Jamaica
is
a
popular
destination
for
many
Americans,
but
the
U.S.
government
has
issued
a
recent
travel
alert
advisory
for
the
Caribbean
island.
According
to
reports,
Jamaica
is
undergoing
a
recent
spat
of
murders
and
other
crimes
over
the
past
few
weeks,
prompting
a
Level
3
advisory.
The
State
Department
issued
its
travel
advisory
late
last
month,
citing
the
recent
crimes
in
Jamaica,
which
include
murders,
sexual
assaults,
and
robberies,
even
inside
all-inclusive
resorts
where
travelers
are
thought
to
be
safer.
As
it
stands,
the
government
agency
is
suggesting
potential
visitors
to
reconsider
traveling
there.
From
the
advisory:
Country
Summary:
Violent
crimes,
such
as
home
invasions,
armed
robberies,
sexual
assaults,
and
homicides,
are
common.
Sexual
assaults
occur
frequently,
including
at
all-inclusive
resorts.
Local
police
often
do
not
respond
effectively
to
serious
criminal
incidents.
When
arrests
are
made,
cases
are
infrequently
prosecuted
to
a
conclusive
sentence.
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.
The
homicide
rate
reported
by
the
Government
of
Jamaica
has
for
several
years
been
among
the
highest
in
the
Western
Hemisphere.
U.S.
government
personnel
under
COM
security
responsibility
are
prohibited
from
traveling
to
the
areas
listed
below,
from
using
public
buses,
and
from
driving
outside
of
prescribed
areas
of
Kingston
at
night.
On
Jan.
29,
the
U.S.
Embassy
in
Jamaica
added,
“We
strongly
encourage
you
to
obtain
traveler’s
insurance,
including
medical
evacuation
insurance,
before
traveling
to
Jamaica.
The
Department
of
State
does
not
pay
medical
bills.”
News
of
the
travel
advisory
made
its
rounds
on
social
media
with
reactions
varying
from
humor
to
some
looking
at
this
as
an
opportunity
to
visit
the
country
at
a
cheaper
price.
See
the
reactions
below.
—
Photo:
Getty
