U.S. Issues Warning Against Travelling To Jamaica Due To High Crime Rate

he U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a travel advisory for Jamaica, where it is advising persons to reconsider travelling to the country due to the crime rate.

Jamaica was listed with a level three category, indicating that there is widespread violent or organized crime present in areas of the country. It further indicated that “Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents”.

The travel advisory also placed great emphasis on a total of eight parishes, whereby it strongly warned persons to avoid visiting for their safety due to its contribution to the high crime rate in the country. The parishes listed are: Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston and St.Andrew, Montego Bay, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. James and Westmoreland.

Additionally, it cautioned those persons who decide to visit the island to avoid walking or driving at night and to avoid public buses.

“The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica has for several years been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere,” the travel advisory cautioned.