Order of Distinction

The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (The National Honours and Awards Act) in 1968. The motto of the Order is "Distinction Through Service".

The Order of Distinction is conferred upon citizens of Jamaica who have rendered outstanding and important services to Jamaica, or to distinguished citizens of a country other than Jamaica. The former are made Members of the Order, and the latter are made Honorary Members.

The Order has two ranks: the higher class of Commander, and the lower class of Officer. Commanders take place and precedence immediately after Members and Honorary Members of the Order of Jamaica. A Member or Honorary Member may be promoted from the rank of Officer to that of Commander.

Commanders of the Order of Distinction are entitled to use the post-nominal letters CD in the case of Members, or CD (Hon.) in the case of Honorary Members. Officers of the Order of Distinction are entitled to use the post-nominal letters OD in the case of Members, or OD (Hon.) in the case of Honorary Members.

Art

 * Carl Abrahams
 * Gloria Escoffery
 * Christopher González

Theatre

 * Patrick Brown

Education

 * Heather Little-White

Journalism

 * Charles Kinkead

Law

 * Lloyd Stanbury

Medical

 * Gwendolyn Spencer

Music

 * Ernest Ranglin
 * Prince Buster
 * Alton Ellis
 * Ken Boothe
 * Jah Jerry Haynes
 * Carl Brady
 * Lloyd Brevett
 * Lennie Hibbert
 * Olive Lewin
 * Burning Spear
 * Roland Alphonso
 * Tommy McCook
 * Lee "Scratch" Perry
 * Phil Chen
 * Gregory Isaacs
 * Derrick Morgan
 * Rexton Gordon "Shabba Ranks"
 * Steven Woodham
 * Sean Paul
 * Rita Marley
 * Judy Mowatt
 * Chris Chin
 * Yellowman
 * Wayne Marshall (Wayne Mitchell)
 * King Jammy
 * Mighty Diamonds
 * Lord Creator

Politics

 * St. William Grant
 * Gladstone Mills
 * Arthur Henry Winnington Williams

Social work

 * Hazel Monteith
 * Noel Earl Alexander

Sport

 * Jimmy Adams
 * Gerry Alexander
 * Simone Edwards
 * Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
 * Chris Gayle
 * George Headley
 * Merlene Ottey
 * Stafanie Taylor
 * Theodore Whitmore
 * Arthur Wint
 * Elaine Thompson-Herah
 * Shericka Jackson

Art

 * Gene Pearson
 * Trevor Rhone

Journalism

 * Ian Boyne

Broadcasting

 * Newton James

Communication, media, education and culture

 * Fae Ellington
 * Daphne Elaine Innerarity
 * Cynthia Reyes
 * Madge Sinclair

Tourism and the Hotel Industry

 * Adam Stewart

Economics

 * George Beckford
 * Brian Wynter

Law

 * Shirley Miller
 * Paula Llewellyn

Music

 * Coxsone Dodd
 * Millie Small
 * Bob Andy
 * Sonny Bradshaw
 * Dennis Brown
 * Tommy Cowan
 * Marcia Griffiths
 * John Holt
 * Byron Lee
 * Duke Reid
 * Shaggy
 * Lloyd Hall
 * Delroy Wilson
 * Monty Alexander
 * Barry Moncrieffe
 * Phyllis Dillon

Politics

 * Patrick Allen
 * R. James deRoux
 * Neville Eden Gallimore
 * Douglas Saunders
 * Ransford Smith
 * Clifford Everald Warmington
 * Audley Shaw
 * Fenton Ferguson

Sport

 * Alia Atkinson
 * Usain Bolt
 * Veronica Campbell-Brown
 * Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
 * Deon Hemmings-McCatty
 * Shericka Jackson
 * Asafa Powell
 * Donald Quarrie
 * Molly Rhone
 * Khadija Shaw
 * Elaine Thompson-Herah