MEMBERS of the public have been invited to nominate outstanding citizens for admittance to the national honour societies, Jamaica House said Monday.

Categories to which members of the public have been invited to make submissions are: The Order of Merit; Order of Jamaica; Order of Distinction and Badges of Honour for gallantry, long and meritorious service, and long and faithful service.

Nominations must be received by the Chancery of the Order of the Society of Honour, Jamaica House, no later than March 31, 2012. The approved list will be published on Independence Day.

"While the awards programme has naturally admitted many internationally recognised persons such as Ambassador Usain Bolt for achievements in sport; and the St Lucian poet and Nobel Laureate, Derek Walcott, who did some of his writing in Jamaica, thousands of persons whose outstanding contributions may only be known locally have been recognised for their service to agriculture, public service, social work and teaching," a Jamaica House press release said.

Persons who are deceased can also qualify for national honours and awards.

"Each year the public celebrates with persons whose selfless acts are recognised with the Medal of Honour for Gallantry. Recent awardees include Colin Anthony Foster who, at eight years of age, rescued his grandmother from a burning house; and Dr Warren Jengelley and Eric Spence who acted selflessly after the tragic December 2008 crash in the Rio Grande Valley.

"Female bus operators of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, Diana Getfield-Martin and Annette Howard also received gallantry awards for heroic actions while on duty. Getfield-Martin avoided a collision, saving many lives in Half-Way-Tree. Howard received international recognition for transporting survivors of a commercial airplane after a crash on the Palisadoes Road," the release said.

Nomination forms are available from mayors, custodes, organisations assigned to ministries such as the Jamaica Library Service and the parish councils; organisations associated with ministries such as professional organisations and voluntary organisations and overseas missions.

The form can also be downloaded from the Office of the Prime Minister website www.opm.gov.jm.

Nomination forms must supply data on the nominees including a brief biographical outline, including achievements or details of service rendered.

Citizens other than Jamaicans can be nominated, but the Government of Jamaica must get approval of the relevant Commonwealth or foreign government.

Nominations for National Hero are not by public submission, but by deliberations by a committee of Parliament.