The EDITOR, Sir:

The recent remarks made by our prime minister in an interview with Stephen Sackur's BBC program HARDtalk leaves much to be desired. As Mr Golding would put it, no homosexuals will be allowed to serve his/her country - well not under his watch and in his Cabinet. This statement at the very least is unfortunate; it is a sad aide memoire of the second-class nature of many lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender citizens of this country.

Mr Golding's sentiments represent a deep institutionalised homophobia that has taken over this country; a sentiment that is, at the very essence, manifested in the violent 'justifiable' attacks against sexual minorities; a hate that makes it acceptable and favourable for many Jamaicans that their highest elected official can register sentiments of hate and intolerance, even amid empirical evidence of blatant human-rights abuses.

a terrible record

While admitting that Jamaica has had a terrible record for its treatment of sexual minorities, Mr Golding was quick to point out that this was changing. He noted further that the Jamaica Constabulary Force had been instructed to treat any crime committed against Jamaicans based on sexual orientation with the "same vigour as that of any other crime". This statement, one would suppose, should be taken to mirror the view held by some that advancements are being made in how Jamaica treats and responds to abuses of its LGBT citizens, with some advancing further that the situation has become way better.

what advancements?

Even if there are advancements, it behoves one to ask: Where is the evidence of this? What is to be considered as advancement? How is it measured? Where is the collaboration with the police and the LGBT community? Where are the policies put in place to ensure that the police respond fairly to crimes based on sexual orientation? Where is the sensitivity training for members of the police force in dealing these crimes? Similarly, Mr Golding's further postulation of not having any homosexual Cabinet member demonstrates an inherent inequity directed at sexual minorities that contributes to their subjugation.

I am, etc.,

PRIDE (People of the Rainbow

in Defence of Equality)

Alexander McNamara 2008

asaferjamaica@gmail.com