Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

( L - R ) Allwood-Anderson, Blair

AT LEAST one of the most recent recipients of a national honour has said the award has given her the drive to do more for her country.

President of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ), Edith Allwood-Anderson, who was last year awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD) - the nation's fifth-highest honour - told The Gleaner yesterday that she has been inspired to continue her work as a servant of the nation.

"It's a great honour," Allwood-Anderson said. "It feels good to be recognised by your country for work done and it makes you feel like you must do your best for your country."

Allwood-Anderson, however, said that while the award has not changed who she is as an individual, she has noticed that people in some sectors do regard her differently.

Admiration regionwide

"People tend to hold you in high esteem and they see you as a person of worth when they know you've being given a national honour," said the head nurse, who was also recently appointed a justice of the peace.

The accomplished nurse, who is also currently contesting the presidency of the International Council of Nurses, said the admiration has been extended to the wider Caribbean.

"I recently visited Guadeloupe and even individuals outside of Jamaica were impressed with the honour," she said. "People all around have shown their appreciation; it's like you suddenly become a celebrity," she said.

Bishop Herro Blair, who was presented with the Order of Jamaica (OJ) during last year's Hero's Day celebrations, said while the award is well appreciated, it has not affected him much.

"People often believe that honours change you. They sometimes even expect you to live a different lifestyle," said the pastor of almost 40 years. "But for me, I'm still Brother Blair to many people, and that suits me just fine."

Blair, who is Jamaica's political ombudsman and chairman of the Peace Management Initiative, pledged to continue to fulfil his spiritual mandate for church and country with humility.

Business as usual

Head of the department of psychiatry at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, Dr Wendel Abel, said for him it was business as usual despite receiving the Order of Distinction.

"It was a very moving experience to be recognised by my country, but the work continues," he said.

The Jamaican Govern-ment is expected to announce this year's recipients of national honours on Independence Day. The honours will be presented in October on Hero's Day.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com