What's this about Riots outside Red Ground?
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What's this about Riots outside Red Ground?
Yea I heard it too...something about the police killed a biker...? Don't know how true it is just heard it word from mouth...Would like to know more though..13 more days hope I don't need to cancel!:(
Thanks Bnewb for the update!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
Iriechic...there's no need to cancel...protests are not unusual in Jamaica though they don't happen a lot in Negril.
Ok. Good to knowQuote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
My guess is that it's not riot at all. They're just blocking the road which is a traditional way to protest in Jamaica.
Very similar incident happened last January 19th in New Hope near my house. Police chased an illegal bike and the rider fell off and died.
I have video from my go pro dash cam of the protest.
Things will be back to normal in a day or two.
The police are confiscating lots of unlicensed and uninsured bike by stopping traffic right in front of the station. Sometimes the rider sees the block, hangs a u-turn and high tails it with the police in chase. After that who knows what happened?
Cap
We hopped a route taxi from the west end into town, but were stopped at the "church road" just before the big curve by a tree across the road and a fire in the street. We were headed up to Red Ground, so we just took the church road up to see our buddy. A couple of hours later when we returned the road was open and the police were on hand. We did not even go into town as the people in Red Ground said it was best not to go.
Regards,
Bob
Good idea to not get involved in a local issue. Go to the beach. The protest most likely only has a 1/2 mile radius if that.Quote:
Originally Posted by rjonsun
Cap
I came up on this protest right after it started. My driver decided to make take another route thru the cane fields and got us around it. There was some passionate youth raising some hell, but I never felt threatened as they were too focused on adding fuel to the fire.Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind & Linston
The young man who died in this incident was a friend of mine for a long time. The family I live with their youngest son is his best friend. This was a classic case of if you come to a road block and don't stop when told to you will get a loud verbal warning to stop after that and you still dont stop your life is in real danger. I witnessed one of these events first hand. I had to stop for a road block and as I was being questioned a bike came and was told to stop and didn't. He got the loud verbal warning and was smart enough to turn around. That cop chewed his ass out. Told him just how close he came to being shot. This was very tragic and a great loss to this family, he was a good kid. R.I.P Scuba you'll be missed.
I went for a jog this morning up to bridge..things looked fine..all I noticed yesterday was some smoke..most people on beach didnt even know anything was up..all iriie
I need to clarify my post but first with an apology for making a statement on information that I thought was solid info from a friend of his. Scuba was not stopped by a road block as I was told. And im not going to put the new story I've heard either. Only this I will say the incident was very very tragic and that's what caused the unrest. Like I said he was a good kid.
sorry for your loss.
Here is another article:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...rcyclist-being
In the 30+ years of being in Negril, I have seen 5-6 riots. Usually, rumors start the riots, which USUALLY were wrong, once the true story came out. Once a riot was caused by the Police due to beating up a pregnant women. Then the true story came out that the female vendor attacked the police for making her move from where she was set up, smacking the Police, not pregnant and was from Kingston, cheating people out of their money. Once I seen cars and other stuff burning in the middle of the road. But I knew those vehicles did not run anyway and were sitting in a yard prior to the riot! Now it was going to be removed by the officials at NO cost to the owner! Have seen so much speculation over this ridiculous riot that people need to know how much this affects tourism. I have even walked with rioters and NEVER feared for my safety, my guests safety or safety in general. These type of riots only allow the locals to give off steam and absolutely changes nothing! Get on with the street music and have fun!
These are NOT riots......
These are demonstrations
You want to know about a riot?
Read the story of Sam Sharpe (National Hero)
Cap
I stand corrected Capt! They are indeed demonstrations and not real "riots". But either way, real nothings to worry about. Many of our guests tell us they seen things and won't come back due to all the violence and crime. We have to change something or this type of behavior will cause real issues with tourism on the entire island. Way to much internet and social media chatter about Jamaica already!
This unfortunate incident, not caused by crime or violence but an accident, has fortunately brought out some interesting points that are obvious from the posts made in this thread. As we continuously mention, the Negril rumor mill is quite active and colourful. Rumor and speculation benefit no one and causes much more harm than any possible good.
The original poster asked a very basic question based on what they had heard or read from someone. The title of this thread "Riot?" is a fair question considering the instant rumor caused by the Internet.
Anyone who has seen or been in a riot, such as happened in the USA cities of Ferguson and Baltimore would immediately see no similarity between those riots and the protest in Negril, which lasted a matter of hours. I was taken to Ohio State by my brother during the Vietnam riots, and being teargassed at age 9 is something I will never forget.
If you had not known about the protest, the day after you could walk around Negril and be none the wiser. Other than some fading scorch marks on the road, there were no obvious signs that anything occurred. But this is a perfect example of how the Internet can take one thing and transform it into another.
All over the Internet, people have now begun to change their postings, toning them down once they found out the truth of the situation. One particular post on another site, there was a complete "description" of the incident which caused the "riot". That post has now been changed to "waiting to find out the facts" about what caused the "protest". While this does show that the posters realize they were wrong in making their original post, it is impossible to "un-ring a bell". The damage has already been done adding to the rumor and speculation and causing further damage.
I admire the way our poster eddie handled his posts with an apology and retraction of his original post. This demonstrates how the Negril rumor mill works and also does not change what people have already read.
With all the emails and PMs I have received talking about cancelling their trips and asking about the accuracy of the postings on other sites, I would like to thank you all for making the effort to provide the facts to our visitors. Your posts in this thread and all the posts over the years have helped millions of visitors to Negril have the best time possible!
Agree that's not a riot. Not even close. I would still like to have more information about what happened in the "accident" though, several conflicting reports there, and they vary widely. Obviously I'm not owed any real information (no one except the family and community is), but that's the kind of thing that doesn't seem to come to light very often.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
edit: transparency is a good thing, and is sadly lacking all over the world.
TAH,
Information does very often come to light after the investigations are over. Watching the Jamaican news programs and reading the papers are where you will find the info. This investigation is just starting. Keep googling for the info - once the investigation is done, the transparent information will be available to all.
As good as transparency is, there has been cases where a person's right to privacy takes precedence. There have been several occasions where we have been asked by those involved to NOT allow their incident to be posted on the Board. They did not want to become a topic of discussion. Another incident that comes to mind is one that happened to me years ago when a visitor died and I discovered the body. They were terminally ill and had come to Negril to die. After contacting the US Embassy and the family, the story was never reported in the news other than the obituary in their home town paper.
And I am sure that you know transparency is not always a good thing, especially on a personal level. I am sure there have been private issues that happened in your life to you or your family and friends, and being a private matter no one else has a right to know.
Yeah, you're right about the personal aspect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Personal preference and a tourist board made for making money are 2 different points tho...
People should be able to read the good bad and the ugly about a place and make their own decision
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. Personal preference and a tourist board are not 2 different points, but two different things entirely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fun in the sun
The good, bad and the ugly are discussed here and always have been. This allows for our visitors to get the most accurate and helpful information available anywhere to make their trip to Jamaica and Negril the best vacation possible!
I think the needless accidental death of our friend Scuba is a tragedy. That is a very ugly thing.
What is not discussed here are rumor and speculation as it is of no value at all and can help no one with any decision.
The fact you posted in this thread entitled "Riot?" allows everyone to see that the good, bad and ugly are available to be read and discussed here.
Scuba was a real person with real family and friends that loved him. The truth based on the facts have been posted here. It would be irresponsible and needlessly hurtful to the family to allow pointless speculation.
People are hilarious. This was reported in the Jamaican news papers. The link was posted here. It's not Rob's duty to report every time something happens. If you're a seasoned enough visitor to Jamaica to walk up to red ground, then you already know the deal. If not, then this incident doesnt matter to you anyway. Giving rob **** is petty, and it's annoying to read.
Attachment 42546Quote:
Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26
DITTO!!!!!
Cap and Linston
Really when all is said and done.......what you get is GOSSIP...... rarely true and often hurtful......