by Linda Straker
- James was recently conferred Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from The UWI
- 11 people will be honoured on Independence Day in accordance with 2007 National Honours and Awards Act
- James will be awarded Knight Grand Cross for distinguished and outstanding service to Grenada
As of 7 February 2025, Grenada’s Olympian Kirani James, recently conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from The University of the West Indies, will add Sir to his name. James is one of 11 people who will be honoured on Independence Day in accordance with the 2007 National Honours and Awards Act.
James will be awarded with the Knight Grand Cross for distinguished and outstanding service to Grenada. According to the First Schedule, Section 4, under the sub-heading “The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation” of the legislation, “The grade of the Knight or Dame Grand Collar, Knight or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame Commander shall confer the style, title and dignity of Sir or Dame for life and the spouses of such Knights shall be accorded the style title of Lady for life.”
The SRO with the people who will be awarded on Independence Day was published in the 31 January 2025 edition of the Government Gazette, a requirement in the National Honours and Awards Act. Under the “Nomination and Conferment of an award of Order” section, “Any person may submit to the Committee for its consideration and recommendation a nomination of a person for an award of the Order.”
The advisory committee shall consider nominations and conduct investigations it deems necessary before submitting its recommendation to the Prime Minister, who shall review the recommendations and advise the Governor-General for the conferment of awards.
The recommendations made to the Governor-General must be announced publicly and be published in the Government Gazette.
The other 10 are Dr Nicholas Earle Brathwaite for distinguished achievements that have brought international prestige to Grenada. He will receive the Companion of the Order of Grenada. This is awarded to any individual whose distinguished achievements have brought international prestige to Grenada.
Gloria Payne Banfield will be honoured with the title of Dame Grand Commander. This award is to an individual who has rendered distinguished and outstanding service to Grenada. Payne Banfield is a former diplomat and cabinet secretary.
The Order of Grenada Gold Award will be awarded to Vyra McQueen for exemplary and outstanding service to Grenada. This is awarded for excellent, exemplary, and outstanding service to Grenada, tending to promote unity in Grenada or between Grenada and any other country. McQueen is a former teacher and Grenada’s Ambassador to Cuba.
The Spice Isle Award will go to Shirley Robinson and Michael Darbeau for emulative service in Culture. This is awarded for truly emulative service to Grenada in any field of human endeavour or for other humane actions. The Spice Isle Award is awarded only in Silver and to a maximum of 2 citizens of Grenada in any year.
The Camerhogne Award will go to David Edwards and Francis Urias Peters for meritorious service. The Camerhogne Award, only in Silver, may be awarded to any individual who has rendered meritorious service to Grenada in furtherance of national prestige or for gallantry and to a maximum of 2 citizens of Grenada in any year.
The Medal of Honour will go to Zaid Azam Rahaman, Beverley Grey and Anselm LaTouche for meritorious and productive service in Business. According to the legislation, the Medal of Honour may be awarded to any person for meritorious and productive service to Grenada in any field of human endeavour, including but not limited to agriculture, business, sports, and environmental protection. The medal may be awarded only in Bronze and to a maximum of 3 citizens of Grenada in any year.
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