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