The U.S. Department of State advises citizens to “reconsider travel” to Jamaica due to a substantial number of murders and other crimes.
The level three “reconsider travel” advisory is just under the level four advisory which cautions against travel, saying “do not travel.”
An alarming surge in crimes and a lack of medical services within the nation has prompted officials to urge travel reconsideration.
“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and homicides, are common,” the travel advisory said. “Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.”
The pervasiveness of crime is apparent by the 65 murders, which took place between Jan. 1 and Jan. 27, 2024, as recorded by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. For several years now, Jamaica’s homicide rate reported by the government of Jamaica has been among the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.
In that same time frame of Jan. 1 through Jan. 27, there have been 21 reported instances of rape, 50 robberies and 60 break-ins, as reported by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
To make matters worse, the advisory states that local police often do not often effectively respond to serious crimes. Even when arrests are made, cases frequently fail to reach conclusive sentences.
Emergency services vary across the island, and the quality of care may vary from those standards customary in the U.S. Jamaican public hospitals are also noted in the travel advisory for being under-resourced. Meanwhile, private hospitals require payment up front and they may not even hold the capability of providing specialized care.
The U.S Department of State encourages potential visitors to obtain traveler’s insurance, including medical evacuation insurance.
Those planning a vacation may also wish to steer clear from the Bahamas. The U.S. Department of State issued an advisory asking travelers to “exercise increased caution” due to heightened crime. Nassau and Freeport reportedly contain much of the danger; with Nassau bearing fatal gang-violence in the “Over the Hill” area.