Jamaica has always been two things.
A violent dump.  And homophobic.

Now that toxic blend of violence and homophobia has produced a sickening wave of violence against both gay and straight Americans visiting Jamaica.

Hundreds of panhandlers who used to badger tourists everywhere have morphed into violent street gangs viciously attacking tourists both straight and gay. Neither tourists nor locals are immune from random gang attacks, even in some of the best, supposedly safe tourist and resort areas. (View Videos at end of this posting)

 

3rd Highest Murder Rate -- In the World!

Jamaica now has the 3rd highest per capita murder rate of any country in the world just behind, Columbia, the drug capital of the world and South Africa. 98% of murders in Jamaica are not solved. Why Would Anyone Travel to Jamaica?

In Fact, it  has gotten so bad that the US State Department has issued a rare “Special Statement” warning Americans, both gay and straight about the violent hell Jamaica has become.

The unspoken message from the U.S. Government: Don’t Go to Jamaica

SPECIAL STATEMENT FROM US STATE DEPARTMENT: “Crime, including violent crime, is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston and Montego Bay.

Crime is exacerbated by the fact that police are understaffed and ineffective with frequent allegations of corruption. 

Harassment, threats, and acts of violence have been targeted at homosexuals in Jamaica.  Government officials have been known to make derogatory comments toward homosexuals, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is widespread. 

It has been reported that police do not always investigate reports of harassment, threats, or violence targeted on the basis of sexual orientation of the victim. Jamaican law contains specific prohibitions on certain sexual activities. 

These prohibitions have been used to target homosexuals and trans-gendered individuals. Violations can result in lengthy imprisonment.”

Homophobia Permeates The Country: Gays Murdered

- Recently an official from Great Britain was murdered in his home. The killer, used the blood of the victim, to write a message on the walls of the house. “This is What Will Happen To All (Gay Men)”

The murder got international attention and prompted the Jamaican Police to announce a “sudden break” in the case with the arrest of a suspect.  In over 50-years this was the first murder of a gay man that the Jamican Police had solved.

Mob Violence Against Gays

-Recently a gay man was cornered and trapped by a street mob of over 100 thugs and hooligans. He was beaten with a machete, shovels, sticks and pipes. He was badly injured. 

The police, who were watching the beating, refused to come to his aid.
The mob beating was captured on video tape.
(See Video At End of This Post)

The police can be seen laughing as the gay men is beaten by the bigoted Jamaica mob.
Despite the video tape and the presence of the police, no one was arrested for beating the gay man.
Just another day, another mob beating someone on the streets of Jamaica.

 

Religious Leaders Endorse Killing Gays

- The leading cleric in Jamaica has urged Sunday worshippers to “kill homosexuals” because “the bible says so”

- Another cleric, while not going that far, tells worshippers he “hates the homosexuals”

 

Leading Pop Stars Sing Songs Dedicated to Killing Gays.

- Jamaica’s most popular performer, reggae musician Buju Banton, was accused in 2004 of being the ringleader of a group of men who viscously beat several gay men. One of the victims lost an eye.
A judge dismissed the charges citing “lack of evidence”

Banton has recorded a song (Boom Bye Bye) in which he calls for “the murder of gays by shooting gay or by burning them like an old tire”

His 2009 American concert tour was canceled by AEG entertainment, a behemoth in the concert industry, after they learned of his virulent anti-gay attitude and after gay groups announced a series of protests at each concert site.
He is considered largely “unbookable” in the United States but remains a national star in Jamaica.

BuJu Bye Bye!

Ironically his hateful lyrics were not his undoing.In late 2009 he was busted in Florida as part of a major cocaine trafficing ring. An undercover video tape caught him sampling and purchasing over 5-kilos of coke.

Federal Sentencing guidelines call for at least 20-years in prison, if convicted.  He sits in prison awaiting trial.

- Another popular Jamaican “singer” known as "Capleton" saw his 2010 Amercan bookings cancelled when he sang a song urging that all “sodomites be put to death because it’s in the Bible”
Capleton blames his concert woes on anti-Jamaican discrimination.

 

Government Plans Crackdown On Gays

- Recently the Jamaican government has threatened to take away the business license of any gay person, simply because he/she is gay.
Anyone who requires a license from the government, from taxi drivers to surgeons would lose their license to do business.
The government also plans to fire any government employee who is gay. (Sounds an awful like like early Nazi Germany)

- Prime Minister, Bruce Golding recently said in a speech, "I will not accept that homosexuality must be accepted as a legitimate form of behavior.”

- Stunningly, the Jamaican Government continues to urge gay American to vacation in Jamaica. (Read how they instruct gays to act and why straight women should flirt with Jamaican men.)

 

What Can Be Done

-Become informed.

-Watch our videos of actual gang attacks in Jamaica. Your blood will boil. We have placed links to the videos at the end of this posting.

-Consider a personal boycott of Jamaica and Jamaican products.

- E-mail the Jamaican Tourist Agency, run by the Jamaican government with offices in both the United States and Jamaica.
Tell them you are taking your vacation dollars elsewhere due to the anti-gay violence.
Tell them you are urging travel agents to send customers elsewhere.
And tell them about this site. (also viewable via BoycottJamaica.com)

- Contact the Jamaican Embassy in Washington (Phone: 202-452-0660 fax 202-452-0081) or their consulates in Miami, (Phone 305-374-8431 fax 305-577-4970) or New York, or Chicago.
Tell the Jamaican bigots you’re taking your vacation dollars elsewhere.
And tell them you are alerting travel agents to steer clients to other destinations and away from Jamaica.

- Tell them about this posting is viewable through BoycottJamaica.com

TRAVEL AGENTS BEWARE.
- If you are a travel agent warn potential clients about the widespread violence and the high murder rate.
- Do you really want to send a client to Jamaica?
- Will the client return home unscathed?
- What is your legal liability if you know of the potential for violence and you still urge clients to visit Jamaica?
- Is it worth it? To You? Your Reputation?

What Can You Do?  Boycott Jamaican Rum?

Appleton Estate Rum (non copyrighted photo)
Myers Rum (non-copyrighted photo)

Jamaican Rum supports the bigoted government thru taxes collected.

Do you really want your gay dollars supporting a government which condones violence against gays and lesbians?
Even their murder?
Every dollar spent on rum made from Jamaican products directly supports Jamaican homphobia and violence against gays.

- You might want to ask your local gay bar or club to stop stocking Jamaican Rum. Tell them why.

Jamaican Rum is sold in many gay bars and clubs in the United States.
It is sold via two major companes.

 

Appleton Estate Rum and Myers Rum = Rum From Jamaica = Violence Against Gays ?

Appleton Estate Rum is distributed in the United States by Kobrand Wine and Spirits in with offices in New York City and Purchase New York.

Christopher Silva CEO
Kobrand
130 East 40th St
New York, New York 10016
(212) 490-9300

Christopher Silva CEO
Kobrand
One Manhattanville Road
Building One
4th Floor
Purchase, NY 10577
1-914-253-7740

 - You might want to contact KOBRAND directly by E-mail and express your opinion.

 

Myers Rum is sold in the US by Diageo PLC in Norwalk Connecticut.

- You might want to contact Diageo directly by E-mail and express your opinion. In some browswers you might have to copy and paste the e-mail address. Media.comms@diageo.com

Zsoka McDonald
Senior Director, External Relations
Diageo North America
801 Main Street
Norwalk, CT 06851-1163
Phone (203) 229-4730
Fax: (203) 229-8901

- Read about national efforts to boycott Jamaica and Myers Rum.

NOTE: No allegations, of any sort, concerning anti gay discrimination have been made against ethier Diageo LLC or KOBRAND. We will be contacting both companies and will post, in full,  any response.

Contact Information and Links to Videos:

Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica
RT Honorable Bruce Golding
1 Devon Road
P.O. Box 272
Kingston 10
Jamaica
Handy Phone and Fax Numbers:
Phone (876) 927-9942
Fax: (876) 929-0005
Email Address of Prime Minister and Other Leaders.

Producers of Myers Rum
Ivan Menezes/President CEO
Catherine Jessup/CFO
Jon Potter/Chief Marketing Officer

Diageo North American Inc.
801 Main Street
Norwalk, CT 06851-1163
Handy Phone and Fax Numbers:
Phone (203) 229-2100
Fax: (203) 229-8901

Zsoka McDonald
Senior Director, External Relations
Diageo North America
801 Main Street
Norwalk, CT 06851-1163
Phone: (203) 229-4730 (Direct Line According to Company Press Release)
E-Mail: media.comms@diageo.com
Copy/Paste E-Mail address.
E-Mail Link not active through this page.

Jamaican Embassy, Washington DC
(Website Includes Space to Express Comments)
1520 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Derrick Scott/Information Officer
Phone: 202-986-0182
E-mail: jiswashington@jis.gov.jm
General E-Mail dcm@jamaicaembassy.org
Copy/Paste E-Mail Address.
E-Mail Link not active through this page.

Jamaican Consulate/Chicago
4655 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 201
Chicago, Illinois 60653
Tel: (773) 373-8988
Honorary Consul: Mr. Lloyd Hyde

Jamaican Consulate General in Miami
842 Ingraham Building
25 S.E. 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
Tel: (305) 374-8431
Fax: (305) 577-4970
Consul General: Mrs. Sandra Grant Griffiths

Jamaican Consulate General in New York
767 Third Ave,
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 935-9000
Fax: (212) 955-750
Consul General: Mrs. Geneive Brown Metzger

Below Are Links to Videos on Our Website or Via You Tube
Watch and Weep.
Get Involved!

Video: Gays Live in Silence

Video: Typical Gang Street Attack

Video: Gang Street Attack



Link to Videos on YouTube