Twenty-five years after his murder, Reggae icon Peter Tosh (born Winston Hubert McIntosh) was appointed a member of the Order of Merit (OM) of Jamaica, receiving the country’s third highest national honor and joining Wailers band mate and reggae icon Bob Marley as a recipient. Marley received his honor in April 1981 weeks before his death from cancer.
This is the first national honor for the singer who heads a list of 119 Jamaicans recognized for outstanding contributions to the country on the country’s 50th anniversary of independence, August 6 2012.
The late reggae pioneer who was a member of the original Wailers band left the group before going on to a successful solo career. He was murdered at his home along with two other men in 1987.
Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingstone , the only member of the famous trio still alive, was among 10 Jamaicans appointed as Members of the Order of Jamaica (OJ). He previously had been awarded the Order of Distinction — Commander class (CD).
Another legendary musician, Rainford Hugh Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, recognizebd by many as the creator of dub music, was also awarded the CD.
Also on the OJ list was fellow Jamaican music legend Frederick “Toots” Hibbert.
Retired politicians Enid Bennett and Derrick Rochester; past president of the Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) Howard “Fudge” Aris, who died last November; founder of the charity organisation Food for the Poor, Ferdinand Mahfood; pioneer research scientist Professor Henry Lowe; and Archbishop Emeritus Donald Reece.
A number of other well-known politicians are among the 31 persons who were awarded CDs, including minister of agriculture Roger Clarke, other current parliamentarians such as JC Hutchinson, and Edmund Bartlett, as well as former member of the House of Representatives Abe Dabdoub.
Several giants in the medical field were also awarded in this category including Dr Hazel Chung-Knight, Dr Ray Fraser, Professor Freddy Hickling, Dr Aggrey Irons and Dr Louis Knight; legal luminaries Justice Mahadev Dukharan, Justice Wesley James, Justice Dennis Morrison, Dr Eileen Boxhill, QC, and Howard Hamilton, QC; business leaders James Moss-Solomon and Michele Rollins; Arthur “Tunty” Barrett for his contribution to the cattle industry, and Barry Moncrieffe for his service to the performing arts and the fashion industry.
The 37 persons honoured with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer (OD) include Jamaica’s cricket captain Tamar Lambert; former national footballer and broadcaster Allie McNab; Joy “Mama Joy” Baker for service to the development of the inner cities and the fostering of children; host of the long-running radio programme Sunday Contact, Ralston McKenzie; and founder of the Island Grill restaurant chain, Thalia Lyn.
Also presented with the Badge of Honour for Gallantry is Private Ferdinand Trench for saving the life of a man who fell down a precipice along the Junction main road, St Mary on Independence Day (August 6) last year.
BONUS:
The children and grandchildren of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer were in attendance 2012 Reggae Sumfest. Cousins Cen’C Love (Bunny Wailer’s daughter) and Andrew Tosh (Peter Tosh’s son) performed Tosh’s “Creation” and Bob Marley’s son Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley also satisfied fans who waited into the wee hours of the morning to see his performance. Check their pics below:
Cen’C Love and her son with Andrew Tosh and his daughter
Damian’s mother Cindy Breakspeare holds his son while the ‘Gongzilla’ entertains the crowd!
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