A cautionary tale, especially for returners

[Angel]

The end! This has strayed every where.

[JahC]

yes Rob & Lisa , the resorts do read the message board and with so many concerns as of late I am confident that there are going to be some changes. Our heart is still in Negril even though times have changed and we have changed over the years as far as how we carry ourselfs in Negril. theres still a hell of alot more good ppl in Negril than bad. And we still love Rondel . as someone mentioned earlier that ppl that are long time returnies to the resort should contact them with our recommendations to make it even a better place than it is.We highly recommend Rondel even tho there have been some problems as of late. Theres no doult they are working diligently as we speak about it. Its not just a problem for them. As long time travelers to Negril we have seen the crime go up in down there over the years and is always an indicater of the economy as it is here or anywhere in the world.

I also am sure that Rondel is working diligently to resolve the security issues. The owners are wonderful people who truly care about their guests comfort and safety; and, I still plan to stay there on future visits. As a matter of fact, Rondel recently had fourteen or so security cameras installed. They are constantly making improvements to the property. So I don't think they will be afraid to spend money to heighten security, if necessary.

As Kahuna said earlier, it doesn't matter which resort/apartment it happened at, what matters is that it is on the increase all over the Negril area. The good people who reside there are as unhappy about this as the tourists are. I have a friend who lives in the West End and is a videographer and he said he holds his breath every time he leaves his house for fear that his equipment will be gone when he gets back. This issue is one that needs to be seriously addressed by the police force and the tourism/hospitality people; and, I trust that they are smart enough to know this.

[Rob]

Rob and Lisa, I am sure you are doing great work on this front but this is the first time I have heard of it. I cant say I've read every word, and might have missed something but we don't hear about anything being done. This is where most of the disbelief and anger comes from. We see somewhere we love, deteriorating and nothing being done about it. Maybe I am wrong, but im sure others feel this way as well. It would do a lot to calm this down if we heard about the meetings, informed when one of the boardies intruders are caught etc. Also as spoken of on here often, there seems to be no respect from this board for the police officers of the area. This is a big problem. Its hard to trust a police department when you can drive into it, have a beer at their bar, and even enjoy a sub in the corner if you like. LOL Name anywhere else in the world you can do that? The hotels, security companies etc, cant do much with out the backing of the police. This lack of trust in the police may be wrong as well, but we never hear anything to the contrary. I know that bringing up the crime again, even to say it is solved, is bad press for Negril, and I understand why you don't want that. But MOST of us on the board are intelligent, worldly people who know that the world isn't safe, we know it happens everywhere to some extent. We just need to know that the Jamaician government, hotel owners, business owners, etc. cares enough about us and our beloved Negril to start doing something about it. Maybe they are, but wont admit there is a problem so they cant tell you about there successes is trying to stop it. All you need to do is look at Acapulco and you will see what crime can do to a tourist area.

OnceDEPORTED,

Wow, nothing being done? It seems like some people only want to believe what they want to believe.

Who or what in the world have you been listening to? You dont hear about anything being done? Do you think the sidewalk, lights and medians mysteriously showed up one day, or were they mentioned here on this message board many times with references being made to the Negril Resort Board?

I posted these two links many times here myself and I guess I have to do it again:

This first one announcing the sidewalks and light project in December of 2012:

http://www.westernmirror.com/index.p...link/5929.html

And the second mentioning the work stoppage because of the Negril Resort Board complaints:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/weste...ENDED_15224030

And I suppose the island wide jet-ski banning was another mysterious event, although after the jet-ski ban took effect (which does make the following article a bit misleading), this link was posted here directly addressing comments made by the Negril Resort Board:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=51093

Also mentioned are the Negril chapter of the JHTA (Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association), the Ministry of Tourism and the Hanover Parish Development Committee. There is also the Westmoreland Parish Development Committee as well as Parish Councils for both Hanover and Westmoreland.

Each of these organizations hold regular meetings and have many things on their agenda with crime always being on each of these organizations agendas. And this would hold true for all such organizations around the world. Crime is not unique to Jamaica. To think nothing is being done is beyond credibility since it has been mentioned here time and time again.

And has already been mentioned, there is no local paper and no published police blotter, so other than when the major papers mention high profile police activity like they did in October, there is no other proof than can be posted. And that October police activity has already been mentioned in several threads.

For Negril.com to post the names of people charged with a crime and not convicted could lead to being sued for libel. And as mentioned in our guidelines, we are a travel website and have has no news gathering personnel.

I would have to say that any disbelief and anger comes from a refusal to face the facts that have been presented here many times.

As for the trusting of police, most officers will tell you they rarely get the respect they deserve unless someone is in need of their services. It is probably one of the hardest jobs to do anywhere - most people would rather avoid an encounter with the police than to have one.

There have been countless posts here over the years of people complaining when they are pulled over at traffic stops to have their papers checked to make sure all is in order. And of course the police get blamed for simply doing their job. How dare they do their job and pull me over?!?!

As for the restaurant and bar at the station, it is there not for tourists, but for off duty officers after a hard day on the job. The fact they allow you, a tourist to use it is a kind gesture. And yet they are now being blamed for that. Is your answer to this horrible problem to not to allow you to enter the restaurant and bar and to seal it off for all tourists? Or could they simply be making a kind gesture and allowing tourists to see that the Negril Police are people too?

And contrary to your anger and disbelief, Jamaicans are now more trusting of the police according to a US study conducted in 2012.

http://mobile.jamaicagleaner.com/new...e.php?id=47441

The study specifically states "cases of the police soliciting bribes have decreased over time just as there have been decreases in insecurity." So the old, bad advice of asking "how much is the fine if I pay it now?" will probably get you a ride straight to the jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

And as reported by Hussyband during his incident, the police were very responsive to the problem and took active measures to help. And with regards to Kahuna3's incident, the police responded quickly to the incident (9 minutes if I remember correctly).

And as Yamon has pointed out by simply contacting Rondel, they are interviewing 2 new security companies as we speak.

Rondel has no obligation to respond here. If they want to, that is their choice, but they are under no obligation.