LONDON – A number of Caribbean nationals have been recognized in the just released Queen’s New Years Honors list for 2012.  Here is a full list of Caribbean recipients of the New Year Honours 2012.

Antigua and Barbuda

ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE

CMG

• Dr Carl Roberts. For public service.

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE

• Winston Anthony Bailey. For services to Music.

MBE

• Vaughan Walter. For services to Cultural Arts.

Belize

CBE

• The Honourable Bernard Quentin Augustus Pitts. For his contribution to the Law and Public Service.

MBE

• Ms Anne Rebecca Gillett-Elrington. For services to the Belizean Diaspora and Medicine.
• Mrs Louise Bridget Lewis. For services to Education and to Community Development.
• Ludwig Lightburn. For services to Sports and to the community.
• His Worship Simeon Lopez, JP. For his contribution to Education and Public Service.
• Mrs Enelda Rosado. For services to Education and to Community Development.

Grenada

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE

• Raymond Noel. For public service.

MBE

• Lennon Mapson. For services to Agribusiness.
• Llewellyn George Smith. For services to broadcasting.

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL

BEM

• Bertrand John. For services to Agriculture.

Saint Christopher and Nevis

OBE

• Mrs Morlene Eselin Whittaker. For Public Service.

MBE

• Mrs Henrietta Dorothea Hector. For Public Service.
• Mrs Theresa Richardson. For services to Education and Public Service.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE

CMG

• Mrs The Honourable Judith Stephanie Jones-Morgan. For services to the   administration of Justice and the development of Law.

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

OBE

• Mrs Nicole Jacintha Bonadie-Baker. For services to education and the   community.
• Godfred Timothy Pompey. For his contribution to National Security and Public   Service.

MBE

• Herman Louis Belmar. For services to education and the environment.
• Murray Seyon Hadaway. For service to business and the community.
• Dwight Derrick Lewis. For services to the development of the Cadet Force and   Disaster Preparedness.

Honours Explained

British honours are awarded on merit, for exceptional achievement or service.

Anybody can recommend a British national for an honour.  Nominations are assessed by eight committees comprising both senior civil servants and independent experts. Their assessments are passed to a selection committee that produces the list that is submitted to the Queen through the prime minister. The Queen formally approves the list of recipients. The honours are published in the official Crown newspaper, the London Gazette.

Knights Bachelor

The honour of knighthood comes from the days of medieval chivalry, as does the method used to confer the knighthood: the accolade, or the touch of a sword by the Sovereign.

Although Knights Bachelor do not comprise an order of chivalry, knighthood is a dignity which has its origins in Britain in Saxon times. They are styled “Sir” (except for clergymen who do not receive the accolade) and their wives “Lady”.

Women receiving the honour are styled “Dame” but do not receive the accolade.

Order of St Michael and St George

This Order was founded by King George III in 1818 and is awarded to British subjects who have rendered extraordinary and important services abroad or in the Commonwealth. Ranks in the Order are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight or Dame Commander (KCMG or DCMG) and Companion (CMG).

Orders of the British Empire

King George V in 1917 created these honours during World War 1 to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and servicemen in support positions.

The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service or other distinctions and has a military and a civil division. Ranks in the Order are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE).

Source: BBC. Additional editing by Caribbean Elections Team.