Jamaica has received high marks from the United States (US) for the level of religious freedom in the country.

In its International Religious Freedom Report 2009, the US said the Jamaican government and the people of Jamaica generally respected freedom of religion.

"There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice," the US said in the report released yesterday.

That has come as no surprise to general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Reverend Karl Johnson.

"The truth is the communities that I have been closely aligned to have been accommodating and tolerant of persons of all religious persuasions," Johnson told The Gleaner.

"While there are differences in belief, the Baptists in particular have accepted all religions and it is the same across the island," added Johnson.

In its report the US noted that the Jamaican Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion.

Sir Patrick Allen, governor general of Jamaica is the first Seventh-day Adventist to hold the post. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

However, the report also said members of the Rastafarian community continued to complain that law enforcement officials unfairly targeted them.

"It was not clear whether such complaints reflected discrimination on the basis of religious belief or were due to the group's illegal use of marijuana as part of Rastafarian religious practice," added the report.

The report also noted that there was no documentation of religious detainees or prisoners in the country and no reports of forced religious conversion.

"There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Local media outlets continued to provide a forum for extensive, open coverage and debate on religious matters."