http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...gril-in-a-week
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Say it ain't so.
Unbelievable...What is going on?!? The police really needs to get a hold on this before it truly affects the sector!!
omg what is going on sounds like all 3 may have been done by the same chichen chit low life ppl
Somebody needs to get a hold on this or put pressure on those who can get a hold on this. This stuff sounds more like Wilmington NC than the West End. Thugs shooting bullets from motorbikes. All those cool saloons along the West End Road are open air, no cover.
The story doesn't mention anything about a robbery which is different from the others except for the motorcycle(s) involvement. This really opens up a whole new set of questions that are sure to put some serious additional pressure on the police and JTB (tourism board) and fear among local residents. My heart, thoughts and love are with the great people of Negril and hope the end of this nightmare will soon come.
As much as we were looking forward to a few nights at Catcha, I think it might be time to cancel. Just not worth the risk.
Wow. This is very disconcerting. I have booked a trip for my father in December, in the heart of the West End so he can get away from the craziness around here for a week. I'm seriously considering cancelling and booking him elsewhere, maybe TB. Not good, to say the least.
this is very sad because its going to change the west end, I have no doult about it. Good hard working ppl being shot down. We love the west end and we sure hope they get a handle on this before next trip. I can't blame the ppl who want to cancel their west end vacation . these people who are doing this obviously care nothing about life and I certainly hope no one gets caught in a crossfire either. I sure hope they catch these scum bags before they skip town which im sure they will .
This is beginning to have the flavor of a shakedown. I hope that the owners along West End have the courage to resist, because what happens on the high ground is gonna run down hill to the beach. I hope the police are treating this like the economic extortion that it seems to be on the surface.
Look at me... speculating. But this all seems so senseless and disconnected (other than the bikes). Jah help the police and JDF.
I spoke with a friend who is a bartender on the west end this morning. He said employees who get off work after dark are fearful waiting for a route taxi to get home. He said that if they see a motorcycle light approaching they hide in the bushes until it passes. My/Our favorite place on earth is on a very slippery slope. If the Jamaican Government/Police can't protect the people, they should allow the people to protect themselves. When only criminals have guns this is what you get. If the citizens of negril were armed, and had a stand your ground law this foolishness would end very quickly. The hard working people of Negril are very aware of the impact these events may have on tourism and their families livity.
Oh please! So there is much less gun violence in the US because of our gun laws...is that seriously what you are trying to say? Don't bring this debate to the board. I think I'd rather discuss route taxis.Quote:
Originally Posted by kim&betty
Hey Kevin, I respect your opinion. But oh please, would you like to work 10-12 hrs a day for very little $$, and then cower in the shrubbery at the sight of an approaching bike? Perhaps you would. That is my friends reality, and neither he nor I think it's acceptable. The Police are all protecting/patrolling the big parties along the beach road. Firearm possession by law abiding citizens is certainly a deterrent to crime. I agree though it is a crappy solution to a very real problem.
Now that brought a little levity, you are right, lets not go thereQuote:
Originally Posted by Kevin, PA
These are definite tragedies and I can see why a Jamaican would be fearful to stand waiting on dark roads for a route taxi and hear a motor bike approaching but, come on now!Quote:
Originally Posted by kim&betty
Putting guns in the hands of Negril's citizens is truly a stupid idea. You have obviously never lived in Kingston. I have. People are shooting people all the time and hardly no one is carrying a gun legally. Allowing people to "protect themselves" will only make more people die. This is not your country so you would probably be advised not suggest a "George Zimmerman" brand of justice on a Travon Martin society.
You think arming people will make tourists feel safer? What about an English tourist? They are not so stupid in England to allow guns and surely don't want to go somewhere that does.
You want to make your "slippery slope" a waterfall?
The Government/Police have a difficult time now but these people will be punished eventually. This is an island and there is really no where to run. Things take time in Jamaica.Quote:
with 40.9 murders per year per 100,000 people, are among the nations with the highest murder rates in the world
Accompong, the following quote is from the same web page you sited above.
You also made the pointQuote:
According to the latest available data, the murder rate in the United States was 4.7 per 100,000 population.
That is what I mean, LEGALLY carrying a gun would deter these mad youths who think they are shottas/rude boy's/bad men what have you, from continuing with impunity. They all have cell phones and know exactly where the police are when they choose their victims.Quote:
People are shooting people all the time and hardly no one is carrying a gun legally.
You have been going to Jamaica for almost 20 yrs longer than I have, I do respect your opinion. I also love Jamaica, and my friends are family to me, as yours are to you. Blessings to you and yours.
Terrific idea: Carry a gun and whenever a motorcycle approaches draw it and if it's a bad guy you shoot first.
Oddly enough several times in the past when the police/army were making a full sweep of the area the cell phones stopped workingQuote:
Originally Posted by kim&betty
I don't remember saying the JDF or Jamaican Police were stupid, Capt. It isn't very odd, but rather easy to shut down a few towers to disable cellular service. But tourists would complain that their wifi connection was as weak as the water pressure. Accompong didn't make the quote as you pieced it together, the cell phone comment was mine.
We are all on the same side here Gang, NEVER Foget that. We may all have different opinions and thoughts of what we think is best but the one thing we should have in common is our respect and heartfelt condolences of those who are there and dealing with the tragedies of love ones, acquaintances and neighbors. The fear going through the neighborhoods and commuters who work the West End and all of Negril, those whom have welcomed us, waited on us and befriended us, whether it was once or a hundred times. I am not a religious person but I will ask for someone to look over the loved ones, in the place in our hearts, NEGRIL
Well saidQuote:
Originally Posted by Packrat
Well said Packrat!
First and foremost my heart goes out to the families involved, secondly the entire gun debate is a joke, this isn't about guns but the moral decay of our society. I have never seen a gun shoot itself, or a knife stab somebody by itself. Accompong my question to you is what do you think about the murder capital of Chicago? If you aren't aware they have the strictest gun laws in the USA. What we need is a better society of compassionate people, people who actually care about others. We toss about the word "Respect" here on the forum a lot, but we in turn "bash" each other if we don't see their viewpoint. I'm guilty of it as well, but let's not say guns are the reason for all of this. BTW, I'm not a gun owner, a member of the NRA nor do I care to ever have a gun! I'm an owner of personal responsibility and for teaching my children right from wrong, for spanking them if they did wrong, and for loving them with praise and life. I'm 53 years old, not wealthy, fiscally conservative and socially liberal so no need to throw the term right winger at me. What I have in life I earned, never asked for a handout, hopefully I never will!
My viewpoint only!
I do not want to share this information with others I know who love Jamaica or dream about going there. That tells me something. I want them to continue with their thoughts about lovely Negtil without the fear factor. But if they were going any time soon, they would need to know. It will pass. Let us pray, especially for victims and their families and loved ones. Negril Strong.
Thank you kim&betty for the Blessings and same back at you. Bless.Quote:
Originally Posted by kim&betty
Comparing the United States with Jamaica is not a fair comparison due to the greater population and greater land area. A more fair comparison would be comparing Jamaica to Connecticut. They are roughly the same shape and size. Jamaica has (these are all rough figures) roughly 3.5 million people and Conn. has roughly 2.7 million. Using this as a basis for comparison, Conn. has around 150 murders a year and they don't have open carry laws. Yes, you can get a permit to carry and you can get one in Jamaica as well.
Yes your "shottas/rude boy's/bad men" have guns and most regular Jamaicans don't but more guns in circulation will cause an increase in murders. Yes, some will be those bad men but many more will be innocent Jamaicans. I was in Jamaica during the turbulent '80s when the CIA was bringing in guns inside refrigerators to arm the opposition to the Manley government. That is what happens when you turn guns loose on a passionate society.
The problems in Jamaica are more systemic and culturally based. Jamaican's revere the "bad man". Witness the nicknames of "Killa" etc. that abound or the movies like "Harder they Come" etc. When I first went to Jamaica, the TVs showed John Wayne movies and war movies and the nicknames followed like "John Wayne" or "Josie Wales" etc.
It is only in the past couple of elections that political murders didn't flare up around the island. Adding guns would only add more violence period.
I respect you and your opinion but you are just plain wrong with your assumption that arming Jamaicans will put this senseless violence in check. As I have said before, this is Jamaica and they do things in their own way. We don't have to like it but we (as visitors) don't have any right to interfere either. If you are scared of murders, don't go to Jamaica or to Chicago for that matter. You have a choice not like the people who live in Jamaica who can't go affaren.
Bless Up.
@ Tanfastic...
clap! clap! clap! Here Here! :)
Not sure how or why this thread went into a debate about gun control.
We are leaving the island today and we definitely made sure to be on the beach side of the round about soon after dark. Vibe on the beach was excellent all trip. The vibe on the westend not the same
Oh Joy!! The westend is where we are staying if we go.....
everything is fine and well here on the West End...
mi live here and stayed out till 4AM last night....
there was the Dream Weekend Concert last night that mi attended......
and the concert was packed and an awesome time......
no problem getting a taxi from the beach to the West End.....
the chartered cost back was $700J's for two of us......yah mon
Cool Runnings, Marko
Fine and Well????? have you been in a cave??
what do you think about the murder capital of Chicago? If you aren't aware they have the strictest gun laws in the USA.
I see this example cited very frequently. But only by Americans. Of course, they're pretty much the only ones who argue that everyone should have guns.
The rest of the world looks at America and sees a society that is very open toward gun ownership and has a lot of deaths resulting from all those firearms. They're too hung on the big picture, obviously, and can't see that all these guns and all this death actually prove that gun laws are ineffective. Only Americans can parse the stats and reach a true understanding of the situation.
Statistically it is much more likely you or a loved one will be killed\injured with your own gun then you are to prevent someone from killing\injuring you or a loved with your gun. Now consider that you are more likely to be killed\injured in gun related violence if you own a gun then if you don't. I don't know about you but with those statistics I feel my family is much safer not having a gun.
I feel much safer with my 9mm close by.
...your own gun?????? (shudder...) only in the U.S.A .....sigh
Joseph's Cave? I wish!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaherring
If you're going to quote statistics you should do some research to get the internals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin, PA
Of the 68,000,000 homes that have firearms .0000105% have had a gun accident which includes suicides.
109,000 cases in which a firearm was used to protect the home which did not end in a casualty.
Just sayin
Not really for this board though
Im too old to fight and my aim with a slingshot is not too good. I'll keep my gun....makes my odds much better.
Hell, they're just shooting each other, you don't have to worry!
Funny how citizens having guns in Jamaica for personal protection is considered crazy by some. Yet the laborer who works for virtually nothing carries around a razor sharp machete all day which is capable of remove limbs in a single stroke.
Poverty and culture drive violence, not tools.
We are oh so similar except for the gun ownership piece.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanfastic
Me too. My dogs are the deterrent, my Glock is the enforcer. Sadly one of these men were armed, however he was picked off before he had time to react. And more folks are armed on the West End than most would believe, especially business owners. Looks like it is time for an increased presence of plain clothes officers. Leave the stoners alone on the beach and hit the West End.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaherring