Toots Hibbert to be laid to rest at National Heroes Park
Days after
his burial had to be abandoned, reggae legend Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert will
finally be laid to rest at the National Heroes Park in Kingston.
Toots, who died on September 11, was scheduled to be interred at the Dovecot Memorial Gardens on Thursday following at service inside the chapel of Perry’s Funeral Home in St Catherine.
However,
those plans had to be aborted when it was discovered that there was no permit
to authorise his burial.
Luckily, on
Saturday, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and
Sport, revealed that Toots would now be buried at the National Heroes Park at a
spot that was originally made available for late actor and broadcaster Charles
Hyatt.
She explained,
in a statement, that the Hyatt family had requested that the actor be buried at
Heroes Park following his death in 2007. However, no space was available at the
time, and he was interred at Meadowrest Memorial Park. When a spot did become available,
Hyatt’s remains were supposed to be exhumed, but that did not happen.
“Given the
current need for a suitable burial place for the late Toots Hibbert, the Hyatt
family has generously consented to allow the reggae legend to be interred in
the final burial spot in the section for cultural icons in National Heroes’
Park,” Grange said.
She continued:
“I have received the approval of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to proceed
with plans for the interment of Toots Hibbert in National Heroes Park. I deeply
appreciate the consideration of the Hyatt family in this matter. Toots is
without question one of the pioneers of reggae music. He has even been credited
with giving the genre its name. He is a national treasure whose humble
demeanour and affable personality belied his towering global stature. Interment
in National Heroes Park will suitably memorialise his contribution to Jamaica
and reignite the unity in his family, among his peers and his fans which is
required at this time.”
She also
said that the current situation highlights the need for a memorial park for the
interment of cultural icons. She said that a concept has already been developed
and a location has been identified.
With a number
of things out of the way, she said that the next step is to go to Cabinet with
a proposal that includes a design for the space and a budget.
