Quote Originally Posted by Tanfastic View Post
BNewb I wanted to address your comments, the last three towns/cities I have lived in publish a police blotter once a week with all the crimes committed along with the names of the accused. This is a routine in many parts of the US that I have seen over the last 25 years. High profile cases do make the front page but it's my experience if you look you will see all the crimes someplace in the newspaper.

As far as the fact that by law they are required to hired a licensed and bonded security company shouldn't matter, we have heard of a number of instances of guards sleeping or "lost" during these crimes. I'm not a routine visitor to Jamaica like many but the times I have been there the guards at the places I have stayed are armed with nothing but a 2-way radio and tend to be quite old. Not much help if the criminal has a weapon. To get licensed and bonded means nothing more than having a clean record and paying a fee.

Obviously these crimes are newsworthy, we have had almost 100 posts to this thread in a little over 24 hours, some heated and others providing empathy. You and Rob being on the island with the power of this forum can make a difference. Maybe it's time to get the hotel sponsors from the Forum together to discuss a solution to this rising crime problem. There are many smart people in this world, in my experience many want to hide, many want to offer an idea while others "know all the answers" and shut down those that want to get involved. It's my opinion that if we want to keep Negril as a favorite vacation spot we better figure this out quick otherwise we will spend our hard earned $ elsewhere.
Tanfastic...again...I stated only the facts...not an opinion about them but since you've asked...

While that's great that the US towns & cities you have lived "publish a police blotter once a week"...we don't have a Negril newspaper. Where would this town publish a police blotter? The Gleaner & Observer do publish stories about high profile criminals (newsworthy) who are caught in the area but they make reference to the fact they've committed many crimes...they don't individually list them.
Some of these criminals have been responsible for incidents that have happened to some of the people here...they've actually been caught.

Again as far as my information about the security being required by law...I simply stated a fact...I never stated anything about the quality of the hiring practises. But, there are multiple security companies & the properties can hire whom they may choose & as with any business some are better than others.

Negril.com & Rob personally are very involved in discussions about all aspects in making Negril the best vacation destination possible. Regularly speaking with business owners, authorities, government etc. Discussions on Negril.com are used very frequently in dealing with serious matters down here.
Thus one of the reasons the staff of Negril.com try to keep everything to fact & first hand information...rumour & speculation can take what is an important topic to something of a joke forcing the authorities to not want to "get involved" when it goes to nonsense.
The authorities have enough trouble trying to decipher through real incidences vs. fake incidences...ie. people trying to get out of paying their hotel bill, the "friend" down here taking off with their electronics/money or someone simply losing an item....you wouldn't believe how often these scenarios happen.

It really does seem to me that Sadiekat's simple advice of keeping your doors & windows locked at night has gone by the way side....though you're on a vacation you should always be just as proactive in security as you hopefully are back home...not bashing anyone but most people don't leave their keys in an unlocked car.

As you all know hotels do read and post on this message board and I'm sure they are not taking this situation lightly. This topic will be brought up at the next Negril Resort Board meeting.