Order of Distinction (Bahamas)

The Order of Distinction is an honour that can be given by the government of the Bahamas. It was founded in 2016.[1]

Order of Distinction
Awarded by the Governor-General of the Bahamas
Type	Order of chivalry
Status	Currently constituted
Chancellor (ex officio)	Governor-General of the Bahamas
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Excellence
Next (lower)	Order of Merit

THE NATIONAL HONOURS REGULATIONS 2017

The National Honours Regulations 2017 were tabled in Parliament in December 2017 to enable the appointment of an advisory committee to make recommendations to Prime Minister and Governor General of those who are worthy of a national award. The development of a Bahamian system of national honours will greatly enhance the ability to recognise a wider cross section of citizens who offered exemplary public, national and community service.

The advisory council will comprise ten people recommended by the prime minister and various other offices designated by the National Honours Act 2016. They will investigate to determine upon whom an honour should be bestowed. All awards will be announced by July 10 each year and conferment of all honours will take place the second Monday in October annually. The first honourees of the system were conferred on National Heroes Day 2018. “The National Honours system is a means of expressing the gratitude of a nation for those who have given valuable service. Such a system serves as an inspiration for the nation including our children and young people.

“National Honours also serve as inspiration for current and future generations to give service to the nation and to set noble goals for themselves, their local communities and their nation.”

The National Honours include:

The Order of National Hero,

The Order of the Nation,

The Order of The Bahamas,

The Order of Excellence,

The Order of Distinction,

The Order of Merit, and

The Order of Lignum Vitae.

Each society will have its own rules, rights, and privileges.

Those in the Order of National Hero will have the title “right excellent” before their name, which may be granted during an individual’s life or after death. The letters “NH” will also appear after their names. Members of the Order of the Nation will be any former governor general, the prime minister or former prime ministers. The title “most honourable” will be present before their names. In the Order of Excellence, membership is restricted to heads of foreign governments and other non-citizens who have given exemplary service to The Bahamas. Those in this order will have “honourable” before their names. The Order of The Bahamas has three ranks of membership: Companion, Officer and Member. A person may be appointed directly to any rank within the order or maybe promoted from one rank to another. A Companion will enjoy before their name the title “Right Honourable,” an Officer “Honourable” and a Member “MB” after their names. When a person is appointed to the Order of Distinction, there will also be three ranks: Companion, Officer and Member. Individuals here may also be appointed directly to any rank within the order or maybe appointed from one rank to another. The same applies to the Order of Merit. Those honoured with the Order of Lignum Vitae will have the letter “LV” after their names. There are the Distinguished Service Medals in honour of exceptional service by Bahamians serving in Public Service, Military Service, Police, Fire and Prison Services and Uniformed Services.

The following privilege of the following Orders to place the letters after their names:

ORDER OF NATIONAL HERO – N.H.

ORDER OF THE NATION – O.N.

ORDER OF THE BAHAMAS COMPANION – C.B. OFFICER – O.B. MEMBER – M.B.

ORDER OF EXCELLENT – O.E.

ORDER OF DISTINCTION COMPANION – C.D. OFFICER – O.D. MEMBER – D.M.

ORDER OF MERIT COMPANION – C.M. OFFICER – O.M MEMBER – M.M.

ORDER OF LIGNUM VITAE – L.V

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2018

The award of Order of Distinction also includes three ranks of membership and the following have been appointed at the levels of Companion, Officer, or Member.

A Companion is entitled place the letters "C.D." after their name;

An Officer is entitled to place the letters "O.D." after their name;

A member is also entitled to place the letters "D.M." after their name. The names of the persons set out below shows the level of the Order to which they are appointed as well as the applicable title and post-nominal. Persons awarded this Honour are recognized for the exemplary service provided to The Bahamas.

The names of the persons set out below shows the level of the Order to which they are appointed as well as the applicable title and post-nominal.

COMPANION:

Mrs. Cynthia Pratt, C.D.

Mrs. Anita Bernard, C.D, CMG

Mrs. Eileen Carron, C.D., CMG

OFFICER:

Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, O.D.

Dr. Elwood Donaldson, O.D.

Mr. Lowell Mortimer, O.D., OBE

Mr. Barry Rassin, O.D.

Mrs. Sandra Dean Patterson, O.D.

Dr. Patrick David Roberts, O.D.

MEMBER:

Mr. William Sands, D.M.

Mr. Robert Sweeting, D.M.

The following person have been awarded this Honour Posthumously:

Dr. Bernard Nottage, D.M.

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2019

COMPANION:

Mr. Frank Watson, C.D.

Mr. Orville "Tommy" Turnquest, C.D.

OFFICER:

Mr. Keith Vere Mason Sr. O.D., LVO, OPM, MBE

Dr. Elwood Donaldson, O.D.

Mr. Frank Rolle, O.D.

MEMBER:

Dr. Gail Saunders, D.M., O.B.E,

Mrs. Angela Missouri Sherman-Peter, D.M.

Mr. Godfrey Kelly, D.M., C.M.G, M.A., LL.M

Mr. Edward "Dud" Maynard, D.M.

Mrs. Lynn Holowesko, D.M., C.B.E, J.P.

Mr. Norwood Rahming, D.M.

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2020

OFFICER:

Dr. David Allen, O.D.

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2021

COMPANION

Mr. Leon Livingstone Smith, CD

Mr. Smith served as the first Bahamian Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and is being recognized for outstanding leadership and dedicated service to The Bahamas in the area of Law enforcement. Officer

OFFICER

Mrs. Eugenia Cartwright, OD

An outstanding Public Officer of over forty years, Ms. Cartwright has served the Bahamian People with distinction. She retired as Treasurer of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas having served in that capacity for over nineteen years.

Ms. Mary Johnson, OD

Ms. Mary Johnson is being recognized for dedication and exceptional leadership in the field of nursing.

MEMBER

Mr. Robert Sands, DM

Mr. Sands is being recognized for his outstanding leadership and exceptional management skills in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry.

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2022

COMPANION

Dr. Conville Brown, Companion

George Weech, Companion

Neko Grant, Companion

Raleigh Butler II, Companion

Obie Ferguson Jr., Companion

Vylma Thompson Curling, Companion

Paul A. O. Rolle, Companion

Ellison Greenslade, Companion

Anthony Ferguson, Companion

Paul Farquharson, Companion

Reginald Ferguson, Companion

OFFICER

Michael Major, Officer

Ishmael Lightbourne, Officer

Gene Sands, Officer

Dorcena Nixon Rolle, Officer

Dr. Nelson Clarke, Officer

Sybil Curtis, Officer

Celeste Lockhart, Officer

Barbara Cartwright, Officer

Kenrick O. Murray, Officer

Senior Commander Amos Rolle, Companion (Posthumously)

Captain Simpson Penn, Companion (Posthumously)

Persis Rodgers, Officer (Posthumously)

THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION 2023

ORDER OF DISTINCTION - COMPANION

Mr. Admiral Lorenz Ferguson Sr.(Posthumously)

Mr. Alfred Eric Carey

Mr. Amos Ferguson (Posthumously)

Mrs. Andrea Elizabeth Eyvonne Archer

Mrs. Anita Verthia Beneby

Mrs. Barbara Hanna-Cox

Mrs. Barbara Pierre

Mr. Brensil Rolle

Rev. Dr. Carlton Bursil Moss

Commissioner Clayton Leroy Fernander, KPM

Commissioner Bernard Kenneth Bonamy (Retired) (Posthumously)

Commodore Clifford Wellington Scavella (Retired)

Commodore Davy Franklyn Rolle (Retired)

Commodore Tellis Andrew Bethel (Retired)

Commodore Roderick Bowe (Retired)

Commodore Dr. Raymond Emmanuel King

Rev. Edwin Taylor

Mrs. Effie Walkes (Posthumously)

Mrs. Eleanor Philips

Mr. Errison Pallman Johnson

Mr. Errol Winston Bethel, OBE

Mr. Everette Ferguson (Posthumously)

Captain Fernley Arthur Palmer

Ms. Frances Butler (Posthumously)

Pastor Francis Carey III, OBE

Assistant Commissioner Grafton Orlando Ifill Sr. (Retired)

Mr. Harl Joseph Taylor. (Posthumously)

Bishop Helen McPhee

Pastor Henry Carlisle Francis

Hon. Dr. Earl D. Deveaux

Hon Theresa Maria Moxey-Ingraham (Posthumously)

Mrs. Mabel Walker (Posthumously)

Ms. Maria-Teresa Butler

Ms. Marion Stuart (Posthumously)

Mr. Mark Wilson

Mr. McFarlane Anthony Gregory McKay aka Tony McKay (Posthumously)

Mr. Raphael Aguard Munnings

Mr. Ray Minus Jr. (Posthumously)

Mr. Reginald William Eldon

Mr. Reginald Charles Grant (Posthumously)

Mr. Ricardo Pedro Deveaux

Mr. Robert Love (Posthumously)

Dr. Sandra Dean Patterson, OD

Mrs. Shawn M. Turnquest

Mr. Sherlyn Wellington Hall

Mr. Sidney W. Smith

Ms. Sylvia Eujeneth Scriven, OBE

Mr. Theordore Grant Glover (Posthumously)

Mrs. Valerie Trephena Hepburn-Knowles

Ms. Vernice Walkine

ORDER OF DISTINCTION - OFFICER

Mr. Alfred Willliams

Mrs. Anita Elizabeth Collie- Verdecia

Mrs. Diane Holowesko-Dunkley

Mr. Horizal Alex Simmons

Mr. Irvin Montgomery Taylor

ORDER OF DISTINCTION - MEMBER

Mrs. Eulease Cynthia Beneby

Mr. Alexander Doyle Burrows

Mr. David Jabis Knowles

Mr. Fletcher Ferguson

Mrs. Inez Maria Ferguson-Peet

Mr. Kevin Maurice Moss