On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department urged travelers to reconsider their plans to visit Jamaica in response to escalating concerns over crime and medical services.
The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica has raised the travel advisory for the Caribbean nation to Level 3: “reconsider travel.”
“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,” the warning stated.
The warning highlighted the prevalence of home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murder. This is made more complex by the inadequate response of local law enforcement, where arrests don’t always result in convictions.
“Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence,” the warning stated.
Bereaved families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides often face prolonged waits, sometimes exceeding a year, for death certificates from Jamaican authorities.
The travel advisory points out that Jamaica has consistently recorded one of the highest rates of homicides in the Western Hemisphere in recent years.
Bahamas Warning
This cautionary message comes in the wake of another Caribbean nation being deemed unsafe by the U.S. State Department.The Bahamas, particularly Nassau, witnessed 18 murders linked to gang violence in the first month of 2024.
On Jan. 24, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau raised the alarm and advised Americans to exercise “extreme caution” at nighttime and “keep a low profile” always.
The embassy’s warning for the Bahamas noted the occurrence of murders at all hours, with retaliatory gang violence being the primary motive in 2024.
Americans are urged to exercise vigilance in specific areas, such as the “Over the Hill” region in Nassau, where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate affecting the local population.
On Jan. 26, the U.S. State Department raised the travel advisory for the Bahamas to Level 2: “Exercise Increased Caution.”
The advisory includes updated water safety information, cautions against unregulated watercraft and activities, and emphasizes the potential risks associated with poorly maintained vessels and operators lacking safety certifications.
Tourists are advised to exercise vigilance in both tourist and non-tourist areas, especially in short-term vacation rental properties lacking private security.
Due to safety concerns, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.
In response to the growing concerns, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis addressed the nation, stating that his administration is taking an offensive stance against rising crime.
“We are all likely to be affected by the more intrusive policing which is coming,” he said, reported The Nassau Guardian.
“We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action,” the prime minister continued.
“This may make you late for your appointments or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes.”
The prime minister reportedly presented his government’s plan to address crime in the House of Assembly, which included automatically revoking bail for committing offenses while on bail.
“This measure sends a clear message: our legal system will no longer tolerate those who flout its rules and endanger our communities,” Mr. Davis said.
