An advisory from the US State Department, advising Americans against visiting Jamaica, has caught the attention of the country’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ministry.
The travel advisory by the United States, pointed to challenges with crime and public health care in Jamaica.
“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. (And) local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents,” the state department said.
It outlined some high-risk areas, which certain U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to due to risk of crime. This includes Montego Bay, downtown Kingston, parts of St. Ann’s, near Ocho Rios, and certain neighborhoods in Negril.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has since engaged US Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nickolas Perry and embassy officials in a discussion relating to the details in the advisory.
“Notwithstanding our clear care and concern for the safety of all visitors to our island, and notwithstanding our understanding that the overall ranking of Jamaica has not deteriorated in this most recent advisory, the government is disappointed that the language used does not reflect our country’s true progress,” she said.
In its travel advisory, the U.S. State Department stated that public hospitals are under-resourced and cannot always provide high-level or specialised care, while private hospitals require payment upfront before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care.
Johnson-Smith insisted that the government has more than doubled its investments to strengthen the country’s capacity to tackle crime and health-related challenges across the island to benefit citizens and everyone who wishes to visit the island.
“It is not insignificant that Jamaica has recorded a more than 20 per cent decline in serious crimes, along with strong improvements in arrests and prosecution. The Government has also been improving infrastructure and human resources and continues to increase its capacity to deliver improved healthcare to our citizens and indeed to visitors,” she added.
