The Turks and Caicos Islands National Honours and Awards Committee (NHAC) has this week launched the official guidelines for the nomination of persons for the country’s first National Awards Ceremony which will take place in October of each year during National Heritage Month celebrations.
The NHAC, under the chairmanship of Dr. Linda Williams began its work on appointment in 2013 and among its triumphs has seen the ratification of the National Honours and Awards (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 which forms the framework for the recognition of those persons who have made significant and meaningful contribution to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The new award categories and descriptions are as follows:
1 – THE ORDER OF NATIONAL HERO – For extraordinary and outstanding achievement and merit in service to the Turks and Caicos Islands or to humanity at large.
2 – THE ORDER OF TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – For service with distinction in any field of discipline.
3 – THE PATRIOTIC AWARD CAYOS MEDAL – For demonstration of a keen sense of national consciousness and for rendering exceptional sacrificial service to the islands and the people.
3 – THE PATRIOTIC AWARD MOUCHOIR BANK MEDAL – An honourary award for demonstrating a very high regard for national integration and philanthropic contribution to the development of the islands.
5 – THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL – For outstanding and exemplary public service to the islands and its people for a minimum period of twenty years.
6 – THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL – For sacrificial and meritorious service in a field of service that is inherently challenging or for a brave or humane act in the islands or abroad.
7 – NATIONAL YOUNG ACHIEVER’S MEDAL – For Turks and Caicos Islanders between the ages of twelve and twenty-five years who has performed exceptionally well on a national, regional or international level in the areas of culture, academics, performing arts and sports among others.
Persons can be nominated by completing the application forms that are attached to the booklets and returning same to the National Honours and Awards Committee.