In a landmark decision, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that Jamaica’s beloved cultural icons, Louise "Miss Lou" Bennett-Coverley and Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, will be the first Jamaicans to be conferred with the prestigious Order of National Icon. This new honour, recently established to recognize extraordinary contributions to the country's cultural heritage, is set to further immortalize the legacies of these two titans of Jamaican culture.
In his 2024 National Heroes’ Day message, Holness underscored that this recognition comes after much deliberation. The government has completed the preliminary work to introduce the new national honour and will move forward with the legal process for conferment once all the steps are finalized.