Is it safe to travel to Jamaica and what is the latest travel advice?
A STATE of emergency has been declared in the key tourist hub of Montego Bay on the Caribbean island of Jamaica after ‘general lawlessness’ gripped the island since the New Year.
The murder rate is twice as high in the parish of St James than in any other part of the country, and is ten times higher than in the United States.
Is it safe to travel to Jamaica?
Thousands of British holiday makers are already on holiday on the island.
Tourists have been advised to remain at their resorts and limit any travel beyond their respective security perimeters.
In a bulletin issued by the , tourists are advised to only leave their resorts for “travel to and from the airport, or for excursions” and all trips should be arranged by the resort only.
This advice is incredibly unusual for the FCO, as they normally either confirm that it’s ok to go or suggest we stay away from a particular place.
This time the advice directed to anyone in the north-west of the island is to not wander away from the gated, guarded resorts.
Resorts like Negril in the west and Ocho Rios in the east of Jamaica are unaffected, although tourists arriving into Montego Bay’s airport should be mindful of the risks.
And a British couple have now been found murdered in their luxury eight bedroom home in Jamaica weeks after complaining they were victims of a credit card fraud.
Charlie and Gayle Anderson were discovered dead on June 22 at their home in Hope Bay, on the North East of the island.
The FCO has reminded tourists of the high crime levels across the whole island, saying: “Be vigilant at all times, even if you are staying with friends and family.
“Don’t walk alone in isolated areas or on deserted beaches, even during the day.
“Take particular care when withdrawing money from ATMs. Don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear eye-catching jewellery.
“Try to vary which restaurants you use. Using the same place too often might make you a target for thieves.”
Why is there a state of emergency?
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of emergency in the island’s second city of Montego Bay in January as authorities attempted to stem a wave of killings.
Thousands of military personnel and police have been deployed in the city which is home to 200,000 people.
Described as a “major military operation”, officers have been granted additional powers to search and detain without a warrant and shut down businesses.
A state of emergency has also been imposed in St Catherine parish, west of the capital of Kingston.
Vehicles coming in and out of the area will also be searched.
Montego Bay has seen its murder rate rise rapidly over the past years, with a staggering 335 deaths in 2017.
These killings are mostly linked to gang violence and an illegal lottery scam that left hundreds of mostly older people out of pocked in the millions.
The state of emergency has also been declared to prevent the dangerous outbreaks of violence damaging Jamaica’s reputation as a holiday island.
The state of emergency gives officers additional powers, allowing them to search and detain without a warrant and shut down businesses.
Latest Travel News
What is the best time of year to visit Jamaica?
Jamaica is a great island to visit anytime between mid-December and April, when the island is at its driest, although prices are generally also extremely high at this time of year.
The shoulder season, from May to July, sees lower hotel prices than previous months, but with the same glorious sunshine.
The hurricane season in Jamaica normally runs from June to November.
Travellers are advised to monitor the progress of approaching storms and follow the advice of the local authorities.