Jerome Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday strongly rebuked gay-rights protesters who crashed a speech she was delivering in New York, United States, yesterday.

The prime minister was speaking at the launch of the sixth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference when the protesters demanded that the Jamaican government do more to protect gays

However, Simpson Miller did not take kindly to the disruption and chided the protesters for not telling the truth.

"Nobody never hears the Government of Jamaica beating up gays; not one. Let me tell you something; you want to disturb, you can disturb, but this woman come here with the blood of Nanny of the Maroons, and the spirit of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, and this woman is not afraid of no man, nowhere, anywhere, and I will speak the truth everywhere," the prime minister said to loud cheers and applause from the audience.

Simpson Miller noted her position and that her People's National Party government is different from that of the previous administration of Bruce Golding, who famously said that he would not allow gays to serve in his Cabinet.

She stressed that she will not be bullied by those who tell lies about Jamaica's treatment of gays.

The prime minister said Jamaica respects the human rights of all its citizens, including gays, and added that those who disagreed are not being truthful. "Jamaica will continue to rise and shine globally. Jamaica will rise and shine all over the world and no one man can stop that," Simpson Miller emphasised.

In the past, gay-rights advocates have picketed events attended by Prime Minister Simpson Miller in New York.

They have complained that there have been no real efforts by the prime minister and her government to follow through on her 2012 election promise.

Gay-rights advocates have also blasted the Government, claiming that it has done little to stem the violence and discrimination being faced by gays in Jamaica.