Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda)
| The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation | |
|---|---|
Awarded by the Queen of Antigua and Barbuda | |
| Type | Royal & National Order |
| Eligibility | Any citizen of Antigua and Barbuda and citizens of other countries |
| Awarded for | Distinguished and outstanding service to the Crown and Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom region or to the international community. |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | HM Queen Elizabeth II |
| Grand Master (ex officio) | Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda |
| Established | 1998 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of the National Hero |
| Next (lower) | Order of Merit of Antigua and Barbuda |
 | |
| Ribbon of the Order | |
The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation is an Order of Chivalry instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in right of Antigua and Barbuda through the National Honours Act which received Royal Assent on 31 December 1998.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Sovereign of the Order in her capacity as Queen of Antigua and Barbuda.[1] and holds the rank of Dame Grand Collar of the Order.
The Order recognises distinguished and outstanding service to the Crown and to Antigua and Barbuda.[2] Nominations and Appointments to the Order are made by The Queen through the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda who acts on the advise of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
The Prime Minister is formally advised by the National Honours Committee which consists of a person appointed by the Governor-General, two person nominated by the Senate and four persons nominated from the House of Representatives. Both members of the government and the loyal opposition are also included and nominations are received from the general public and various government departments.
The National Honours Act was augmented with Royal Assent on 22 November 2001 and since that time honorary appointments to the Order are considered to be substantive. Nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and non-nationals may receive this Order.
The Governor General conducts royal investitures at Government House in St John's. Awards are announced each year on the occasion of the National Day of Antigua and Barbuda - 1 November.
The Order consists of the Sovereign (Queen of Antigua and Barbuda), the Grand Master (Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda), and six grades of members:
- Knight Grand Collar (KGN) or Dame Grand Collar (DGN); - recipient is entitled to prefix the title Sir or Dame
- Knight Grand Cross (KGCN) or Dame Grand Cross (DGCN); recipient is entitled to prefix the title Sir or Dame
- Knight Commander (KCN) or Dame Commander (DCN); recipient is entitled to prefix the title Sir or Dame
- Commander (CN);
- Officer (ON);
- Member (MN).
Much like other royal or national Orders of other Commonwealth realms such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, Knights Grand Collar, Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders are entitled to prefix the title Sir, and Dames Grand Collar, Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commanders to prefix Dame, to their forenames for life.
Wives of Knights may prefix Lady to their surname, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Dames. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. All grades of the Order come with post nominals of their grade and are shown above.
Among recipients of this honour are members of the Royal Family, Presidents, Prime Ministers, senior Diplomats and Sportsmen.
References
- ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda - The Order of the Nation". Royal Collection. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ↑ "AN ACT to amend the National Honours Act.". http://www.laws.gov.ag''. Government Printing Office, Antigua and Barbuda. 27 December 2001. Retrieved 26 November 2011.