Jamaican Order of Merit

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

The Order of Merit is part of the Jamaican honours system and is the third highest honour conferred by the nation of Jamaica. The Order of Merit is conferred upon Jamaicans or on distinguished citizen of another country who has achieved eminent international distinction in the field of science, arts, literature or any other endeavour. The award can be held by no more than 15 living persons.^[1] Members and Honorary Members of the Order are entitled to wear the insignia of the order as a decoration and to be styled as The Honourable. In addition, they can append the postnominal 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, however this role was taken over by the Order of Excellence in 2003.^[2]

Recipients

Living

• Fidel Castro^[3]
• Anthony Chen (2008) ^[4]
• Jimmy Cliff (02003-10-20 October 20, 2003) ^[5]
• Dr. Albert Belville Lockhart: co-inventor of Canasol ^[6][7]
• Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre ^[3]
• Mervyn Morris ^[8]
• Sir Shridath Ramphal^[3]
• Edward Robinson (2008) ^[4]
• M. G. Smith^[3]
• Derek Walcott^[3]
• Professor Manley Elisha West: co-inventor of Canasol ^[6][9]
• Sir Willard White (2000) ^[10]
• Dr. Cicely Williams^[3]

Deceased

• Roland Alphonso
• Louise Bennett-Coverley (2001) ^[11]
• Rev. William Knibb^[3]
• Dr. Thomas Lecky^[3]
• Edna Manley (1980) ^[12]
• Michael Manley^[3]
• Bob Marley (01981-04-20 April 20, 1981) ^[13]
• Herb McKenley (2004) ^[14]
• Rex Nettleford ^[15]
• Mary Seacole^[3]
• Sir Philip Sherlock (1989) ^[16]
• M. G. Smith (1972) ^[17]
• Carl Stone (1993) ^[18]

References

General

• Order of Merit, Office of the Prime Minister.

Inline

1. ^ "Jamaica hails heroes today", The Jamaica Observer, October 21, 2002.
2. ^ Chancery of the Societies of Honour - Ensuring that Jamaicans are Rewarded for Excellence Jamaican Information Service, retrieved January 8, 2007
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "Order of Merit (OM)", Government of Jamaica (Office of the Prime Minister), 2008.
4. ^ ^{a b} Manning, Gareth. "Glory for ordinary heroes", The Jamaica Gleaner, October 21, 2008.
5. ^ "Jimmy Cliff, OM - Singer receives Ja's third highest honour; Baugh, Harding, Hendrickson, Miller get OJ", The Jamaica Observer, August 7, 2003.
6. ^ ^{a b} Brady, Pete. "http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/59.html", Cannabis Culture magazine, January 16, 2000.
7. ^ 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
8. ^ "103 for national awards", The Jamaica Gleaner, August 6, 2009
9. ^ 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
10. ^ "White heads list with OM", The Jamaica Observer, August 7, 2000.
11. ^ "Jamaican folklorist Miss Lou dies at 86", CBC News, July 27, 2006.
12. ^ Scott-Williams, Tamara. "The courthouse burned, but the art lives", The Jamaica Observer, March 4, 2007.
13. ^ "Jamaican honour for Marley home", BBC News, February 8, 2006.
14. ^ Davidson, Taneisha. "Honour to whom honour is due.", The Jamaica Observer, October 17, 2004.
15. ^ Taylor, Dr. Orville. "Dutty tuff!, The Jamaica Gleaner, July 30, 2006.
16. ^ "Sir Philip Manderson Sherlock (1902-2000)", The National Library of Jamaica.
17. ^ "Michael G. Smith, 71, Anthropology Teacher", The New York Times, January 7, 1993.
18. ^ "Ailing Pollster's Contributions Are Recognized", The Miami Herald, February 25, 1993.