THE late reggae star Peter Tosh was yesterday appointed a member of the Order of Merit (OM), receiving the country’s third highest national honour and joining Wailers band mate and reggae icon Bob Marley as a recipient.

Twenty-five years after his murder, Tosh, who had no national honour previously, headed a list of 119 Jamaicans national recognised for outstanding contributions to the country on Independence Day yesterday,

The late reggae pioneer, whose real name was Winston Hubert McIntosh, was a member of the original Wailers band, which included the legendary Marley and Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingstone.

Tosh left the Wailers before going on to a successful solo career. He was murdered ar his home along with two other men in 1987.

Meanwhile, Bunny Wailer, 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).

Rainford Hugh Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, legendary for his studio work in the creation of dub music, was also awarded yestgerday with the CD.

The list of yesterday’s recipients of the OJ included another 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.