on October 19.
- The number of diaspora recipients increased by four in 2026 compared with the previous year.
- Elaine Grant-Bryan, Jamaica's honorary consul to Atlanta, received the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for service to the diaspora.
- Donette Chin-Loy Chang, based in Canada, received the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the country's fourth-highest national honour.
- Health figures among the honourees include Dr Evan Dale Abel, chair of the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Claudette Powell, chair of the Jamaica Diaspora Health Task Force.
Ten Jamaicans living in the United States and Canada were recognised across diverse fields at the National Honours and Awards ceremony at King's House on October 19, with the number of diaspora recipients rising by four compared with last year.Elaine Grant-Bryan, Jamaica's honorary consul to Atlanta since 2018, was awarded the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for service to the diaspora. She said the growing presence of diaspora figures among the honourees sends a clear message to Jamaicans abroad.“I believe it's good for the diaspora to see that we are included. This is an award that's usually given to Jamaicans in Jamaica, so for those of us in the diaspora it will encourage us to work even harder. It's a positive movement,” Grant-Bryan said.Donette Chin-Loy Chang, who is based in Canada, received the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the country's fourth-highest national honour. The Government cited her contribution to nation-building in Jamaica and Canada.Among those awarded the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) were Don Topping for his contribution to Jamaica's broadcasting industry; Dr Evan Dale Abel, chair of the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, for his contribution to medicine in endocrinology; and Dr Wesley Junior Hall, chancellor of the University of Toronto, for his contribution to nation-building in Jamaica and Canada.Officer Class awardees included Gary Williams, founder and chairman of Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO); Claudette Powell, chair of the Jamaica Diaspora Health Task Force; Karl Hale, for contribution to philanthropy and sports; and Susan Wendy Hart for contribution in philanthropy and community development.Roy Walters, known as DJ Roy, received the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for his contribution to broadcasting.The recognition of Powell, who chairs the diaspora health task force, and of Dr Abel, a leading endocrinologist, places health expertise among the fields honoured this year. The awards span broadcasting, medicine, philanthropy, sport and community development, reflecting what the Government described as contributions to nation-building both in Jamaica and abroad.Grant-Bryan framed the expanded diaspora contingent as part of a broader shift in how contributions from Jamaicans overseas are viewed at home. The increase of four diaspora recipients over the previous year was confirmed in the awards reporting.Details of the full national honours list beyond the diaspora recipients named were not included in the available reporting.