Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda)

Most Distinguished Order of the Nation
Star of a Knight or Dame Commander
Awarded by Antigua and Barbuda
Type	Order of chivalry
Motto	True, Brave and Free
Eligibility	Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and citizens of other countries
Awarded for	Distinguished and outstanding service to Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom region or to the international community
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Master	Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Collar (KGN/DGN) Knight/Dame Grand Cross (KGCN/DGCN) Knight/Dame Commander (KCN/DCN) Commander (CN) Officer (ON) Member (MN)
Statistics
Established	26 February 1987
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the National Hero
Next (lower)	Order of Merit
Ribbon of the Order of the Nation

The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation is an Antiguan and Barbudan order of chivalry recognising distinguished and outstanding service to Antigua and Barbuda, the Caricom region or the international community. Originally established by the National Awards Act 1987, that act was repealed and the order was re-established and constituted by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda under the National Honours Act 1998 which received Royal Assent from the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda on 31 December 1998.

The Order of the Nation was first established and constituted by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda under the National Awards Act 1987 on February 27 1987. The order initially had only one grade, with the post-nominal of ON. At the time, it was the highest award of the honours system of Antigua and Barbuda and was awarded for, "heroic service to Antigua and Barbuda."

The National Awards Act 1987 was repealed and the Order was re-established and re-constituted under the National Honours Act 1998, which was amended in 2000, 2001, and 2015. Persons who were members of the Order before the 1998 Act came into force became Knights or Dames Grand Cross of Order. The award criteria was changed to be "distinguished and outstanding service to Antigua and Barbuda."

The Order is composed of the Grand Master and six classes of members, in descending order of precedence, as follows:

The Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda is ex officio Grand Master of the Order. Ordinary Members of the order are citizens of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the Sovereign, the Sovereign's Consort, and the Heir to the Throne. Citizens of other countries may be admitted to the order as members ad honorem.

Appointments of new Knights and Dames Grand Collar, Officers and Members have now been discontinued.

The Order has five officers who compose the Chancery of the Order, as follows:

Appointments to the Order are made by the Grand Master on the advice of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and the Honours Committee established under the 1998 Act. The Honours Committee consists of a person appointed by the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, two Members of the Senate of Antigua and Barbuda and four Members of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. The Governor General appoints the Chairperson of the Honours Committee from amongst its members.