Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

Minister of Tourism, Senator Brenda Hood has responded to negative feedback from large sections of the population following the visit to the island by hundreds of gay passengers on a cruise ship.

The senior government minister was asked to comment on the entrance give to the luxury liner by authorities in Grenada. Minister Hood said that she was unaware of the passengers on board the ship, but quickly added that, "we (Government) don't condone promiscuous behaviour from foreigners or locals"."I am certain that will not happen in the future", she told reporters.

Minister Hood admitted that the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) does not have an official policy on homosexuals coming into Grenada.

However, she said that she intends to hold discussions with cruise lines, and cruise line agents in Grenada to inform them that promiscuous behaviour is not allowed in Grenada.

She pointed out that Grenada is a Christian society that will not accept lewd behaviour on the island regardless of sexual preferences. Hood spoke of having leant that the cruise with the gay passengers was a special one that is done by the cruise line every 5-7 years and that it does not happen every day.

She also said that the cruise ship was never turned away by any other Caribbean island. News reports in the media indicated that Jamaica, St. Lucia and Barbados had turned back the cruise liner with the gay passengers from entering their shores.

Several persons had called into local radio stations to blast the Mitchell government for allowing the gay passengers to enter the country.