The long-awaited date for the interment of the body of reggae legend Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert at National Heroes Park in Kingston was announced on the weekend. Toots will be laid to rest on Sunday, November 15, exactly one month after a thanksgiving service was held and an interment at Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine had to be abandoned because the burial order could not be found.
Toots’ body will be interred next to that of another reggae icon, Dennis Emanuel Brown, in the last burial spot left in the area reserved in the park for the burial of cultural icons.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange revealed in a press release that a tribute concert, ‘Toots – Farewell to a Cultural Icon’, will be broadcast live on PBCJ, other broadcast media platforms, and will also be streamed worldwide on several social media platforms on November 15.
“It has been a very intense and sensitive process getting to this point. But thankfully, we’re now at a place where Jamaica can give one of her favourite sons the send-off he earned and deserves,” Grange stated.
Members of the public will be afforded an opportunity to pay their last respects at two public viewings which, Minister Grange emphasized, will be conducted under strict COVID-19 protocols. The first viewing is set for next week Wednesday, November 11 at the Anglican Church Hall, May Pen, Clarendon, and the second takes place on Friday, November 13 at the National Arena in Kingston. The viewings will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“I am encouraging all Toots fans and all Jamaicans in general to utilise the opportunities provided to pay their final respects to him but to do so safely, bearing in mind the COVID-19 protocols, particularly around the restrictions on mass gatherings,” the minister stressed.
The grave-digging process has already begun. On Thursday, The Gleaner team ran into Anchard Anderson, who was on-site at Heroes Park, digging a grave right beside the spot where Dennis Brown is interred. Anderson told The Gleaner that he was preparing the ground to received the remains of the reggae legend.
TRAVEL THROUGH TREADLIGHT DISTRICT
The funeral coach bearing the remains of the cultural icon will also drive through the community of Treadlight district in Clarendon, where he was born. Toots’ nephew, Wilbert Hibbert, told The Gleaner on Sunday that he spoke for the family in Treadlight when he said that he was “giving God thanks for the work he has done so far”. Wilbert and the relatives, including Toots’ only living sibling, a sister, had been fasting and praying that their beloved son would have been given a funeral in keeping with his stature as an artiste who has been a musical ambassador for Jamaica for 60 years, and who is acknowledged to have coined the word ‘reggae’ with his song, Do the Reggay.
“Right now, I am going with the flow,” a pleased Wilbert said.
Minister Grange, while not giving details, said that there will be a 90-minute television programme featuring several of Jamaica’s leading artistes paying their respects by performing their favourite Toots songs. Those who are not able to perform will record testimonials of their admiration and interaction with the late singer.
Toots passed away on September 11 following complications due to the COVID-19 virus.
SOURCE: Jamaica Gleaner
