National Awards (CAP. 289 1

CHAPTER 289

THE NATIONAL AWARDS ACT

Arrangement of Sections
Section

1. Short title.
2. Establishment of the Order of Antigua and Barbuda.
3 . Members of the Order.
4. Constitution of the Order.
5. Rules.

SCHEDULE.

NATIONAL AWARDS

AN ACT to establish a system of national awards for
the purpose of according recognition to citizens of Antigua
and Barbuda and other persons for distinguished or
meritorious service or for gallantry.

1. This Act may be cited as the National Awards Act. short title.

2. There is established and constituted a society of Establishment of
the Order of

honour to be known as the "Order of Antigua and Barbuda" Antigua and
(in this Act referred to as "the Order"). Barbuda.

3. The Order shall consist of the Governor-General g,"~' the
of Antigua and Barbuda and such members as the Governor-
General shall in accordance with the Constitution of the
Order from time to time appoint.

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Constitution of
the Order. 4. T h e Order shall be governed by the Constitution

of the Order of Antigua and Barbuda set out in the Schedule.

Rules. 5. The Governor-General may make rules as may
appear to him necessary and expedient for the better carry-
ing out of the provisions or purposes of this Act.

SCHEDULE (Section 4)

The Constitution of the Order of Antigua and Barbuda

1. (1) The Order of Antigua and Barbuda, hereafter referred to as "the
Order" shall consist of the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and the
members and honorary members of the Order.

(2) Every citizen of Antigua and Barbuda to whom the Order of the Nation,
the Order of Distinction, Order of Honour or the Order of Merit is awarded
is a member of the Order.

(3) Every person other than a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda to whom the
Order of Distinction, Order of Honour and the Order of Merit is awarded on
an honorary basis is an Honorary Member of the Order.

2. The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda shall, by virtue of that
office, be the Chancellor of the Order.

3. The Chancellor is charged with the administration of the Order.

4. The Senior Executive Officer to the Governor-General shall be secretary
to the Order and shall maintain the records of the Order, arrange for investitures
and perform such other functions in respect of the Order as the Governor-General
may require him to perform.

5 . The Governor-General may appoint such other officials for the Order
as may be necessary.

6. (1) There shall be a National Awards Committee for the Order
(hereinafter called "the Committee") comprising seven members appointed by
the Prime Minister, so however, that one shall be a Senator nominated by the
Senate and two shall be members of the House of Representatives nominated
by the House, one of whom shall be a member of the opposition.

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National Awards (CAP. 289 3

(2) The appointment of a member to the National Awards Committee shall
be for a period not exceeding three years, but a person whose appointment expires
shall be eligible for reappointment.

(3) The Prime Minister shall appoint-

(a ) a Chairman of the National Awards Committee from amongst the
members thereof; and

(6) a secretary to the Committee.

(4) The quorum of the Committee shall be five members.

(5) Any expenses incurred by the Committee in the performance of its functions
shall be paid out of funds provided for the purpose by Parliament.

7. The Committee shall:
(a ) consider nominations of persons for national awards together with

recommendations and supporting materials received by the Committee for
awards of the Order of the Nation, the Order of Distinction, Order of Honour
and Order of Merit;

(b) compile separate lists in respect of the Order of Antigua and Barbuda
and of each medal of those nominees to whom an award may be made;

(c) forward to the Prime Minister the lists compiled pursuant to paragraph
(6) together with its recommendations respecting awards;

(6) advise the Governor-General in respect of any other matters con-
cerning the Order referred to it by the Governor-General for consideration.

8. A person shall not be a member or honorary member of the Order by
reason only of the fact that he is a member of the Committee or an official of
the Order.

9. Any person or organisation may submit to the Committee for its con-
sideration a nomination of a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda for an award of
the 0,rder of the Nation, the Order of Distinction, the Order of Honour or the
Order of Merit.

10. (1) Awards of the Order of the Nation, the Order of Distinction, the
Order of Honour and the Order of Merit shall be made by Instrument signed
by the Governor-General and sealed with the Seal of the Order and shall have
effect from the date of the affuring of the Seal unless another effective date is specified
in the Instrument.

(2) The power conferred on the Governor-General shall be exercised by him
on the advice of the Prime Minister given after consideration of the recommenda-
tion of the National Awards Committee.

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CAP. 289) National Awards

(3) Only citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are eligible for the Order of the
Nation.

(4) Only persons other than citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are eligible
for the award of the Order of Distinction, the Order of Honour or the Order
of Merit on an honorary basis.

(5) Any distinguished citizen of a country other than Antigua and Barbuda
whom Antigua and Barbuda desires to honour may be awarded the Order of
Distinction, the Order of Honour or the Order of Merit on an honorary basis.

(6) Awards of the Order of Distinction, the Order of Honour and the Order
of Merit to persons other than citizens of Antigua and Barbuda shall be made
on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Order of the Nation

1 . The Order of the Nation may be awarded in connection with the Order
of Antigua and Barbuda to any person who has rendered heroic service to Antigua
and Barbuda.

(2) The Order of the Nation may be awarded posthumously but a deceased
recipient does not become a member of the Order.

(3) The Order of the Nation shall be awarded in gold.

(4) The Governor-General may award the Order of the Nation to a maximum
of two persons in 1987 and one person in any year thereafter.

The Order of Distinction

12. (1) The Order of Distinction may be awarded in connection with the
Order of Antigua and Barbuda to any person who has rendered distinguished
and ourstanding service to Antigua and Barbuda.

(2) The Order of Distinction may be awarded posthumously but a deceased
recipient does not become a member of the Order.

(3) The Order of Distinction shall be awarded in gold.

(4) The Governor-General may award the Order of Distinction to a maximum
of five persons in 1987; and three persons in any- year thereafter.

The Order of Honour

13. (1) The Order of Honour may be awarded in connection with the Order
of Antigua and Barbuda to any person who has rendered devoted and loyal beneficial

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National Awards (CAP. 289 5

service to Antigua and Barbuda in any field of human endeavour or for gallantry
or other humane action.

( 2 ) The Order of Honour may be awarded posthumously but a deceased
recipient does not become a member of the Ord,er.

(3) The Order of Honour shall be awarded in gold, silver or bronze in accord-
ance with the Committee's assessment of the level of service rendered by the
recipient.

(4) The Governor-General may award the Order of Honour to a maximum
of eight persons in 1987; and four persons in any year thereafter.

The Order of Merit

14. (1) The Order of Merit may be awarded in connection with the Order
of Antigua and Barbuda to any person who has rendered meritorious service to
Antigua and Barbuda.

( 2 ) The Order of Merit may be awarded posthumously, but a deceased
recipient does not become a member of the Order.

(3) The Order of Merit shall be awarded in gold, silver or bronze in accord-
ance with the Committee's assessment of the level of service rendered by the
recipient.

(4) The Governor-General may award the Order of Merit to a maximum
of ten persons in 1987; and five persons in any year thereafter.

Termination of Membership in the Order

15. A person ceases to be a member or honorary member of the Order
upon-

(a) his death;

( b ) his resignation from the Order, which must be in writing and which
shall have effect on the date it is accepted by the Governor-General;

(c) the revocation of an award by the Governor-General on the advice
of the Prime Minister.

Designations

16. (1) A person to whom the Order of the Nation is awarded, is entitled-
(a) to have the letters "ON" placed after his name on all occasions when

the use of such letters is customary; and

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(6) wear as decoration the insignia prescribed by the Governor-General
acting on the advice of the Cabinet for the recipient of the Order of the Nation.

(2) A person to whom the Order of Distinction is awarded is entitled-

(a) to have the letters "OD" placed after his name on all occasions when
the use of such letters is customary; and

(6) to wear as a decoration the insignia prescribed by the Governor-
General acting on the advice of the Cabinet for recipients of the Order of
Distinction.

(3) A person to whom the Order of Honour is awarded is entitled-

(a) to have the letters "OH" placed after his name on all occasions when
the use of such letters is customary; and

(6) to wear as a decoration the insignia prescribed by the Governor-
General acting on the advice of the Cabinet for recipients of the Order of
Honour.

(4) A person to whom the Order of Merit is awarded is entitled-

(a) to have the letters "OM" placed after his name on all occasions
when the use of such letters is customary; and

(b) to wear as a decoration the insignia prescribed by the Governor-
General acting on the advice of the Cabinet for recipients of the Order of Merit.

17. (1) When worn in Antigua and Barbuda the Order of the Nation shall
be worn on the left breast and takes precedence over all other decorations.

(2) When worn in Antigua and Barbuda the Order of Distinction shall be
worn on the left breast immediately after the'order of the Nation (moving from
right to left) and in front of all other decorations.

(3) When worn in Antigua and Barbuda the Order of the Honour shall be
worn on the left breast immediately after the Order of Distinction and in front
of all other decorations.

(4) When worn in Antigua and Barbuda the Order of Merit shall be worn
on the left breast immediately after the Order of Honour and in front of all other
decorations.