The silence is deafning!

[georgelenard]

There have been some faint inklings on this board for some while that all is not as smooth in the west end. Something that our curator Rob tends to hide from unsuspecting boardies! Now I have not been to Negril for some time and I do miss the life but I have, with some readings in the local Jah rags that there is a rouge group of criminals harboring in the west end. If these same two men that killed your baker are from this same gang then does Rob not have a obligation to inform his readers that this is a concern? I know he will not allow negative posts because he has a responsibility to his sponsors of this site to promote the good vibes of Negril. But if and I think this problem is a little more then if. Rob should be bringing some attention to what could be a problem for anyone who after getting their information from this site would not be informed that areas of Negril have been subjected to more criminal activities then other areas!

[Jaherring]

We are going to Catcha at the end of August. We are really feeling a little uneasy about leaving the resort and walking anywhere.

[Accompong]

We are going to Catcha at the end of August. We are really feeling a little uneasy about leaving the resort and walking anywhere.

You shouldn't feel uneasy about leaving the resort and walking anywhere. "Jamaican on Jamaican" crime is a fact of life. Since you (we) are only in Negril for a few days each year or similar, it is hard to know what goes on all year long. Perhaps there is more to the story but that won't be known for a while or maybe ever.

What I can say with some certainty is that crimes of violence against tourists are very rare. My motto is that you can't live a life while constantly looking over your shoulder and I will not avoid living my life either. I can't stay bottled up anywhere so I stay aware of my surroundings and I enjoy myself.

Catcha is a good place to stay and the management will help you avoid any problems that you should be aware of.

Have a great trip!

Peace and Guidance

[Papa Georgie]

georgelenard,

If you would cite the "local Jah rags" that report "that there is a rouge group of criminals harboring in the west end". That would be really helpful.
Have not seen it in the Gleaner, the Observer, or RJR.

Thanks in advance.

[Rob]

georgelenard,

If you would cite the "local Jah rags" that report "that there is a rouge group of criminals harboring in the west end". That would be really helpful.
Have not seen it in the Gleaner, the Observer, or RJR.

Thanks in advance.

I have not seen or heard of this either Papa. I am sure the police would be interested in this information as well. And I am sure that one of the "local rags" would love to get this scoop of a news story. But they tend to only report the truth, not rumor and speculation.

Please Georgelenard, since you havent been to Negril for quite some time, perhaps you would come forward with the proof of your statement. It is terrible to misinform people. And Mr. Lenard, please refrain from basing your statement on rumors and speculation as truth is based on facts, not rumor and speculation. Truth is always presented here, I started the thread about our old neighbour friend Colin.

But please feel free to present the facts since you obviously know more than those of us who live here including the Gleaner, Observer and RJR.

Thanks.

[georgelenard]

I love Negril and would do nothing to harm any portion! There was an article in one of the Island papers about the new Superintendent in Sav. a gang fighter from Kingston. I am sorry I cannot find it! Then there was a post from a person who had some sort of trouble that was deleted from the site. I questioned it but as always if there is any form of negative then it does not live long here, True or not. If I am 100% wrong my apologies but I know there is more to this then is being said! Again it is not my intentions to cast fear or blame on any one!

[Packrat]

georgelenard, As a fellow boardie, I urge you to contact the Gleaner, Observer and certainly the local police, I'm sure they would very much like an inside scoop on solving any crimes &/or catching any perpetrators you may have knowledge of.

Thank-you Papa Georgie I'm over him now

[Papa Georgie]

Lets not get snarky, and sarcastic with georgelenard.

I asked for citations because what he stated (that there is a rogue group of criminals harboring in the west end) strikes me as very serious. For a conservative tourist that might be a tipping point for not staying on the West End.

[Accompong]

At the risk of fueling the fire, I would like to add my observation as a person living in Jamaica and seeing things firsthand for over 3 decades.

First of all, I have lived in several places around Jamaica; Seaview Gardens Phase II (Kingston), Billy's Bay (Treasure Beach), Port Maria, Sheffield and Accompong Town to name a few so my observations come from many different vantage points.

I love Jamaica but, in my opinion, Jamaicans can be extremely good, extremely bad and (of course) every degree in between. We like to think "our friends" are extremely good and to you they probably are but it is the extremely bad Jamaicans that make it dangerous in some areas.

When living in Kingston I saw violence on a regular basis but I had no problems while living there. There is nothing more dangerous than a youth with a gun. They have no problems using it and for no reason. It is part of the "creds" (gaining credit within a gang) and they thrive off the fear they instill on everyday people. The violence started to be exported on a wide scale some years ago when the "deportee" cars came from mainly Japan. These cars made criminals more mobile and they found that robbing a store owner in a rural area was easier and more lucrative than robbing a Jamaican in Kingston. The chance of getting caught was almost non-existent. You will notice that police stations are few and far between in rural areas and the police are not able to or willing to patrol these areas. They prefer instead sitting at the station and waiting for someone to report a crime. When they do respond to a killing or robbery, no one wants to tell them anything that will help solve the case.

Sav has two very powerful gangs who live on either side of Great George's Street with Alma being the most powerful and violent. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/news992.html . The police in Sav have a "shoot first" standing mentality and that helps scatter the problem to nearby communities, which Negril is one.

In Negril, you have concentrated money and a woefully understaffed police department which will be getting some help to fight this upsurge in crime. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/weste...egril_13682653 Crime always follows the money.

Most of all this is transparent to the average visitor and I believe the streets are safe enough for me to traverse all over Negril. When in So. Florida, I live in an area where multiple people are getting shot every day and every night and I still walk the streets. I just don't walk them late at night or impaired enough not to know what is going on all the time. I actually feel safer in Jamaica than here.

When I am home in Accompong Town (a town of about 700 residents), I see and experience almost no crime at all at least not anything more major than a petty theft or two. I feel so secure that I do not lock my door and sleep with only a screen door protecting me from the outside world. That is what Negril used to be like and, to some visitors, it still appears and feels that way. When your money is $112J to $1US and the educational level is low while the unemployment is high, you have a recipe for criminal activity.

I can only add that I don't want to live anywhere else than Jamaica. If I don't like where I am at anytime, I move around to someplace I do like. That is why after living all over Jamaica, I have finally settled on Accompong Town.

Just my opinion.
Peace and Guidance

[Biggs of the week]

How about the Star ? Love their news. lol