65 Murders In One Month Island Nation – Jamaica
65 Murders In One Month Island Nation: Another Caribbean nation was warned by the State Department that a travel warning for Jamaica was ‘sharp’ because it ‘has been rocked’ by 65 murders this month. That announcement came just days after the State Department also warned about the Bahamas, one of several Caribbean nations where there have been a string of murders, despite keeping its Level 2 travel advisory, which advises Americans to ‘be on guard’ when traveling there.
Violence has surged in Jamaica, where a U.S. Level 3 travel advisory has been issued. Crime and unreliable medical services have left me, and tourists in general, feeling it is better to consider a rethink on travel. Colored by violence, Jamaica, a prime tourist destination in the Caribbean, is facing a swell in crime that has the U.S. government putting out a Level 3 travel advisory. Telling Americans not to go to the island ‘due to crime and unreliable medical services.’
U.S. warns tourists to ‘reconsider travel’ to this island nation due to crime, lack of medical care
If you weren’t taking too much public transit or really just relying on Google Maps, the origins of that warning might elude you, but as it stands, the U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisory to Jamaica and warned tourists to ‘reconsider travel’ for a few reasons.
A previous advisory issued many months earlier asked travelers to ‘reconsider travel’ because 65 people were killed in 30 days. It also warns travelers that the Caribbean island nation has seen a rising rate of crime and that medical care, even in the touristy parts of the island, is scarce.
Jamaica’s homicide rate is, in fact, among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, the Government of Jamaica noted later.
In fact, resorts are renowned for reports of sexual assault, the U.S. Embassy reports — including against U.S. citizen tourists. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory responses to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence,” the advisory stated.
The island has also been struggling with slow response times to medical emergencies, as well as routine illnesses and injuries.
Ambulances do not always have fully staffed EMTs on board if ambulances are available.
Travel Advisories Issued For The Bahamas, Jamaica
They upgraded travel warning and security advisory on Jan. 24, a day after 18 mostly gang-related murders, after which the U.S. Embassy issued a pretty stark warning.
The U.S. Embassy was warning travelers to ‘exercise extreme caution’ on the eastern side of the Bahamas’ capital city, Nassau.
The Bahamian government, which ‘welcomes’ travelers, said it was ‘alert, attentive, and proactive.’
A month after Jamaica was rocked by 65 murders and the State Department issued a stark travel warning, the nation’s leaders are scrambling to prove that law and order are top priorities, faring better than rivals throughout the region. The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica upgraded the travel advisory to Level 3. “Reconsider travel,” which is just one level short of the most severe, which warns Americans against travel altogether.
The Bahamian and Jamaican tourism boards insist that the countries are still safe for tourists despite the warnings of the United States.
Crimes Are Common In Jamaica
Violent crimes, including home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and homicides, are common in Jamaica, the U.S. Embassy there said. Sexual assaults are a serious problem, including at all inclusive resorts.’
Jamaican police are often ineffective in dealing with serious criminal incidents, the Jamaican police force also said. The advisory warns some private facilities might ask for payment in advance, and the medical services on the island are not always dependent.
Significant Surge In Crime Rate
According to statistics reported by the national police force — the Jamaica Constabulary Force — the island, with its 2.8 million or so population, had 65 homicides from Jan. 1 through Jan. 27 of this year. That was a huge drop compared to the same time last year when there were 81 homicides. But there were more shootings and more people shot in crimes in this January compared to last. But the data also showed a big fall in the number of rapes reported in January 2024.
