The travel alert level for Jamaica has been elevated by the US government in response to a recent surge in homicides within the Caribbean nation.
Americans are strongly encouraged to reconsider visiting Jamaica due to concerns related to crime and the perceived unreliability of medical services.
This adjustment to a Level 3 travel advisory comes shortly after the State Department issued a warning regarding the Bahamas, maintaining it at a Level 2 advisory.
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The advisory for the Bahamas urges Americans to exercise increased caution despite a series of murders reported in the region.
The US Embassy in Jamaica specifically cautioned about the prevalence of violent crimes, including home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides. It emphasized the frequency of sexual assaults, even within all-inclusive resorts.
Jamaica Reports 65 Homicides in January
According to data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, a country with a population of approximately 2.8 million, there were 65 homicides recorded between January 1 and January 27 of the current year.
Although this signifies a notable reduction from the corresponding period in the previous year, during which there were 81 homicides, there has been an increase in the number of shootings and individuals injured in crimes in January compared to the previous year.
Notably, the data reveal a substantial decline in the number of reported rapes in January 2024 compared to the same period in the preceding year.
The Jamaica Gleaner, the nation’s oldest newspaper, reported on Monday that the monthly murder tally of 65 included 19 murders within the previous week alone.
In the Bahamas, the US Embassy in Nassau, in a message published on January 24, conveyed that there had been 18 murders in the capital city since the commencement of the year.
These incidents occurred “at all hours, including in broad daylight on the streets.
” The embassy attributed most recent killings to gang violence and advised travelers to “exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau),” particularly emphasizing vigilance when walking or driving at night.
The embassy further cautioned against physically resisting any robbery attempts and recommended visitors to review their “personal security plans.”
The tourism sector plays a significant role in Jamaica’s economy, and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett conveyed to the country’s lawmakers in December an anticipation of the continued “spectacular growth pattern” witnessed in 2022 and 2023.