THE Government on Saturday named 143 Jamaicans who will be presented with national honours and awards at King’s House on National Heroes’ Day in October.

Ten individuals will be invested with the nation’s fourth-highest honour, Order of Jamaica (OJ). They are:

* Double Olympic and multiple world 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for outstanding performance in the field of athletics at the international level;

* Culture, Entertainment, Sports and Gender Minister Olivia “Babsy”Grange for sterling contribution to cultural development and political administration in Jamaica;

* Renowned jazz pianist Monty Alexander for sterling contribution to the promotion of Jamaican music and the jazz genre interpretations globally;

* Late business stalwart and founder of Jamaica Money Market Brokers Ltd Joan Duncan for distinguished services to banking and development of the money market in particular;

* Retired Justice Karl Harrison for distinguished service to the legal profession and the advancement of electoral democracy;

* Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan for pioneering research, clinical work and policy development in the field of child health, development and behaviour;

* Professor Alvin Wint for distinguished service to the development of public and private institutions and academia in Jamaica;

* Rita Humphries Lewin for sterling contribution to the financial sector, in particular the stockbroking industry;

* Permanent Secretary Audrey Sewell for distinguished service to the public service; and

* Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose award is categorised as honorary, for sterling contribution as an actress and cultural ambassador for Jamaica and for contribution to the international film industry.

Thirty Jamaicans are being invested with Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander. Among them are Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, who has been pivotal in the island’s fight against COVID-19; Olympian Shericka Jackson; businessman and chief executive officer of Seprod, Richard Pandohie; educator Esther Tyson; St Mary Central Member of Parliament Dr Morais Guy; Jamaica Labour Party MP for St Catherine South Western Everald Warmington; and acting president of the University of Technology, Jamaica, Professor Colin Gyles.

Jamaica Observer Executive Editor, Publications Vernon Davidson will also be invested with Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander for outstanding contributions in journalism; while other journalists to be honoured are Western Mirror publisher and Observer columnist Lloyd B Smith, who will receive the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer for service in the field of business, media and community service; Gleaner photographers Ian Allen and Rudolph Brown who will receive Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service.

Dancehall artiste Agent Sasco, whose real name is Jeffrey Campbell, will be among 35 recipients of the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer.

A total of nine Jamaicans — seven civilians and two policemen — will also receive the Badge of Honour for Gallantry.