Pressure Group calls off tourism boycott

A Canadian group, which had threatened a tourist boycott of Jamaica, has called off its threat following an official response from the government.



Stop Murder Music Canada (SMMC), had demanded that the Jamaican government immediately denounce homophobic violence in the country and begin work on repealing laws, which criminalise homosexuality.



SMMC said it withdrew its planned boycott even though the response from Jamaica’s Consul General to Canada, Ann Marie Bonner barely mentioned homosexuality.



The Canadian organisation said the response refused to specifically recognise gays and lesbians as a protected group in Jamaica\'s constitution, and did not even mention repealing laws against homosexuality.



Akim Larcher, the founder of the group, said the response was enough to call off the boycott.



The response was reportedly dated May 15, three days after the deadline set by SMMC.



SMMC is a coalition of groups, which include Egale Canada and the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto.