AFTER A YEAR-LONG COMA, JAWARA TOSH, PETER’S SON, IS LEARNING TO SPEAK AGAIN!

Observer senior reporter—-

Jawara McIntosh, the son of reggae luminary Peter Tosh, who was left in a coma for over a year following a beating in a New Jersey jail — reportedly at the hands of a fellow inmate, is slowing making progress.

Tosh’s daughter Niambe McIntosh gave an update on the health of her brother, popularly known as Tosh 1, who was recently released from hospital and is on the road to recovery at home.

“He is out of the coma and has been released from hospital, but he has a long road ahead of him. He is just learning to speak again and so we are just grateful that he is still with us. Like I say, it is a long road ahead,” she said.

Tosh 1, who was serving a six-month jail term in the Bergen County Jail in New Jersey on a ganja charge, was reportedly beaten unconscious by a fellow inmate in February last year.

Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement on the incident, noted: “The assault, which lasted less than 10 seconds, resulted in the serious injury of Mr McIntosh. Bergen County Sheriff’s officers immediately responded to contain the disturbance and provide care to Mr McIntosh. Medical personnel, including a physician from the jail, provided medical treatment to the victim while awaiting the arrival of the Hackensack Fire Department Emergency Medical Service. Mr McIntosh was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment without delay.”

Meanwhile, plans to make a film surrounding the life and times of reggae great Peter Tosh are still on the cards, however the estate of the former member of The Wailers is not ready to put a date on the start of production.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer during Saturday’s Peter Tosh Tribute Concert held at Pulse Centre in New Kingston, McIntosh disclosed that the project is still being worked on.

“We are still working on the script. My father’s life was very full and rounded, so we want to ensure that the aspects we are focusing on for the script are given the right treatment. We definitely don’t want to rush into anything and put out something that is not the very best. So we are taking our time to ensure that it all goes to plan — and that starts with the script,” she stated.

“I don’t want to say when or put any timelines on it. We just want to get it done in the best possible way,” she added.

In a 2012 interview with the Jamaica Observer following the release of Marley: A Film by Kevin MacDonald, the British director disclosed that he would love to follow up by bringing the Peter Tosh story to the big screen.

“I have been having discussions regarding a Peter Tosh film, but that hasn’t really gotten anywhere just yet… not even a flicker in anyone’s eye, but I would like to do that,” Macdonald said. Since then, the Peter Tosh estate has been having discussions on bringing MacDonald’s vision to life. It has been reported that the film will focus on the period surrounding the release of Tosh’s 1976 album Legalize It. It is said this would perfectly tie into the moves across the globe for the legalization of ganja, a cause for which Tosh advocated.