NOMINATIONS have started to come in for the 2012 Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to Jamaica, which closes on June 29.

The medal, according to Jamaica House, is a signal of honour recognising service by persons nominated by the people of Jamaica. It added that a reflection of past nominees has shown that the calibre of the award with nominees regarding it as truly an honour worth receiving. A number of the past nominees, Jamaica Hosue said, are still giving service to the country.

“In this 50th year of our political independence, it is important that we celebrate the people who have helped to build our country, many of whom are unsung heroes in their communities, here and abroad,” Jamaica House quoted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

When it was first issued in 1983 as a part of the Jamaica 21 celebrations, the award was for outstanding community service. The committee chairman, the late journalist Hector Wynter, oversaw the selection of the distinguished recipients then.

Honourees in the first edition included several well-known names in the field of communication and culture: record music producer, Christopher Blackwell; journalists Ken Chaplain and the late Wilmot Perkins; radio playwright, Elaine Perkins; theatre practitioners Gerald ‘Buddy’ Pouyatt and the late Lloyd Reckord. Other awardees were art educator Queenie Nembhard and music educators, Geoffrey Shields and Marjorie Whylie.

The scope of service which the committee now considers have since been expanded to recognise persons who would have given significant contribution to the economic, social, cultural, or political development of Jamaica or to Jamaicans residing abroad.

In the 2003 edition, more than 30 recipients received the award for community service and community development. They included ceramic artist, Gene Pearson; cultural activist, Tony Laing; environmental activist, Marguerite Gauron; broadcaster, Norma Brown Bell; and the Rev Don Taylor, who was the Vicar Bishop of the city of New York, for his services to the diaspora.

The medal is also awarded to organisations. In 2003, the Salvation Army received the award for community service and community development; the Gleaner company, for services in the field of communication; and for supporting access to financial services, the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union. In the field of Industry: Wray and Nephew Limited; Pickapeppa Company Ltd and GraceKennedy were awardees in that year.

In 2008, the medal was awarded to members of the Beijing Olympics team including coaches, officials and athletes, including Usain Bolt.

Since the announcement of this year’s awards, much interest has been shown with nomination forms being requested by individuals, public bodies, diplomatic and trade missions as well as communities within the Diaspora and civic groups. Forms are also available online.