Tag Archives: Jamaica

USA Today reports: All of Jamaica was about to feel the power of Hurricane Beryl on Wednesday as the eye of the Category 4 storm reached the island of 3 million people, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory. The hurricane’s outer bands had lashed Jamaica earlier Wednesday after hurtling across warm waters in the …

The Weather Channel reports: Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Atlantic Category 5 on record overnight following a historic Windward Islands landfall earlier Monday. It’s not done yet, with Beryl likely to spread its impacts across Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula before facing an uncertain future in the Gulf of Mexico. Current status: Beryl remains a Category 5 …

From the US Embassy in Jamaica: The State Department has recently changed the Travel Advisory for Jamaica. Reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime and medical services. U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to many areas due to increased risk. Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, …

The Associated Press reports: Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Prince William and Kate on Wednesday that the British commonwealth intends to become fully independent in an unexpected announcement that comes as other countries consider cutting ties with the monarchy. Holness also noted that there are “unresolved” issues as he greeted Prince William and Kate in front of a media …

The Guardian reports: Jamaica has banned a Holocaust-denying pastor from Arizona who has called for gay people to be stoned death, after outcry from activists on the island. Steven Anderson, from the Faithful World Baptist Church in Tempe, said he was about to board a flight to Kingston when he was informed he would not be allowed into Jamaica. Anderson, …

Scott Lively is heaping praise on Jamaica’s Attorney General, who last week declared that the United States is “disrespecting” her country’s anti-buggery laws by flying the rainbow flag at our embassy. He writes: This post is dedicated to and inspired by Jamaica’s Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who courageously challenged the arrogance of the United States, which exploited the Orlando …

From the BBC: Jamaica’s attorney general has sparked criticism after saying it was “disrespectful” to Jamaican law for the US embassy to fly a rainbow flag following the Orlando shooting. In response, the US embassy in the capital Kingston asked Marlene Malahoo Forte to explain her legal reasoning. Forty-nine people died when a gunman opened fire in a gay club …

From the Jamaica Gleaner: Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government will put key constitutional and social issues to a referendum. Holness made the commitment in his inauguration speech yesterday. However, he did not name the issues which will be put to a vote by Jamaicans. The JLP has strongly opposed Jamaica’s departure from the United Kingdom-based Privy Council to …

Several days ago a Jamaican activist filed a lawsuit which seeks to overturn his country’s colonial-era criminalization of homosexuality. Today Jamaica’s most-read newspaper endorsed his attempt. From their editorial: Hopefully, Maurice Tomlinson has greater insulation than was available to Javed Jaghai, so as to allow him to sustain, to the final tier of the court system, if necessary, his constitutional …

The Human Rights Campaign applauds in a press release posted last night: Earlier today, President Obama met with LGBT advocates in Jamaica, a country that still criminalizes same-sex relationships. Following the meeting, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice tweeted, “Anti-LGBT discrimination and violence is unacceptable everywhere. This is US policy globally, as we discussed here in Jamaica today.” President Obama …

Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller was delivering the keynote speech at the Sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in New York City on Thursday when she was interrupted by LGBT activists. Via the Washington Blade: The advocates challenged the Jamaican prime minister over what they perceive as her government’s insufficient response to rampant anti-LGBT violence on the island that continues to …

Gay Star News reports: An angry mob stoned a young, allegedly gay man to death in Jamaica and filmed themselves hurling rocks at his head. The video of the murder of the alleged gay youth, believed to be aged around 19 to 21, has gone viral on social media after being posted last week. It shows the young man dressed …

Miranda Blue writes at Right Wing Watch: American Religious Right leaders Mat Staver and Judith Reisman are scheduled to be featured speakers at a conference in Jamaica this weekend hosted by a group that has been working to preserve the country’s criminal ban on consensual gay sex. The annual conference, hosted by the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, will …

Via the Jamaica Gleaner: A Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll revealed that 91 per cent of Jamaicans are against repealing anti-sodomy laws. According to the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, it is a wise position, similar to Jamaica’s rejection of communism in the 1970s. Founding member of the coalition, Dr Wayne West, says the attempts by pro-gay supporters to have …

J. Lester Feder reports at Buzzfeed: Brian Camenker, founder of MassResistance, was the keynote speaker at an event organized by the Jamaican Coalition for a Healthy Society in the Jamaican capital’s Emancipation Park on Dec. 10. The organization has led a campaign to preserve the sodomy provision — known locally as the “buggery law” — following Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s …

Two weeks ago Porno Pete traveled to Jamaica where he demanded that the government not repeal its “anti-buggery” law, which carries a sentence of ten years in prison for male homosexuality.  Today he finally responded to my question and apparently he only wants gay Jamaicans to be imprisoned. And, presumably, gays in other countries.  But not me, for some reason. …

Unable to face the humiliation of homosexuals marrying in his Illinois hometown, this weekend Porno Pete took his message of hatred to Jamaica. Peter LaBarbera, president of the Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), in the United States of America (US), has encouraged Jamaicans to be grounded in their Christian beliefs and not to be lured by other countries in …

Via press release: New York-based LGBT activist group Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand halted Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s exit from a United Nations session at the Ford Foundation in New York today. Shouting “Gay rights are human rights!” and “Portia, shame on you!” the group of seven protestors greeted the PM as she began to exit the Ford Foundation offices on …