Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the government’s decision to initiate a formal review of the process for the selection of candidates for National Honours and Awards (NHA).

A statement from the OPM says a broad-based review committee to be announced shortly will be responsible for recommending changes. The review committee will comprise representatives from state, government, opposition, and civil society.

The Prime Minister has written to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen to advise him of the appointment of the review committee.

The review committee will, examine among other things, the existing process for the selection of candidates to be recommended for appointment to the national orders, and to advise on action to be taken to strengthen same establishment of such criteria that would guide, justifiable, merit-based selection, including the number of candidates to be awarded in each category, recommendation of systems of deeper due diligence and more robust vetting of shortlisted candidates.

It will also look at recommendation of a methodology to foster and promote public awareness regarding the established and acceptable criteria to submit nominations for appointment to the national orders the committee will conduct its review over a period of eight months and will report its findings to the Cabinet.

The National Honours and Awards Act provides for the nomination of persons for appointment to the respective orders, and their selection should ultimately represent the nation’s recognition of those who, by their service and contribution, have had a meaningful and significant impact on national life.

OPM says periodic reviews of the process are important to ensure the efficacy of the overall system of National Honours and Awards, and to make recommendations for policy or procedural changes to align National Honours and Awards with Jamaica’s development goals, current realities, and spirit of the NHA.