The government is debating whether to allow tours by two cruise liners, following concern raised by the Grenadians on 'cultural and religious grounds'. News that Port St. George was on the itinerary for the ships, sparked intense public debate, promp-ting Tourism Minister Dr Clarice Modeste Cur-win to call for calm. "I see no need for us to panic. We must sit down and rationally discuss that. We have a public we are responsible to and we have to listen to their opinion as well," Curwin said. She added: "There is the law of Grenada which makes criminal the display of intimacy between same sex persons. I am very well aware that we are a religious country and our culture is different from others." Callers to talk shows expressed their disapproval at the stops in Grenada, planned for this next month and early next year. The cruise ships are also scheduled to visit Barbados and Dominica. Many Grenadians were reportedly angered by the sight of crowds of gay visitors touring the island a couple of years ago, during a gay cruise. Dr Modeste Curwin said the government would take public concern into consideration during discussions. "We have to be careful not to get homophobic. Not to get paranoid." However she said, "the display of intimacy on the streets is something I am very much against and I find it intolerable. "The law should kick in for anybody who breaks the law, whether they came in on a cruise ship, a plane or whether they live in the country. It is against the law and we all must respect the law." Reprinted from voice.co