GREGORY ISAACS, BUNNY RUGS, AND SHABBA RANKS, TO GET JAMAICA’S NATIONAL HONORS (ORDER OF DISTINCTION) OCTOBER 17!

Former Cabinet minister Dr Ken Baugh is among five Jamaicans who have been appointed members of the Order of Jamaica, the island’s fourth- highest national honor.

The others are Dr Wayne Boxer, who will be honored for services to the National Gallery of Jamaica and the development of the arts; Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer for her contribution to health and welfare and her work with senior citizens; Professor Renn Holness for his work in the field of medicine; and Ambassador Anthony Johnson for “distinguished national service in the public and private sector and for his contribution to the Jamaica foreign service”, the notice by the Chancery of the Orders of the Societies of Honor in yesterday’s Observer stated.

Dr Baugh retired from active politics on February 25, the day of the last General Election. He had served as Member of Parliament for St Catherine West Central for several years and as minister of health and minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade.

The National Honors and Awards ceremony will be held on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 17 on the lawns of King’s House, the official residence of the governor general of Jamaica.

Among those appointed as members of the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) are chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International and the Jamaica Observer Adam Stewart, for outstanding service to tourism and the hotel sector; veteran medical practitioner Dr Granville Smith; popular ophthalmologist Dr Donovan Calder; Supreme Court judge Lennox Campbell; music industry businessman Christopher Chin; chief executive officer of the National Works Agency Everton ‘EG’ Hunter; businessman Joe Issa; protocol consultant Merrick Needham; former Speaker of the House of Representatives Michael Peart; Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson; general manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Marlene Street Forrest; broadcaster Cliff Hughes for work in media; and Basil Barrington Watson for services in the field of art.

Senior Jamaica Observer photojournalist Michael Gordon has been rewarded with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for his outstanding work in the field of photojournalism in a career that has spanned over 45 years.

The late journalists Glenroy Sinclair and Gary Spaulding, who both worked at the Gleaner newspaper, were honored posthumously with the Order of Distinction. Sinclair and Spaulding died within a day of each other in early June.

Also to receive the Order of Distinction are architect and community activist Errol Alberga; former Third World reggae band member William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke, who is being honored posthumously; New York-based gynaecologist Dr Millicent Comrie, sister of former Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament Dr Fenton Ferguson, who is being recognized for her contribution to medicine and family life; reggae artiste Rexton Gordon; popularly known as “Shabba Ranks”; another reggae great Gregory Isaacs, who is being recognized posthumously; Para-Olympic official Neville Sinclair; and veteran Jamaica Olympic Association executive Compton Rodney for service to sports.

The badge of honor for gallantry will go to Orlando Brown, who saved a boy from drowning in the Sandy Gully on October 5 last year, and Antini Henderson, who saved her mentally challenged sister from a raging fire on January 2 this year.