By Leada Gore
The U.S. State Department has updated a warning urging travelers to avoid a popular Caribbean hotspot.
The update, issued July 25, urged people to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime and lack of medical services. The department first issued its alert in February, citing an increase in home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and murders, with some incidents occurring at popular all-inclusive resorts.
“The U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence,” the notice said.
In its update, the State Department noted that while tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crimes than other parts of the country, incidents can occur throughout Jamaica, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the Western world.
Jamaica is categorized under a level three advisory, meaning people should “reconsider travel” there. Other level three countries include Egypt, Pakistan, Lebanon, El Salvador, Guatemala and Saudi Arabia. Certain parts of the country are under a “do not travel” advisory for embassy personnel.
More than 206,000 Americans visited the island nation last year.
Adding to the Jamaica travel issues are issues related to healthcare, officials said.
There are lower levels of emergency service response times and routine care for illnesses or injuries. Private hospitals require payment upfront before admitting patients and specialized care is limited. Ambulance services are not always staffed with trained EMTs or even readily available, especially in rural areas. It’s recommended U.S. citizens who do travel to Jamaica bring their own prescription medication, especially for things such as insulin which can be difficult to obtain.
“We strongly encourage you to obtain traveler’s insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling,” the alert noted.
If you do travel to Jamaica, the State Department recommends:
Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition, including stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison sentences.
Avoid walking or driving at night.
Avoid public buses.
Avoid secluded places or situations.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at www.step.state.gov to receive alerts and make it easier to be located in an emergency.
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