http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...n-Westmoreland
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I just read that. :(
Oh no
Dang!
That doesn't sound good.
Very troubling. Lawlessness to the max. Has dampened significantly this 30 year plus visitor's desire to visit Negril. Sure murders happen everywhere but those are known places in most cities and we stay clear as good judgment would dictate. With the string of murders in Negril, there seems to be a sense among the bad guys that they can do it without being held accountable. I am now afraid of being in Negril. There is no excuse for such lax security in an area so dependent on tourism. What a shame. So many good people lose out, we the tourists and more importantly the generally wonderful Jamaican people.
waiting for the spin
Lol
While this is troubling, it will not deter me from returning to Negril. Yes, things have changed over the years but living in fear of what "could" happen has never been part of my makeup. These things can happen in our own neighbourhoods yet we still live and work here.
Keep going and implicitly let the lawlessness go unchecked. If I lived in a hood with that many murders, it would be time to move. Sorry that your hood has the same and you choose or are financially locked in.
visited Negril for 30 years(yeah, I am old) and to deny things have not changed and to deny that it is more dangerous than before does a disservice to all.....those who have not been familiar with these changes need to know the truth so that they can make educated decisions. While this board is an excellent resource for learning what is available in Negril, it also needs to be transparent as to the real Negril 2016
Also the could happen is always an acceptable or inescapable level of risk but the odds in Negril are starting to seem too much against us. I love Negril and its people more than I can express but I love my life too. Place is getting to be like a parts of Chicago or Boston, for example, that I stay away from.
Yes Marco I agree and I know you do anything to promote what is great about Negril but you are keeping it real, the motto of this site.
Nothing in the major Canadian papers about it yet (as far as I can see).
thanks....the businesses need to become a more proactive part of dealing wiih the issues
Here is an update from another official news service.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...-killed-negril
We have been hesitant to post on this transparent thread because of the vast number of rumors that have been associated with this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of this tragedy.
I personally hope the Commissioner can help bring closure to this tragic incident for all.
Further info...
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...s-killer_63706
People need to remember that crime happens everywhere. Negril may look like a tropical paradise but it's still a town just like any other all over the word. We can't stop living our lives and doing the things we love because of a handful of bad apples. 50 people were just killed in night club in US last night, should we stop going to night clubs? Yes it's a very different world from 20 or 30 years ago?. One of the biggest differences is now that if a mouse farts in China it is now a media topic and relayed across the word in milliseconds and then twisted into everyone's interpretation and or opinion. People need to be aware of their surroundings and interactions. Doesn't matter if it's Negril or your own home town. Sorry for the rant but it gets old hearing how people will stop doing something they love because a crime was committed. I live in a smallish town in the US and more violence happens here than probably a quarter of JA .. And no I don't live in the "hood". I live four miles outside of a wonderful little town and it has its share of bad apples just like everywhere else.
This is still very tragic and thoughts prayers go out to the victims of this.
I have to echo NoProblem's insightful comment about how twisted stories can become in milliseconds, because of people's interpretation, opinions and the Internet.
I am sure that all of you have heard countless versions of this tragic incident based on rumors, speculation and sensationalism from other websites and even based on contact with people you know in Negril. The village was buzzing yesterday with all kinds of rumors being spread in every store, restaurant, bar and street corner you came across. Most are not meant to be malicious, but false statements passed on as "facts" do a disservice to all.
Thus far, none of our monitors have had to delete anything from this tragic topic. That speaks volumes for the quality of the posters and viewers of Negril.com! Thank you all for keeping it real.
We heard all kinds of stories yesterday, none the same. We had 'eyewitness's" saying the incident happened in at least seven different locations. The rumors had from 2 to 5 visitors involved, with both men and women being killed. Even the time of the incident varied by 6 hours.
Since there has been virtually no Canadian coverage of this incident other than stating what the Gleaner, Observer and RJR have already reported, there is not much new we can add. The shooting occurred around 9pm in front of the closed Kaiser's property. According to the police, a 35 year old Canadian, Mr. Palakai, either Andre or Deneis depending on the article, was killed by two gunmen on a motorcycle. The other two walking with him were unharmed. Since nothing was taken, robbery does not seem to be the reason for this incident.
In the latest article linked above, it is noted that the entire parish of Westmoreland has had a total of 46 murder so far this year. As NoProblem pointed out, 50 people were shot and killed in the tourist town of Orlando, Florida last night. We grieve for all these victims.
I am amazed and disheartened that the Negril random murder and others would be compared to the terrorist attack in Orlando. The point is that around the world in high target area countries are working extraordinarily hard devoting immense resources to keep ahead of an ever blossoming terrorist network that continues to execute different and extremelyi challenging and brutal approaches to killing innocent people. The Negril situation does not compare. The security in Negril is horrible as the rash of murders there indicates. I more than anyone want the people of Negril to flourish and redo the benefits of a robust tourist economy and for folks like myself to reap all the wonderful blessings Negril has to offer. If you want to minimize things and used flawed logic and compare terroist activities to the Negril hoodlum based killings, then I think we do no service to Jamaica or tourists. It is just watering down the matter and perpetuate more of the same. The Negril authorities need to step it up like fighters of terrorism are doing. Maybe anecdotal but I am scared to return to Negril or my judgment tells me to stay away. That bums me out. You say crime is everywhere but I stay away from high crime areas like Negril has sadly become. Keeping it real on Negril.com. God bless all.
Well said, BostonBob.
BostonBob,Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBob
Wow! When I thanked everyone for "keeping it real", I meant keeping the thread factual and not speculating or spreading rumors.
I live here and experience daily what happens in Negril. Can you please let us know your source of information that this was a random murder? None of the news services have called it a random murder. I have friends on the police force and I am not privy to this information. If you know something the police do not, it should be your duty to let them know. And at the same time if you wouldnt mind, please let us all know where you derived this "fact".
It would also be beneficial to everyone to let us become aware of this horrible "rash" of murders in Negril that you speak of in your post. In my post, I was referring to the parish of Westmoreland, Negril being a very, very small village in a parish with numerous cities and towns.
And personally a murder is a murder to me. It doesnt matter whether you label it terrorism, as if that makes it somehow less of a murder. Explain that flawed logic to the family of the deceased.
If you were driving here the last few weeks and especially yesterday, you would have heard complaints from many of the law abiding cyclists and motorists who were stopped, sometimes repeatedly and searched by the police. There have been articles for a while in the news about the ramped up efforts by the police and citizenry alike.
But I suppose it was just a matter of time until the rumor and speculation would hit here as well.
This was not random.....a robbery gone bad or something else but not random...
Not that it makes any difference
I was in Orlando this week for a conference...Today 50 are dead in a LBGT club.......Home of Disney World?
Cap
Thank you Rob and Lisa for keeping the updates as accurate as possible. I'll be down next week and will be as vigilant as always, but it's good to know what's going on, to the extent possible.
If I may say,
Bad things do happen everywhere. Sometimes you can avoid it, sometimes you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and sometimes, acts of violence are intentionally directed at the victim. Until we know more, it doesn't do us any good to make broad statements and sweeping judgements. At the same time, we need a place to express our fear and concerns. I think if we are cautious, we can discuss this topic without speculating the events of the crime. If one feels like they are no longer able to visit a town they had previously enjoyed, such as Negril, I'm certain that they thought long and hard about what is best for them. No judgement should be placed on those who still wish to continue visiting, and those who decide not to.
love and respect
sorry but I do not subscribe to the "it could have happened anywhere mentality"...the longer I have visited Negril, the more I have seen the corrupt police program permeate the total environment of Negril.....it will take a much more forceful and global understanding that for the tourism industry to prosper, there must be a more proactive effort to deal with this corruption that we all know exists
Livin,
Excellently stated. As more factual information becomes available, we will make sure it is posted here. As you all know, we live here and this tragedy has hit Negril in a way I have never seen before. People are sad, mad and upset that this occurred on our watch, so to speak. It is not being taken lightly by anyone who lives and works in Negril.
We also understand how this effects those who have strong feelings for Negril. Back home, I am sure many of you have a sense of helplessness at the same time you want to do something to help and that is hard to endure.
We were with a friend from Brussels in Kingston hours after the Brussels bombings took place. There was an indescribable look on their face, seeing places that were now destroyed that they had been hundreds of times. There was a sense of helplessness in their gaze, but they endured and has once again visited Brussels.
We do want this Board to be a place where people can express their feelings, ask questions about their fears and concerns when they need to, but we will not allow this site to become similar to the fear mongering sites already available.
The only way for our visitors to have the best vacation possible is to know the facts. And to do that we must keep it real. To do otherwise would make this site irrelevant to travelers to Negril and Jamaica.
Rash of murders: look at the stats in the observer and increase over last year at this time.
Random murder: will concede that may be speculative at this time but we will see. My money is on that. Robbery gone bad or random is a distinction without a difference.
I have expressed my concerns and have not told others what they should do. I am not wrong to be afraid or for feeling it is a good idea to stay away from a place where there has been a significant uptick in the murder rate. Only time will tell but my main point is that more needs to be done.
It must be me, but the phrase "crime happens everywhere" as a response to a fatal shooting of a tourist
on the West End Road in Negril is a statement that no one could argue. Yea, crime happens everywhere. And your
point is?
My adopted town in Wilmington, NC. It is truly a gun riddled shooting gallery in certain neighborhoods.
I have never seen a letter to the editor to our local paper that said "crime happens everywhere".
Shootings are happening and they are happening here.
Everybody knows that crime happens everywhere...what people struggle with is, what are my risks of being a
victim of crime in Negril?
Rob...I really do not see it helpful to attempt to minimize the situation....yes there are murders everywhere, yada yada yada....I believe noone can disagree with the fact that violence is increasing and that corruption is one of the reasons...everyone in Negril needs to unite in forcing the government and businesses to establish a more stable environment
I've been coming here since 1973 built a house here in 1992 across from the red dragon and have been living here full time for almost three years. I started this thread. I'm apalled and sickened by people saying this happens every where. Thank you boston bob and marco you said it best.
BostonBob,Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBob
The stats in the Observer are for ALL of Westmoreland and show an increase of 6 over last year in a parish of approx. 150,000 people. While one murder is one too many, the "rash" of 6 is for a population of 150,000. Please note that is NOT 6 for Negril, but for all of Westmoreland. The "fact" you posted is a misunderstanding of the difference between a parish (312 square miles, 150,000 people) versus Negril, (about 7,000 people).
I dont find "betting" on the outcome of a murder as a basis for a fact, but speculation by definition. And rather distasteful at that.
You expressed your ""concerns" as "facts". There is no place for that on such an important topic. According to your own source, there has not been a significant uptake in the number of murders in Negril. The stats you quote from the Observer do not support it, which makes your premise false. You are more than entitled to be afraid, but you are not entitled to spread that fear to others with false statements and speculation, ie. fear mongering. This is simply too important.
I agree that more needs to be done, as does everyone who lives and works in Negril.
well then, Rob, what is being done and what has Negil.com done to voice their concern...as you see from a previous post from someone living there, he agrees with our perceptions
Six represents a 15 percent increase. Boston a city of .67 million had a total of 53 murders last year. 150,000 in Westmoreland for the first five and a half months is on track for 94. Not very good I would say for an area populated by just 150,000.
this sickens me, but doesn't surprise me, when I was there in April I saw no police presence, or very little. Also noticed very few of the beach security officers that wear the hats. If tourist
are noticing this, so are the bad men !
Negril busy season is short already, things like this keep happening, places like Cuba, will become an attractive alternative, as it's low in crime, and the U.S. are starting regular commercial flights in the fall.
I love Jamaica, theres no other place you can really compare it to, but something better be done , the way those bikes are driven, crazy, fast, and makes for a quick getaway, almost making
it impossible to catch these people. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe a big majority of the crimes this past couple of years have involved bikes
Quote:
Originally Posted by marco
Marco,Quote:
Originally Posted by eddiemingus
I am not minimizing anything, but allowing people to make their own judgements based on facts. The existence of this thread proves that idea. Try this on TripAdvisor and see what happens.
I was living in Negril when the murder rate was much higher than it is now. In 2005 the murder rate was about 30% higher than last year. This is long before eddie claims to have lived here for "almost three years". And yes, I know eddie and know the day he got his residency.
As fate would have it, that issue about what is being done is in today's Observer. here is the link:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...d-gun-violence
For those who dont click on the link, here is a quick summary:
"Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is working with the police and the army to deal with the issue of gun violence in Jamaica....The prime minister said that through a partnership with the United States, other law enforcement teams, the community, and the State, Jamaica will succeed in its fight against crime."
As for what Negril.com has done and is doing is allowing threads like this to exist and be directed to the appropriate Ministries. Also, working with the Chamber of Commerce as a partner, we add our voice to issues that are important to the stakeholders in the community. Over the years we have conducted various surveys at the Chamber's request. When the issue of crime comes up, we add our voices as well as the voices of our posters to the issue. That is one of the reasons that "keeping it real" is important. When a poster, be it a visitor, resident (full or part time) or business owner makes a misinformed or speculative post, those posts carry less weight and tend to be viewed as the statement from someone who does not know what is happening.
BostonBob,Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBob
Your premise was that there was a "rash of murders" in Negril. You have added nothing to support this opinion other than statistics for an entire parish, nothing about Negril. And now you are bringing up Boston and yet you scolded me for bringing up Orlando. Sounds like a double standard to me. You can say anything unsupported that you want and I cannot bring up facts. Where is the logic in that...
Rob thanks for allowing the heartfelt feedback. Hopefully it will be heard. I have canceled my plans to return to Jamaica and I am sure others will as well until something is done. Cuba is going to compete soon for the tourism revenue and hopefully Jamaican officials do something to keep the locals I love in business. Havana.com soon come.
Jojo,Quote:
Originally Posted by jojo p
We agree with you about the bikes - they are a menace in many ways. There was another motorcyclist funeral yesterday in Red Ground. Many more people are dying from the bikes in Negril than crime.
But Lisa and I both had to respectfully laugh at your "no police presence" comment - in April we saw so many undercover police on the beach, they had even wandered in during the Boardie Bash to see what was going on! (grin)
BostonBob,Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBob
No worries man, government agencies were made aware of this thread when it started yesterday. It is all part of the role Negril.com plays for Negril and Jamaica.
Undercover must not be that undercover and if they are undercover how would the bad guys know of their presence? Seems a real overt presence would be more impactful. If I do not see the police because they are undercover them I feel emboldened to shoot. Seeing police will stop the trigger.