yogananda
9/27/2016 07:32 EST
I am hearing some alarming news about the crime particularly in the tourist areas in Negril. This month a murder at or outside of an all inclusive hotel in Negril, a shooting and shootout on a main road in Green Island and constant credit card theft. I think people should be very concerned about
travel/business in these areas until the government can get a handle on the criminal activity. I am hearing details on the crime not necessarily in the standard newspaper...even though the hotel murder did make the news yesterday. However, I understand that tourism is a major industry in the county..but the problem has to be dealt with not ignored.
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Innerpeace65
9/27/2016 08:56 EST
Unfortunately things are a little stressed in these areas.. however if you live in any major city in the world the crime rates are on par...however if you are fearful and need drama Jamaica may not be a good fit for you....
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RickBlaine
9/27/2016 09:22 EST
I'm going to presume you DON'T live on the island, based on the wording in your post.
I don't disagree with you... Government's first obligation is the safety and security of the people.
However; based on the warnings in your post the same is true of Chicago, New York, Miami and many more U.S. cities. In fact; today's Chicago Tribune has a Breaking News story: "Eleven people were wounded Monday through early Tuesday morning during shootings on the West and South sides, including a 15-year-old boy, police said."
If I was traveling to the states and saw the "crime news" I'd sit in my hotel room and not go anywhere.... that's even if I decided to go. (Tourism is the #1 industry in Chicago, there were nearly 51 million visitors in 2015)
(note: I lived in Chicago for 15 years & grew up in Detroit.)
I'm not saying Jamaica is better or worse than the states or else where. The simple fact is that there is crime every where... and people that desire to do harm to others.
You can't live your life in constant fear or with your head in the sand or locked in your home 24/7/365. What you can do is use common sense when out & about, take significant security measures, be observant and use common sense (I know I said it twice because it is the most important).
Unless you live in some isolated little town with a population of like "3" I'm sure the crime & safety in YOUR city is on par with Negril, Mobay or Chicago.
Everything is relative and must always be put into perspective.
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yogananda
9/27/2016 10:18 EST
I don't need drama. But you might need to understand that people are usually going somewhere else to get away from something! its not about drama at all. I think most people are trying to move away from drama like this. Most maybe not all
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RickBlaine
9/27/2016 10:40 EST
I agree with your statement; "going somewhere else to get away from something!"
I as well relocated to Jamaica for several reasons but crime was not one of them.
I'm a former U.S. Marine, I fought for my country, would have died for my country... but I don't like what my country has become!!! (note: I'm a Vietnam Era vet)
My birth country is coming apart at the seams. No time in history have things been worse!! Social, economic, moral and leadership decay has undermined what decent people have the basic right to.
I have never been happier and more at peace with less stress & drama than I am here now... in Jamaica. I also feel more accepted & respected here than I ever did in the states.
You wrote; "I don't need drama." yet you post a forum message that is sure to get some reaction & comments. I'm not saying that we should ignore the crime issues (in all countries) but we must keep it in perspective.
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yogananda
9/27/2016 10:46 EST
Yes,
Sorry for making other alarmed who are expats. But I don't feel "crime is everywhere" is a solution. Better to make a difference....Are any expats addressing solution to the government. That would be helpful and encouraging to me personally
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RickBlaine
9/27/2016 13:53 EST
As an expat living here (Mobay) I wasn't alarmed by your report of incidents in Negril & Mobay, although you didn't mention Kingston. I already know what is happening daily on my island!
I don't think anyone, especially myself, is saying "crime is everywhere" is the solution. In fact; I said "sticking your head in the sand" is not a solution.
I agree we all should strive to make a difference regardless where we live. Although having lived in several countries (other than the U.S.) expats, unless they are officially residents, don't have much to say or do about anything in government.
The problem is much more involved than simple policing. There is a serious job & wage issue along with a struggling economy on the island. Young people, even with an education, have a difficult time finding or getting a job. It's expensive & hard here, very hard!! and unfortunately some (a very small percentage) turn to gangs, drugs & crime as a way to survive. The key there is "some"! The majority struggle day after day just to survive, never get in trouble and live a happy well-balanced life. But surely I'm not telling you anything you don't already know... because it's the same in the states! Especially so if you are young black or hispanic and male!!
My wife's cousin, who is like a brother-in-law and good friend to me works for the city of Mobay. He works 6 days a week from well before sunrise and into the evening. His salary (to me) is insulting. His fiancee works 6 days a week at the airport, again with minimum pay. He has a small modest home that he is building and they currently live in. He's doing most all the work himself in the evenings and Sundays. I see them struggle yet they won't accept my (our) assistance. They give freely of themselves and most of all Praise God for their blessings and don't ever complain. This IS typical in Jamaica.
Governments alone can not solve the problem. It takes the people and the community working with government to make a difference.
We've already established that you don't live here... I'm wondering if you've ever even been here for any length of time (other than secluded in a resort and seeing the island through the tinted window of a tour bus). So now I'm curious as to what your statement "That would be helpful and encouraging to me personally" actually means. (???)
Your only other post was a year ago asking about Green Island. Are you one of those wannabe dreamers that's "planning" on relocating here but the stories about crime in Jamaica justifies your decision "not to move here just yet"? waiting for things to "get better"?
and HONESTLY IN MY OPINION (which will not make me any friends)... If you don't live here, support the economy, pay taxes than you have NO BASIS to be critical of anything that happens here. In fact; tell me what city/state you reside in and I'll find all sorts of "news" and bash your city/state.
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LoriB
9/27/2016 16:45 EST
"This month a murder at or outside of an all inclusive hotel in Negril" Please provide specifics of this, as I haven't heard of it (yet).
re: Credit Card theft, early in 2016 there WAS some kind of ATM/CC fraud activity going on with the Brazil processor for cc's in Latin America (I was affected), but to my knowledge, that has stopped. Is that what you are referring to, and do you have info that it is currently going on?
I just came back from 5 weeks, it was the quietest, most peaceful time I have experienced. I was hesitant to go, with it being back-to-school and slow season, and a murder in my shopping district a few days before my arrival. But murders always have a 'reason', not random. Don't piss off anyone ;-)
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RickBlaine
9/27/2016 17:43 EST
Lori, that was in June. June 11th to be exact. "Canadian national, who was vacationing in Jamaica with his girlfriend and his father, was shot and killed Friday night in Negril." I was there two weeks after for our honeymoon.
Recently after the Negril Chamber of Commerce and hoteliers were calling for the deployment of members of the Jamaica Defence Force on the streets to uproot the criminals.
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RickBlaine
9/27/2016 18:00 EST
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160611/update-canadian-shot-negril-identified
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160617/update-suspects-identified-killing-canadian-tourist
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LoriB
9/27/2016 18:13 EST
That's 'old' news, which I learned the day after it happened. The OP wrote "THIS MONTH" which is September.
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Spartygrad95
9/27/2016 18:29 EST
Chicago has nothing on the USVI's. We have had over 40 murders thus far in 2016 with a population under 100k.
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Gardis
9/27/2016 20:11 EST
Rick, I think you are emotionally invested in your answer perhaps, but I don't think you are quite correct this time. According to this website, Jamaica has the #3 homicide rate in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate_by_decade
Now, I've seen it as low as #5, but never lower than that. the USA comes in at #34. As far as the crime in Chicago, the far preponderance of it is related to gang violence and retribution. No one living in the surrounding areas is afraid to walk around and no one is living with burglar bars on their windows, as you do in Jamaica. Also, we have a population of nearly 320 million. There is simply no rationale for putting Jamaica and the USA in the same sentence. I have no idea what happened in Negril but it is indeed frightening to think by merely taking a walk outside the walls of an "all inclusive", one could be placing ones life at risk. Not good.
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LoriB
9/27/2016 20:22 EST
Gardis, who knows FOR SURE what the reason was that the Canadian was shot? I have a hard time believing 'just robbery' but its possible they only intended the firearm to be used for emphasis, and don't know the rule Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger
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Gardis
9/27/2016 20:51 EST
Could the poster be referring to this:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160617/update-suspects-identified-killing-canadian-tourist
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RickBlaine
9/28/2016 10:11 EST
Gardis,
the current UNODC's global study places Jamaica at #6 (data 2012) when you sort on RATE (homicide rate per year per 100,000 inhabitants) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
As I stated in a previous reply; "I'm not saying Jamaica is better or worse than the states or else where." and I was not comparing Jamaica to the states. I was only pointing out that crime is every where.
As I also stated I lived in Chicago for 15 years and trust me people do have bars and grates on their windows and doors in many areas of Chicago proper. Now, if you go out to the northern or western suburbs there aren't as many... although most homes are behind gated driveways and entrances. On the south side of Chicago almost every home has bars & security. Detroit and the immediate suburbs are much the same. I also lived in Palm Beach County Florida (which is perhaps one of the richest counties in the country) and a large number of homes & estates have bars & grates and high end security systems.
The Negril murder was senseless, as are all murders!! According to the published reports of the incident "Loop News has been informed that the incident occurred around 9 o’clock as he, his girlfriend and his father were walking along the West End main road." and "Thirty-five-year-old real estate broker ***** ******* was shot dead reportedly by two men on a motorcycle after he tried to prevent the men from robbing his female companion along the West End Road in Negril."
Examine those 2 statements. "9 o’clock", "walking" & "prevent" Common sense says, as a tourist you don't go walking around at 9pm, you certainly don't argue or hesitate giving up your valuables when a gun is pointed at you! You ALSO don't wear jewelry, watches, flash a lot of cash, etc which literally is a sign saying "ROB ME"!!! and you take a friggin' taxi... especially at night.
When we (wife and I) drive through downtown Mobay at night we lock the car doors and roll up the windows. In San Jose, Costa Rica there's an unwritten rule that you DON'T stop at red lights at night. I do much the same here in Mobay.
and YES, I am emotionally invested in my answers!! As I asked the OP, how would you like it if I posted alarming information about your city or state! Especially since she doesn't live here and in my opinion has not spent any time here!!!
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RickBlaine
9/28/2016 10:46 EST
for the OP:
There is a crime issue in Mobay to the extent they are considering a "state of emergency". It's NOT for the tourist areas like Hip Strip... it's for downtown and surrounding areas like Mt Salem. (it's like a neighborhood of Mobay) In fact; we are in Westgate Hills and serviced by the Mt Salem JCF Unit (even though Freeport is closer).
My personal observations indicate that the Jamaican government is getting serious about crime, at least here in Mobay.
Yesterday I drove past the police station in Freeport, Mobay (for those that don't know Freeport is an area southwest of downtown Mobay) and JCF was pulling out with a pickup truck loaded with officers (about a dozen) in tactical gear and an APC (armored personal carrier, the kind SWAT uses) behind them. Most likely they were going downtown as a show of force.
and last night a JDF (Jamaican Defense Force) helicopter was flying over Mobay for several hours, well past midnight.
To sum it up... “The good haffi suffer fi the bad,” said one man who was firmly in support of a limited state of emergency. (from an article in The Gleaner - http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20160928/good-haffi-suffer-fi-bad-mount-salem-residents-ready-give-rights-state )
and understand that vacationing here and residing here are 3 different things.
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Stardust14
10/22/2016 13:10 EST
I have been to Jamaica numerous times..and lived like a local..no 5 star resorts..The crime problem does concern me..but it us not stopping me from pursuing my dream..I have seen alot here in Jamaica and what really frustrates me is the the corruption in the police force..this has to stop in order for things to improve. I have seen a Jamaican friend being afraid to go to the police because of this. .if you have friends in the police force..u might b ok..other than that keep your fingers crossed u r nog in the wrong place at the wrong time!
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Mypandoradied
12/28/2016 15:13 EST
Crime is Everywhere especially here in Detroit its Horrible That's why I want out of Here.....Thought About Toronto But I need a Real Get Awasy...2017 will be better beginnings to do just that
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DebraN
1/16/2017 18:13 EST
Thank you Rick for your very clear and accurate description of Jamaica. I have been traveling there for years and bought my house at the Orange Bay CC 10 years ago where I lived very happily, and never felt more safe or loved and protected.. Unfortunately had to return to New York after a critical car accident my son was in after he returned to NY after visiting me in Jamaica. He has recovered 100% and I am now planning my permanent return home (Jamaica) sometime in September. Thank you again......
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donnajshaw2012
1/17/2017 06:46 EST
I use to live in Negril, Whitehall phase 2, Just to say you must be very careful if you are looking to live locally. I did live with my husband so I felt a little protected as he is Jamaican. But even that at times is scary.
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