I as well won't take lite of these incidents in the beach area...I've only stayed in the cliffs for my 22 year visits & visit the beach everyday...never ever has there been an issue while walking around the West End restaurants & bars at night..I'm from Chicago...& won't walk the Lake front at night ever..unfortunately that's the world we live in.
Thank you Rob for clearing up the "travel advisory" story. As usual, you are the calm voice in the storm of internet blather.
Now for a REAL and scary travel advisory, read this one from the US State Department concerning Mexico. Last updated in December 2014
http://travel.state.gov/content/pass...l-warning.html
Forever, there have been warnings for Mexico, but those warnings have never extended down into the tourist zone of Cancun, Cozumel, etc. If you have enjoyed visiting Ciudad Juarez, in the past, then I would pay a little closer attention to that advisory.Originally Posted by Captain Oil
Hey, Rob. Thanks for looking into this. I was merely passing along what I thought was useful information from another Negril enthusiast site. It was not my intention to mislead anyone on the board. I guess the writer of this article finds it entertaining to exaggerate and embellish an already sensitive subject. I hope the figures mentioned in the article are fabricated, as well. I have no issue with you deleting this entire thread, if you feel it has no place on the board.
I remember early eighties people said to me that Jamaica was dangerous they had heard and I would counter that it was limited to Kingston where there was political unrest but not over the rest of the island. I would say to people that my impression and experience has been that the Jamaicans regarded tourism as critical to their economic well being and that no Jamaican would allow another to mess with the tourists. I saw examples of that, albeit minor incidents where the Jamaican acting up was scolded by others without hesitation. I still believe that is generally the reality. I have walked everywhere and into the hills and have been treated better than I deserve. I think the Jamaicans work very hard to lookout for us. Not putting my head in the sand on the real dangers that lurk everywhere but I do put a lot of faith in the locals to watch out for me. It is my job to watch out for me but the added sense of assurance I feel is a well deserved compliment fir for our friends, in Negril. Just my view on things and I appreciate all the other points of view expressed.
The being robbed at gunpoint is what bothers me. Not something I want to worry about while relaxing on vacation. I work hard for my time off every year.
We just returned home from the West end area of the crime and were a likkle more cautious of our actions and surroundings. For one thing, there were more police man driving and standing in this area than we have EVER seen in Ja. in 15 years. As Rob says, this is not Disneyland!, but a community that is probably very close, if not at the poverty line, where desperate people may do desperate things for whatever reason. We wanted to visit some friends up in Red Ground in the evening but were advised if we did to take a cab up and down, not to walk the area, which we wouldn't have done anyway. Jamaica is changing, but so is our neighborhood. Meth and herion are attracking our youth and crimes are commited everyhour to feed those monsters. Will we return to the Island we love so much? Probably! In a new york minute things could change in our lives, BUT that could be ANYwhere! Why not enjoy Paradise and just take off those Rose colored glasses! Be smart, don't get trashed and expect others to look out for you, no bling, don't bring out wads of cash, etc.
Last edited by jan24; 03-05-2015 at 10:13 AM. Reason: wasn't finished
RyanP,
Actually thank you for posting this fabricated mis-informational link. I know you had no intention of misleading anyone, but it serves a purpose in its falseness. Some people actually do have an agenda when making their rumor, speculation and downright lying posts.
I found the other "Negril enthusiast" site you mentioned and found the post made by the person who I feel honestly mistakenly believed the false "travel warning" and ran with it. That is what the writer of the false travel advisory had hoped - someone would pass on their mis-information and spread it as if it was true. Their agenda could be as simple as to see how many people would believe it, have some real or imagined grudge against Jamaica or worse yet, someone from another Caribbean destination intentionally sabotaging Jamaica to benefit their own destination. There are all kinds of reasons that people start these false stories.
What is kind of sad is now that same person is trying to defend their mistakenly false post by saying that "THERE IS A MEETING AT RAYON TODAY AT 2PM REGUARDING THESE MATTERS THATS HOW UNVALID SOME WHO HAVE YOU BELIEVE". Well, yes, there is a meeting today at Rayon. It is called the monthly Negril Resort Board meeting that has many items that it will be covering. It has no direct relation to anything this person has posted, it just happens to be the monthly meeting that is happening today. I will be there as I have been asked as a Resort Board member. The issue of the crime will come up as it always does, as does the trash, the roads, the sidewalks and other regular topics that fall under the direction of the Resort Board. But the person who wrote the ALL CAPS quote is making a false conclusion that one has to do with the other. They do not. This is the regular monthly meeting.
As I have stated before, with the increase in visitors and the "instant news" the internet provides, there are bound to be more robbery stories, both true and false. I have posted 3 stories myself, somewhat curious at their circumstances. I do believe the people who told me - but since I wasnt there, I have to believe them at face value, but that does not mean I am necessarily getting the whole story.
Just last night Lisa (Bnewb) and a friend who just got into town went to LTU (her friend's favorite place) and saw Bill, Sabine (happy birthday Sabine), Ken, Robin, Byron, Niah, Noreen and the rest of the crew and was greeted like family. They then went to Eddie's De Bar and saw the usual crowd there - getting home around midnight. They left me at home...
The point is that these women went out on their own and had a great time meeting old and new friends at a several of the places Negril is known for. This is a true experience - unlike that false "travel advisory" that started this thread.
This is exactly the reason we do our best to prevent rumor and speculation to be posted on Negril.com. What you find on Negril.com is the truth, as only the truth can allow our visitors to have the best vacation they can possibly have.
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
Rob,
Thanks for putting a logical view here.
I've done a full search and there is no such warning on any US or Canadian official web site
Cap
linston@redplate-negril.com
This is the kind of news that concerns me, as well. Were the tourists robbed while in their hotel room or lounging on the beach? Or did it happen while they were walking up a lane or staying in a house off the the main roads? If it's the latter, I would not be so worried as I generally don't do those things. In fact, boardies have been warning about these situations for years, so I know to be cautious. So far, everything I have read about any recent robberies has been hearsay, so all I can do is sit back and wait for some real confirmation and useful detail. And continue to be cautious as always.
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