The process of awarding national honours to Jamaicans and foreign nationals will be the subject of review by a special committee chaired by Professor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies, Rex Nettleford.

The committee had its first meeting, at Jamaica House on Thursday, with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who said a review of the criteria for award was timely, based on concerns raised from time to time in the public domain.

Restrictive

Mr. Golding said the revised criteria should not be so restrictive that the selection committee has a difficulty naming persons for award of national honours, but stated that the process needed 'tightening up,' including a decision on the number of awards that can be conferred, in order to guarantee their value.

The committee is expected to make a report to the Prime Minister by March for inclusion in the consideration of this year's national honours and awards that are to be presented at King's House on National Heroes Day.