From The Jamaican Observer:

SOCIAL anthropologist Professor Barry Chevannes is dead.

Chevannes passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies this afternoon. He was hospitalised in early September with a serious illness.

Chevannes...passed away at UHWI today. (Observer file photo)

Chevannes...passed away at UHWI today. (Observer file photo)

He is a founding member of Fathers Inc, a support group for fathers.

Chevannes was also the head of the Institute of Jamaica and was the head of the National Ganja Commission, which was set up to study the viability of decriminalising marijuana. The commission sanctioned decriminalisation but the government has yet to address the matter.

The professor headed the Violence Prevention Alliance which launched a safe community campaign in 2006.

Chevannes was also an executive member of the Peace Management Initiative

Professor Alston Barrington Chevannes

A graduate in Philosophy and Classics from Boston College, USA, Barry Chevannes holds the M.Sc. in Sociology from the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Ph.D. (Anthropology) from Columbia University. A Professor of Social Anthropology, former Head of the Department of Sociology, Social Work & Psychology and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the UWI, Barry Chevannes was born in Kingston, and has had a distinguished teaching career. He has taught in institutions far and wide including Saint Mary's College and Campion College at the High School level, and City University of New York and Columbia University as well as the UWI at the tertiary level. Additionally he is an international research consultant answering demands throughout the West Indies, Europe, and the United States.

Professor Chevannes has directed his skills at researching aspects of Caribbean culture and identity such as the family and sexual relationships, male gender issues, crime/violence, social integration, indigenous religious manifestations such as Revivalism and Rastafari, socio-political movements and Garveyism. Important among these is the National Commission on Ganja which he headed and out of which the National Report on Ganja was produced. Of special interest are Professor Chevannes' innovative initiatives such as being the founder of Fathers Incorporated (an organization dedicated to men, especially fathers), and his contributions to the Peace Management Initiative. Professor Chevannes is the current Chairman of the Institute of Jamaica which awards national honours in the form of the Musgrave Medal. Having pursued a wide range of academic, cultural and practical activities, this distinguished Jamaican has received many awards nationally and internationally. He received the Vice Chancellor's Award (UWI) for outstanding achievements in research, teaching and public service and is also recognized for his original contribution to Jamaican folk and religious song heritage.