Dear Editor,

Ralston Nunes’ observations in a letter to the editor titled ‘Are the right people being awarded’ in the October 28 edition of the Jamaica Observer struck a resonant chord with many Jamaicans who believe the integrity of the national awards system has weakened over time.

His concern that political influence may have compromised merit-based recognition is neither unfounded nor cynical, it reflects a deep yearning for fairness and transparency in how we celebrate national service.

It is important, however, to acknowledge that Jamaica’s honours framework already provides for public participation. The Office of the Prime Minister publishes an annual National Honours and Awards Nomination Form, accessible to all citizens through its official website. The 2025 form, for instance, invites anyone to recommend a candidate, provide a summary of his/her achievements, and submit nominations by March 31, 2025. This process operates under the National Honours and Awards Act, 1969, which mandates an Advisory Committee to investigate and recommend suitable honourees.

Still, the mere existence of a nomination form does not guarantee public confidence. The vetting criteria are not widely published, nominators are seldom informed of outcomes, and the number or diversity of nominations remains undisclosed. In effect, the process is open in form but opaque in function. This opacity sustains the perception that political prominence rather than public service too often guides the final list of honourees.

To preserve the moral weight of these awards, reform must go beyond ceremony. Jamaica would benefit from clearly defined and publicly accessible criteria; annual reports on nominations and selections; and broader civic education encouraging community groups, schools, and parishes to nominate citizens of proven integrity. Such transparency would honour the intention behind former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall’s call for a more structured, standards-driven system.

Our national honours should not simply decorate success, but affirm service, sacrifice, and selflessness. By widening participation and making decisions visible we strengthen not only the credibility of the awards but the very fabric of our nation’s gratitude.

Dudley McLean II

dm15094@gmail.com