Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding once declared to the BBC’s Stephen Sackur there would be no gays in his Cabinet.

That was in 2008.

That upset the US Government to no end and soon after the deadly and disastrous Tivoli incursion, Golding inexplicably stepped down as prime minister in 2011.

He was a far-sighted prime minister with intellectual heft.

In 2016, the then Attorney-General Marlene Malahoo Forte took exception to the US Embassy in Kingston flying the rainbow flag high on its compound sending the message that Jamaica must abide by human rights and be tolerant towards homosexuals.

She tweeted: “I strongly condemn the Orlando nightclub shooting but I find it disrespectful of Jamaican laws to have rainbow flag flown here. My personal view.”

She was severely reprimanded by US diplomats in Jamaica and told to show respect to the LGBT community.

In 2018, Prime Minister Andrew Holness was asked by Alec Singh whether he would take Golding’s position and not consider a homosexual joining his Government.

To which he responded: “Whatever is in my discretion to distribute politically, a person’s sexuality or sexual orientation is not a criterion for the use of my discretion.”

The consummate answer from the consummate politician. He played it beautifully off his pads, pass slip.

It was a response that Washington would not have a problem with, it didn’t allow for Jamaica to be placed in its crosshairs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith went further and displayed her diplomatic chops pointing out that Jamaica is tolerant and transforming but that there is a narrative people try to sow about Jamaica.

In other words that it is rabidly homophobic when that is not the case.

The Munroe Doctrine sees to it that Uncle Sam dominates all that is in his ‘backyard’ and that all must comply and do his bidding. It has repeatedly said that Jamaica must jettison its anti-homosexual position and dismantle its buggery laws.

How can an ant take on an elephant?

Jamaica remains obstinate and makes it clear that its laws and culture should be respected and that Jamaica does not condemn the continuous mass shootings that take place in America or its insistence that its citizens have the right to bear arms.

Now comes news that the US Government will not renew the Jamaican Ambassador Audrey Marks’ and Jamaican Consul General Oliver Mair’s visas and that they will have to return to Jamaica by year-end.

Why?

In retaliation for Jamaica ignoring a request from the US Government seeking its approval for the gay partner of a diplomat due to be posted to Jamaica, to be given diplomatic privileges and immunity from country’s buggery laws.

Uncle Sam wields a big stick!

“It’s understandable, this position taken by the US. When Jamaica continuously begs for aid, it is given a listening ear and more often than not its wishes granted. Now it is time to reciprocate, it is being obstinate and rigidly sticking to its “customs and culture”. You can’t have it both ways. Jamaica has to come into the twenty-first century,” said a Jamaican businessman speaking under anonymity from Miami.

A prominent lawyer declared: “The laws and customs of Jamaica have to be respected. Like the Arab world, we don’t condone or for that matter tolerate homosexuality, but America knows better to face down the Arabs on this subject. It has been their way for thousands of years and it won’t change because America says it must.

“Jamaica is totally dependent on America for its existence and has to accede to it on everything. It is a child reliant upon its parent. This can only end one way. This is real politic here.”

It is a shame that both Marks and Mair have to pay the price. They both have been a credit to their country acquitting themselves well in their respective assignments.