A cautionary tale, especially for returners

[Bnewb]

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.

[Shaggy]

excuse me nothing funny aboutit, im geting sick of the bs name calling, it does nothing to improve things

[onthecorner]

agreed

[Shaggy]

well said again.

[NikkiB]

Rob and Lisa thank you for bringing these concerns forward to the parties that can best alleviate the problem. That imo is the best first step.

[Oncedeported]

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.

[Shaggy]

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.

[Patricia]

I'm surprised that Rondel hasn't come into this thread with some kind of response....

[Muzikdoc]

Only 46 more days....................

[JitterBug]

would do good for rondel to come in and SAY SOMETHING!!! . . . if not, one can assume that rondel is not really interested in improvements . . .