Premier Ewart Brown has brushed off suggestions the cancellation of Rosie O’Donnell’s cruise could damage tourism on the Island.

As word of church opposition to the gay cruise spread around the globe, Dr. Brown said: “I do not think that in the fast paced world of media this story will stick for long or to Bermuda.

“We have spoken to the company and they have said they will tell the media that the Government was supportive of the cruise.”

Bermuda found itself in the spotlight yesterday after U.S. television presenter O’Donnell’s company, R Family Vacations, scrapped its visit to the Island out of concern the ship would be confronted by protesters.

Representatives feared a repeat of the reception in Nassau, the Bahamas, in 2004, when religious protesters met a cruise liner with angry shouts and placards, leaving children in tears. The gay and lesbian family cruise was scheduled to visit Bermuda on July 12 but on Monday it cancelled the trip. An announcement on the company’s website said it will travel to Florida instead.

Yesterday, Dr. Brown, Minister of Tourism and Transport, said: “We are disappointed that the cruise is not coming to Bermuda.

“The Government has been quite clear that our policy was non-discriminatory. We have been in contact with the company many times and made it quite clear what our position was.”

Although Dr. Brown appealed to it not to call off the cruise, R Family Vacations faced vociferous opposition from the Island’s churches.

On Tuesday, the interfaith group United By Faith said divine intervention was responsible for the cruise being cancelled. In a statement it said: “We, the 80 churches of United By Faith, consider the cancellation of the Rosie O’Donnell cruise to be a victory for God.

“We are thankful God intervened and anticipate greater blessings upon Bermuda. To God be the Glory.”

Gregg Kaminsky, chief executive of R Family Vacations, said yesterday: “We know it is a small group of churches that do not welcome us. R Family Vacations has no issue with Bermuda. Anyone who asks me if Bermuda is gay-friendly I will respond ‘yes’.

“I have received many emails and phone calls from people, including the Premier, letting us know that we are welcome and it is much appreciated. However, we are concerned with some of the churches’ comments and we did not want our guests to experience a similar situation that occurred in Nassau in 2004.”

Human rights campaigner PLP MP Renee Webb, a former Tourism Minister, said United By Faith had used the fact that homosexuals were not protected under Bermuda’s Human Rights Act to push their views.

She said: “Sexual orientation isn’t protected under Bermuda’s Human Rights Act and this is an ideal example of why it should be amended. This is all going to make Bermuda look exactly how it is — antiquated.

“The comment that it was ‘a victory for God’ — I think it was a victory for ignorance using the name of God. “Also, Bermuda is not a Christian society, it’s a secular society where all people are allowed to follow all religious beliefs and freedom of expression. Bermuda is an open society and officially we do not discriminate against anyone.”

Ms Webb said: “United By Faith are using the fact that sexual orientation is not protected under the law in Bermuda as a means to discriminate against a certain group.

“To evoke the name of God to discriminate against people is errant nonsense. It is a travesty to use religion to promote bigotry and discrimination.”