Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths and former government minister Audley Shaw lead a field of 125 Jamaicans who were announced on Independence Day as recipients of national honours for 2023.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony at King’s House on October 16, which coincides with National Heroes Day.

Griffiths will be honoured with the prestigious Order of Jamaica for her significant contribution to the Reggae industry both locally and internationally.

Shaw will also receive the Order of Jamaica for his sterling contribution to political administration.

Griffiths received the Order of Distinction (Commander class) in 2014. She was previously awarded the OD (Officer class).

Along with Griffiths and Shaw, two others are set to receive the Order of Jamaica. They are Reverend Howard Gregory, Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies, for service in the field of religion; and Charles Johnston, past president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, for his contribution to Jamaica’s shipping and logistics industry.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Colette Roberts Risden, will receive the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), for outstanding contribution to the public service.

Also among this year’s Order of Distinction (Commander Class) honourees are Professor Newton Duncan for his long and distinguished service in the field of medicine, specifically paediatric surgery; Justices Marcia Dunbar Green, Vivene Harris, Martin Gayle, and Bruce Rattray, for outstanding service to the judiciary; Yohan ‘Yoni’ Epstein, for contribution to the business processing outsourcing sector; Patrick Foster and M. Georgia Gibson Henlin, for contribution to the public service and law; Garth Gayle, for sports; Andrew John Mahfood, for contribution to the manufacturing and distribution sectors; and Mico President Dr Asburn Pinnock, for contribution to academia.

Professor Lloyd Waller will be similarly recognised for his contribution to global tourism resilience and governance.

A total of 27 people will get the Order of Distinction (Commander Class).

Entertainers Omar ‘Tarrus’ Riley and Wayne ‘Marshall’ Mitchell, are among the 36 recipients of the Order of Distinction (Officer Class). Other awardees in the category are entrepreneur and philanthropist Michelle Chong; Jamaica Civil Service Association President O’Neil Grant, for service to the trade union movement and the public service; Earl Moxam, for service in the field of journalism and Justine Henzell, for contribution to the film and television industry and to the literary arts.

Jamaica Observer’s Arthur Hall will also be invested with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for service in the field of journalism.

Two persons will get the Badge of Honour for Gallantry this year.

Twenty-eight persons are to receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service, including former Cornwall College vice-Principal Lorna Rampasard, who is being recognised for service to education, youth and community development.