The following is a letter to the Gleaner and my two cents 

Holness Dithering On Homosexuality

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I READ your rather detailed and eloquent editorial of the November 8, and wish to respond to same.

While some may argue that Mr Andrew Holness' ascendancy to the post of prime minister is new, I do not believe that this precludes him from being able to adequately address the issues of homosexuality and our antiquated buggery laws. However, having seen his interview with Ian Boyne on Television Jamaica's programme, Profile, it is evident that any view, or lack there of, that he may express on the subject will be dictated by political expediency.

In his effort to satisfy our bilateral and multilateral partners, the prime minister was quick to assert that he is a libertarian on the equality side, and that Jamaica must meet its human-rights obligations as mandated by the United Nations and the several conventions to which we are signatories. Mr Holness, however, dithered on the issue of repealing the buggery law in his attempt to appease the local electorate.

He made blanket statements about civil rights in the Constitution and some cryptic utterance about expanding civil rights and economic growth. He added that Jamaica's fledgling democracy must be respected and that although it may take longer, the nation has demonstrated through Parliament that it is capable of making difficult decisions regarding social changes.

Wasted opportunity

I would welcome, however, proof that Mr Holness himself cannot only make difficult decisions, but also give direct answers to difficult questions. In attempting to obfuscate the issues, he squandered a wonderful opportunity to let both the nation and our international partners know where he stands on the issue of homosexuality and our archaic buggery laws.

The prime minister cannot serve two masters, and whereas he was more cautious in his pronouncements than Mr Golding's intolerant rants on the British Broadcasting Corporation, he deliberately failed to answer the questions posited to him. One hallmark of a great leader is one willing to let his voice be heard above those of the masses, and not have it drowned out in the chorus. He should not be afraid to lead and have the rest of his Cabinet, political party and the nation, follow; even more so, as we prepare for an election and candidates will be tempted to use the issue to score political mileage.

Already, one member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Mayor Charles Sinclair, has uttered anti-homosexual remarks as he pandered to scores of party supporters in Montego Bay on the weekend. He indicated that the People's National Party has committed to the principles of dialogue,education and tolerance in respect to "dem odda man" and "mi nuh inna it".

Rather than keeping his views on the topic to himself, he excited the crowd by his intolerance for the sake of scoring cheap political points. As prime minister and the designated leader of the the JLP, I anticipate Mr Holness' swift reaction to Mr Sinclair's remarks, which have presented a golden opportunity for Mr Holness to now display that he can in fact respond to difficult situations and truly lead by example.

Nate Long

natelong88@gmail.com

ENDS

My point of view 

While I agree to a lesser extent the tone of this letter and the fact that the question posed to the Prime Minister on the television program "Profile" hosted by Ian Boyne 

I still contend however this debate is or was too premature on the strength of a supposed threat by British Prime Minister David Cameron to withhold aid to Commonwealth countries that still have the buggery law on their books. Problem is he never named any but it was assumed it would be African states more so due to the upsurge in anti gay activity such as the Ugandan anti gay bill which we are told is supported by big conservative interests in the United States in a form of exportation of hate.

also see:  Intersections of Church and State where the connections are shown in a documentary on the issue

I would have felt more comfortable in the resolve of our rebuttals that we knew definitively that we would loose such aid and precisely why as it goes to a vital rehabilitation project as we were told by the Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson, he said on Nationwide radio recently that the particular aid went to run programs in the correctional facilities and assisted deportees to blend into general society after returning home.

More here in audio from a story published by the Gleaner entitiled "Not Ready for Gays"

On The UK Aid Removal and Holness's Reponse ........ 06.11.11 by glbtqja6

also see my report on a previous discussion on Live @ 7 

CVM TV's Live @ 7 on the UK AID Withdrawal threat & responses .......

Also see more responses from the aforementioned persons and State Minister Miss Malahoo Forte on sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch Reactions continue to come in on the UK's stance on AID to anti gay laws hosting nations

Ironically a letter was published in the same letter today entitled  

Against Gleaner's Pro-Gay Campaign

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I stand in solidarity with all those who are in opposition to the gay lifestyle in Jamaica. The editor of The Gleaner seems to be actively engaging in gay-rights lobby of late. It is sad to see The Gleaner trying to sell to the rest of us the idea that monetary, material and economic progress should be gained by courting the wealth and power of gays, and/or pandering to the wishes of powerful nations like Britain.

I would hope that The Gleaner, the leading newspaper in this our little island home, Jamaica, will not sell out itself, but will stand firm for normal family values, and for moral rectitude, no matter the pressure from abroad or at home!

The world, indeed, is in need of men (and women) who will not be bought or sold, but it does seem that The Gleaner's 'pet' argument is to appeal to the financial gain to be had by Jamaica slowly, but surely, casting off the 'shackles' of sexual decency and normality.

I remind you, Mr Editor, that morals in Jamaica are deeply entrenched in the Christian culture (even if very many of us ignore that reality, or fail to live by its standards). This entrenched cultural reality is confirmed each time we sing the national anthem, which is a prayer to the Eternal Father of the Christian tradition, and each time we swear in our leaders and court witnesses using the Bible.

If we don't want God's influence in the affairs in our land, we should also change our national anthem, remove the Bibles from the courtrooms, find some other symbol to swear by, have no devotions in schools, discontinue national prayer breakfasts, etc. It is national hypocrisy to do otherwise and remain consistent!

DERRICK GILLESPIE

St Elizabeth

Certainly we have not heard the end of this matter.
UPDATE November 23 from GLBTQJA Wordpress

Minister confirms UK will redirect aid, not cut it, for human rights violation

Andrew Mitchell (photo) said the policy had been wrongly reported as a threat to cut aid

UK/commonwealth Aid Matter & The New Developments, no aid cuts but redirecting, ethical problems on our part - 22.11.11 

also see: 

NOT READY FOR GAYS ……. GAY MARRIAGE SMOKE SCREEN REINTRODUCED ……………. POLITICAL DODGING

Peace and tolerance

H