FOR almost 50 years of his life Derrick Smith was involved in service to the country.

From his time in the leadership training organisation known as the Jaycees, to a stint in the Senate, eight terms as a Member of Parliament, several posts in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and numerous Cabinet positions, Smith lived a life dedicated to creating a better Jamaica.

In 2005, Smith was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) in recognition of his long service to politics, and when the national honours and awards list for 2026 was released on Thursday, the now 82-year-old was named one of seven outstanding Jamaicans to be appointed to the Order of Jamaica (OJ).