Governor-General's Achievement Awards honour 39 Jamaicans at King's House

Thirty-nine Jamaicans from the island's 14 parishes were honoured at the 35th staging of the Governor-General's Achievement Awards at King's House in Kingston. The 2026 ceremony recognised recipients in the 18-24, 25-35 and over-35 categories under the theme, "The Power of Us: Where Vision Meets Excellence." The programme began in 1991.

Speaking for the sponsors, Dana Cameron said the theme reflected the way Jamaican excellence is built through families, teachers, mentors and communities working together. She pointed to the national response after Hurricane Melissa as an example of Jamaicans rallying at home and overseas. Sponsors named at the function were Jamaica National Group, RJR Gleaner Group, Victoria Mutual, Jamaica Broilers Group Limited, Flow Jamaica and Darman Trading. Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen said the honourees represented "the very best of who we are as Jamaicans" and repeated that "there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica."

Allen highlighted the work of Westmoreland awardee Jamar Grant, St. Andrew recipient Tiffany Copes and St. Catherine honouree Kadia Anmarie Clare JP. On behalf of the recipients, Dr. Marcia Johnson Campbell of St. James said the awardees came from different fields but shared a commitment to service. She said adversity had refined, not defined, their journeys, and added, "Ubuntu, I am because we are." The ceremony also included performances by eight-year-old Naquin Brown, winner of the 2026 JCDC performing arts music finals, and 2022 Digicel Rising Stars champion Mazine Sutherland.

Cornwall recipients were St. Elizabeth's Lyanna Levy, Ken Lloyd Smith and Dr. Lola Bennett; Westmoreland's Jamar Grant, Melvin Hungan and Ancel Moat; St. James' Fitz Ali Nelson, Janil Makiwan and Dr. Marcia Johnson Campbell; Trelawny's John Civite and Raheem Offender; and Hanover's Teaquan Ellis, Ramona Wilson Grant and Kenisha Pine Palmer JP.

Middlesex recipients were St. Ann's Alexia Booth, Carl Brown and Lindsay Isaacs; Clarendon's Sasha Manning and Michael Thomas; St. Mary's Shaun J. Henry, Desmond Edwards and Dornet Angus Lewis; Manchester's Tashe Ulette, Cashev Shaw and Geneive Newman Borland; and St. Catherine's Joel Shaw, Sasha Williams and Kadia Clare JP. Surrey recipients were Portland's Noni Freeburn, Trudian Miller JP and Raymond Grant JP; Kingston's Rejene Bennett and Janoi Leaf; St. Thomas' Damore McQueen, Felicia Bailey and Clive Anthony Warington; and St. Andrew's Orande Singh, Tiffany Copes and Rona Morgan Burchinson.