United States Still Urging Citizens to “Reconsider” Travelling to Jamaica in Latest 2024 Travel Advisory

In its latest travel advisory update, the U.S. Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a stern warning to American citizens to reconsider travelling to Jamaica. As per the report, the warning was not only prompted by Jamaica’s high level of criminal activities but also because of its poor medical services.

According to the governmental agency’s webpage, as it relates to the state of Jamaica’s law and order, it points to the often ineffective response to violent crime by local police and the high level of crime. The statement continued by noting that when arrests do occur, “cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence.”

The summary of Jamaica, as per the agency, outlines that violent crimes such as armed robberies, homicides, home invasions and sexual assaults are typical on the Island. In addition, it stated that sexual assaults are common practice in Jamaica, which includes all-inclusive resorts.

However, if U.S. personnel under the Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility, were to ignore the travel advisory and travel to the island, they were presented with a list of areas they are prohibited from visiting.

These areas include parts of St. Ann, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, Trelawny, and Westmoreland. A more severe warning was issued for Clarendon and St James, as U.S. government personnel are advised not to visit the entire parishes only if it is via its highways.

The statement also points to Jamaica’s slow documentation process by governmental agencies as another critical reason not to travel to the Island. “Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities,” a part of the advisory read.

As it relates to Jamaica’s poor medical services on offer, both publicly and privately, the statement outlines that public hospitals are ‘under-resourced’ and are unable to provide competent health care. The statement also declared that private medical facilities are not the best alternative as they may not have the ability to offer specialized care and required payments upfront.

The new updates were issued on January 23, 2024.