Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Letters
January 4, 2011

Hurting the tourist industry

Dear Editor,

In an effort to escape the bitter winter snowstorm which pummelled Eastern Canada in December, a white Canadian police officer visited Montego Bay over the long Christmas weekend. Even the cold front which Jamaica experienced with temperatures in the 20s was balmy weather for this officer and so he decided to visit the beach on December 27, 2010.

With a black Jamaican man as his guide, the officer settled on the quieter “old hospital” beach site as the other local beaches were packed with holiday bathers. When they entered the beach, they were shocked to hear someone say, “Here come the gays” and a male voice shouting, “Bullet, bullet.”

The message the cop left with was that two men cannot walk on the beach in Jamaica without being suspected of being gays and possibly exposed to a violent homophobic slur attack. As the Canadian Consulate in Montego Bay was closed for the holidays, the officer reported the matter to JFLAG.

The government has declared its intention to tap the Canadian market for tourists. However, this incident clearly demonstrates that much work is needed to prepare the Jamaican people to receive more Canadians. Such intolerance and homophobia will not be accepted by Canadians, gay or straight, and will certainly scuttle the government’s well laid tourism plans. Simply put, the Jamaican government must emphasise tolerance or jeopardise the vital tourism “cash-cow”.

Maurice Tomlinson

Montego Bay, St James

maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Amnesty warns of ‘widespread failure’ after Haiti massacre
Latest News, Regional
Amnesty warns of ‘widespread failure’ after Haiti massacre
April 5, 2026
NEW YORK, United States (CMC)–Amnesty International has condemned what it describes as a “widespread failure” by Haitian authorities and the internati...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
D’Yani’s ‘The Little Things’ tops iTunes reggae charts
Entertainment, Latest News
D’Yani’s ‘The Little Things’ tops iTunes reggae charts
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Prolific music producer Seanizzle who is best known for the monster One Day rhythm, is celebrating the success of one of his latest...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Dr Sandra Swaby captures first runner-up title at Queen of the World Pageant
Entertainment, Latest News
Dr Sandra Swaby captures first runner-up title at Queen of the World Pageant
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Fifty-four-year old Dr Sandra Swaby, who made it to the top five in the 2024 Miss Universe Jamaica beauty pageant, was on Saturday n...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cop seen in viral video allegedly assaulting elderly man interdicted
Latest News, News
Cop seen in viral video allegedly assaulting elderly man interdicted
April 5, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says the Inspectorate and Professional Oversight Bureau (IPROB) is investigating an incident wh...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Armanii delivers for the ladies at Pic-Nic Beach Club
Entertainment, International News, Latest News
Armanii delivers for the ladies at Pic-Nic Beach Club
April 5, 2026
ST ANN, Jamaica — The energy of Vacae Weekend 2026 continued to build on Saturday with the successful staging of Pic-Nic Beach Club, where dancehall’s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Choose peace’: Pope marks first Easter under cloud of Mideast war
International News, Latest News
‘Choose peace’: Pope marks first Easter under cloud of Mideast war
April 5, 2026
VATICAN CITY, Holy See (AFP)—Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged "those who have the power to unleash wars" to "choose peace" in his first Easter blessing as...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
High marks for Espappi’s ‘Wiggle N Tickle’
Entertainment, Latest News
High marks for Espappi’s ‘Wiggle N Tickle’
KEDIESHA PERRY Observer writer 
April 4, 2026
Recording artiste Espappi has been creating waves with his single Wiggle N Tickle . The catchy song was produced by Ragz to Richez and released on Mar...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fire at the Retirement Dump
Latest News, News
Fire at the Retirement Dump
April 4, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Firefighters have responded to a fire at the Retirement Dump in St James. The blaze was noticed just before 3:00 pm, and the briga...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct