'66 POT BUST BARS REGGAE STAR

A lack of documentation and a love of ganja prevented reggae legend
Frederick (Toots) Hibbert from taking to a Vancouver stage on the weekend.
The 30-year veteran of the reggae scene was scheduled to play with his band,
the Maytals, at Richards on Richards Sunday night.

But plans changed when Canadian officials unearthed an ancient police
record. "It's sad. We worked hard on promoting this," said Robert Foort,
whose Pacific Concert Productions co-promoted the event. "It was looking
like it was going to be a good show - but it was a no-show." Toots Hibbert
was jailed in Jamaica for a year on charges of marijuana possession back in
1966. Pot is a central part of reggae life, and after his release from
prison Hibbert released a song called "54-46 (That's My Number)" to
commemorate his jail time.

Since then, Hibbert has performed in Canada dozens of times.

Foorst said it came as a surprise to Toots and his manager when he was
denied a visa unless he could produce a letter from Jamaican police and bank
statements.

"There was just no time to do it," said Foort. Toots and the Maytals were
also forced to cancel on the Edmonton Folk Festival as a result of the visa
problems.

Ironically, they went instead to the United States, whose drug laws are
notoriously tougher than Canada's.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"