Peter Tosh remembered

LATE reggae musician Peter Tosh's advocacy for the legalisation of ganja and activism were highlighted at a symposium held at the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Monday.

The event was titled Peter Tosh -- Activist and Pan-Africanist: A Focus on the Man, The Music, The Message and The Herb.

"Peter Tosh's body of work centred on freedom and justice. His campaign for the legalisation of ganja was central to his views about justice and his personal experiences with the law enforcement forces of Jamaica," said presenter Dr Clinton Hutton.

The presenter said Tosh, who would have celebrated his 70th birthday two Sundays ago, had an entire body of work that dealt with the prejudice against the plant. This is evident in the tracks Buckingham Palace, Nah Goa Jail, Bush Doctor and What You Gonna Do.

Tosh (given name was Winston Hubert McIntosh) is a founding member of The Wailers, whose core comprised Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.

Tosh was killed at his St Andrew home in September 1987. He was 43.

In addition to Hutton, attorney-at-law Miguel Lorne and Evah Gordon made presentations.