The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), is concerned about the possibility that some Canadians may boycott the island as a tourist destination because of the present buggery laws and general attitude towards gays and lesbians.

THE STAR published a story last Thursday in which Egale Canada, a human rights group based in Toronto, announced its intentions to call for a tourism boycott of the island as well as a ban on the country's goods and services. The group issued a May 12 ultimatum on the Jamaican Government and threatened to make a public announcement five days later encouraging the ban, if its demands were not met.

The group appealed for the production of public service announcements denouncing homophobia/transphobia, called for a national homophobia/transphobia education campaign and lobbied for the abolition of the buggery law and any other law that stigmatises or criminalises consensual same sex acts.

In a follow-up move, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), issued a release encouraging the government "to demonstrate that it categorically rejects and is prepared to deal decisively with this particular brand of violence in our country."

Head of the JHTA, Wayne Cummings, told THE STAR that he was "very much aware" of the issue. He said the organisation received a letter from JFLAG asking for "support" and added that the matter was discussed in a council meeting.

He added, "We are concerned with any threat. We're concerned with the recession in the United Sates and we're concerned with an important group of people in an influential market and anything that could scuttle the gains we've been making in that market."

He said the Canadian market grew by 24 per cent last year, "the best growth Jamaica has seen", and said if Egale Canada was successful in carrying out its threats, the gains could be reversed. "They are a very forward thinking, liberal country and I'm sure there may be some credibility to the argument that they could affect us," Cummings said.

He said the JHTA "absolutely abhors violence against the person" and added that the international approach to human rights issues should be adopted.

Said he: "We have a job to do, which is to market Jamaica as a safe destination and JFLAG has a job to do and we respect that. Where we cross paths is a mutual understanding on the issues of human rights and violence against a person. We are prepared to support any call within that ambit."

The JHTA boss emphasised that hotels were among the safest places in Jamaica and said ,"I don't believe that as an organisation hosting visitors whether overseas or locally, we have ever made a public stance about having couples of any kind at any resort, but we are still aware of the law."