Sir Ramez Hadeed, UK Philanthropist David Harrison and retired nurse Ann Edwards are recipients of the country’s highest honours announced during yesterday’s Ceremonial Parade and National Awards Ceremony as part of the country’s 41st anniversary of Independence.
They were listed among twelve Antiguans and Barbudans and one institution that were singled out for their contributions in several key areas of national development in four categories of the honours system, namely The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation, The Most Illustrious Order of Merit, The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage and The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (Institutional).
Hadeed and Harrison were conferred with the title Knight Grand Cross, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (KGCN), while Mrs. Ann Matilda Sophia Edwards was made Dame Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (DCN).
Sir Ramez was recognised for his four decades of unbroken service in the Diplomatic Corps, David Harrison for distinguished and outstanding contribution to national development and Ann Edwards for distinguished and outstanding contribution in nursing and community service.
The other recipients were honoured for their services in education, labour relations, calypso, pan, national security and community service.
They are:
Bernadette Sherman (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation); Joseph Hughes-Pinder (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation); former Labour Commissioner Dr. Austin Josiah (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation) and Wigley George, president of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation); Former Commissioner of Police Edric Potter (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation); Trevor Simon (Commander, The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation); Ogliver ‘Destroyer Snr.’ Joseph (Grand Cross, The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage); Patrick Gomes (Grand Cross, The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage) and Veronica Gordon (The Most Illustrious Order of Merit).
The institutional honour was awarded to the Empire Football Club (The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage-Gold).
An investiture ceremony is expected to be held sometime next year at Government House at which time medals will be distributed to the awardees.
