Late
reggae singer and cultural icon, Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, joins a
select list of distinguished Jamaicans who have been laid to rest within the
hallowed walls of the National Heroes Park in Kingston.
Toots Hibbert – 1942-2020
He died at the
University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew on September 11 at
age 77, after a bout of illness.
On hand to witness the interment
and bid farewell to Mr. Hibbert on Sunday (November 15) were: Minister of
Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange; his widow, Doreen
Hibbert, and family members, as well as friends and well-wishers.
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Sunday’s ceremony featured musical
tributes from well-known members of the local entertainment fraternity, among
them: saxophonist, Dean Fraser; performing arts company, Nexxus; drummer, Bogo
Herman; and singer, Demario McDowell.
The tributes also
included several medleys of Mr. Hibbert’s vast musical repertoire.
The act of committal was undertaken
by Pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston, Rev. Merrick ‘Al’ Miller, and
Dr. Carlene Davis.
In an interview with JIS News,
Minister Grange said Mr. Hibbert stood out as one of Jamaica’s most outstanding
singers, songwriters, performers, patriots, and loyalists, while describing him
as a countryman “who was true to his roots”.
“He
embodies everything that you would look for in a true Jamaican of African
descent. You couldn’t find a warmer person, more loving individual, and a
better human being,” she shared, noting that Jamaica and the world will miss
his unique sound.
“His music is a treasure chest. His
performance is something else. No-one else can perform like Toots. We have some
great artistes, we have some great performers and songwriters. But there is
just nobody like Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert… and I will say that over and over
and over again without apology,” she added.
Ms. Grange urged his family to
honour the name of the cultural icon who has performed outstandingly over the
years.
“He loved everyone and his family has a
responsibility to show that warmth and appreciation to each other and to others
who are not family,” she said.
The Minister commended the medical
team at the University Hospital of the West Indies who attended to Mr. Hibbert
after he fell ill and was admitted.
“I just want to commend them for
all the attention they gave him and all the work that they are doing to keep
other Jamaicans alive and to have them survive this COVID-19 pandemic,” she
said.
Dean Fraser, who spoke with JIS
News, described Mr. Hibbert as “one of the real superstars out of Jamaica”.
“His vocal ability was huge… better
than the rest; and this is a real loss which can’t be replaced,” he shared.
Rev.
Miller said Jamaica has lost an icon who has served Jamaica well, noting that
“he means so much to so many of us all around the world”.
“Let us not just look at the loss; it
is real, it is part of the journey of life. But remember Toots [as] the daddy,
the husband, the brother, the friend who you knew, and remember him for who he
is… and give thanks for his contribution to life,” he said
Mr. Hibbert’s
group, Toots and the Maytals, which was formed in the 1960s, was pivotal in
birthing, shaping and popularising Reggae music.
The group’s 1968
single, ‘Do the Reggay’, was the first song to use the word ‘Reggae’, which led
to the genre’s naming and their subsequent introduction of the music form to a
global audience.
Other popular
songs by the group include ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘Sweet and Dandy’, and
‘Bam’.
The latter two singles
are among the three that propelled the group to the National Festival Song
titles during the competition’s formative years, between 1966 and 1972.
The group topped
the inaugural competition in 1966, with ‘Bam-Bam’, and replicated the feat in
1969 with ‘Sweet & Dandy’, and 1972 with ‘Pomps & Pride’.
Toots and the
Maytals returned to the competition, which became their signature stomping
ground, 48 years after their last triumph to participate in the 2020 edition with
their entry ‘Rise up Jamaica’, which was among the 10 finalists.
Among the other
notable accolades the group earned were: the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Reggae
Album with ‘True Love’, while Mr. Hibbert was recognised by the Government in
2012 with the Order of Jamaica for his contribution to Jamaica’s music.
Mr. Hibbert was
laid to rest beside another globally-acclaimed Jamaica icon, the undisputed ‘Crown
Prince of Reggae’, singer – Dennis Emanuel Brown.
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Montego Bay(JIS) – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the city stands to benefit significantly from hosting the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), slated for July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.
The meeting will bring together regional leaders to engage in high-level policy discussions on a range of issues, including regional security, climate change and trade.
In an interview with JIS News, Mayor Vernon said Montego Bay’s selection as host city, solidifies its position as a leading Caribbean destination for events of this magnitude.
“It places [Montego Bay] not only as a strategic location, but a viable option across the Caribbean for events of this nature. We are indeed setting ourselves apart as that place to host high-level regional discussions,” he said.
Highlighting the city’s track record, Mayor Vernon noted that Montego Bay has hosted several CARICOM events in the past, including the landmark 2003 meeting where the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development was adopted.
“[It] tells a story. It positions us as a key meeting place for important regional policy discussions,” the Mayor said. He added that the upcoming conference is expected to tackle critical matters such as transportation, telecommunications, digitalization of the tourism industry, regional security, climate financing, food and nutrition security, external trade negotiations, and Haiti.
“Montego Bay is positioned to facilitate these discussions within its space, and that is also key for Jamaica as we look to expand in these areas,” Councillor Vernon outlined.
The Mayor also underscored the importance of regional integration.
“We hope that these discussions will deepen the integration process, because we can indeed benefit from regionalism, especially in light of what is happening globally,” he stated.
Referencing his earlier proposal for a regional disaster response hub, Councillor Vernon said the discussions around climate change and public safety could further promote coordinated approaches among CARICOM member states.
He also expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event.
“We are putting all the necessary things in place to ensure that we not only have a safe event, but a great experience for our visitors,” he assured.
Mayor Vernon also took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1.
The CARICOM conference will be held under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.
Guyana, July 4, 2025 – President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday signed the proclamation to dissolve the Parliament of Guyana, making way for the general and regional elections on September 1, 2025.
“Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of a democratic state. The upcoming elections represent our country’s commitment to renewing the democratic covenant between its citizens and government,” the President said in a live broadcast on his Facebook page.
In accordance with Article 70 (2) of the Constitution, Proclamation No.1 of 2025 officially dissolved the 12th Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Additionally, the proclamation will also dissolve the Regional Democratic Councils, in accordance with Article 73 (2) of the Constitution.
The President urged all Guyanese to participate fully in the elections process, as is their democratic right, emphasising their critical role in the decision-making process of electing a government that represents their interests. Eyes will now be on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the run-up to September 1 as the elections body will oversee the preparation and execution of the voting process.
The president reiterated his support for GECOM, noting, “I remain confident in its ability to hold, free, fair, and credible elections. I urge all Guyanese to support the work of GECOM.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 2 July 2025:The 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), concluded Friday 6th June at The Landings Resort & Spa, after rallying attendees under the theme “Recommitting to Fighting Corruption Effectively and Sustainably in the Caribbean.” Over five impactful days, delegates tackled corruption’s entrenched challenges with renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and leadership.
Artificial Intelligence An impactful demonstration was provided by His Excellency, Professor Luis Franceschi Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, on the benefits and drawbacks of the use of Artificial Intelligence. Anti-Corruption Bodies were encouraged to start getting familiar with the technology to better understand how it can be leveraged in the fight against corruption.
Country Updates Reflect Shared Progress and Challenges
Reports from member organisations highlighted major strides in public education, asset declaration, and investigative framework. Yet, countries also reported ongoing constraints, including human resource limitations, political resistance, and inadequate statutory framework.
SWOT & Synergy: Regional Blueprint for Collective Action
Dr. Roger Koranteng of the Commonwealth Secretariat led a comprehensive SWOT analysis session, providing a candid assessment of operational realities. He concluded with strong calls for enhanced synergy among member bodies and for adopting a unified voice in policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, and legal reform. The Ghanaian experience offers a valuable comparative model.
With corruption becoming more normalised globally, presenters—including leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago—challenged the attending institutions to embrace transformational leadership. Recommendations included institutional resilience training, succession planning, and performance benchmarking.
United Front: Call to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond
The conference recognised the benefits of extending the membership of the Association beyond the original constituents of English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and signified its willingness to accept and encourage membership of Integrity Commissions and anti-corruption bodies of the wider Caribbean countries. “Corruption knows no language barriers—our fight must be collective,” stated Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph, Chairperson of the CCAICACB.
Digital Transformation: VLEX Software Considered
The conference marked a major step forward with the agreement to further investigate the benefits of the VLEX Legal Database-driven AI system, designed to strengthen legal research, asset recovery, and case management initiatives. The Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM IMPACS, and UNODC, received the presentation well, however the rest of the association would communicate their interest to the Turks and Caicos Islands Commission, which was taking the lead in investigating the possibilities.
Key Recommendations Going Forward to consider:
Region-wide adoption of technology integration
Legislative reforms to streamline access to declarant information
Youth-centred anti-corruption education campaigns
Institutional collaboration and peer reviews across commissions
To explore extending invitations of membership to CCAICACB to other Caribbean countries
An introduction to the idea of an International Corruption Court
The conference closed with a stirring call to recommit—not just in words, but in action—to building a future rooted in transparency, justice, and ethical leadership across the Commonwealth Caribbean and beyond.
3rd insert: (left to right): Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph(Chair CCAICACB) and Charna Pompier (Director Integrity Commission, St. Maarten).