An important notice for those staying "off the beaten track"...

[Rob]

Lola and hille141 are exactly right "Total freak accident".How would have "Unfortunately this is no joke - that is why we are so careful that businesses promoted on Negril.com are legal businesses". changed anything.

I thought for a minute and remember an incident at Rick's Cafe in which a young Canadian man died after jumping from the cliffs. Rob your post on that particular thread said.


"This link has already been posted in another thread.

I am moving this post into that thread... "

All I can add is Rest in Peace to the young boy Can Sarioglu and condolences to his family along with the Allgrove Family as well.

Sincerely,

Johng

Johng,

As the Gleaner asserted, they are unsure if the regulations would have prevented this freak accident. But that doesnt change the fact that staying at a JTB approved, licensed property provides a measure of safety and legal advantages that non-JTB places do not. This is no joke. To treat it as such is a disservice to all.

As for my moving the second thread on the same topic to the existing thread about the "young Canadian man" who died at Rick's, the family and friends did not want multiple threads about the tragedy to be posted. We respected the wishes of the family and friends, who we know personally. This was a personal issue for us as well.

[booger]

It's good to know that said inspection encompasses inspection of all tree limbs on site.

[captaind & Linston]

The tree limb was an "act of God" that could not have been foreseen......

The diver and his friends at Rick's was a candidate for the Darwin Award. A true "charlie-foxtrot"

None of that changes the fact that the tourist business is highly regulated.

Adhering to regulation especially in Jmaiaca (the US is not far behind) is a full time occupation.

As a visitor it's best you stay at an approved place. It won't help with acts of God or stupidity but at least you'll have a lawsuit to file

The days of staying at Miss Mary's or Miss Ruby's are gone. Things change

Cap

[johng]

Rob,
I am not treating this as a joke, those are not my words, I didn't start this thread but only commented which I thought was the point.

Cap, you and I and many other Negril.com boardies have seen many "Acts of God" and "Stupidity" over the years in Negril (which was at one time "Off the beaten path") as well as the rest of the island. I myself admit to jumping off the cliffs at Rick's back in the 70's. Looking back it was a really stupid and dangerous thing to have done and I am lucky that "The Great Lord was looking after me".

The image and "Reality" of Negril has changed many times since Miss Mary, Miss Ruby, Miss Gloria, Mr. Fred, Mr. Peat, etc... Things change everywhere and stuff happens that many times are simply out of our control.

Positive Vibrations,

Johng

[Accompong]

I think it is important to emphasis the words in the thread heading "off the beaten track"

Yes, I guess Miss Mary's and Miss Ruby's is sort of "off the beaten track" when talking about Negril but the place where the newspaper was referring to is WAY off the beaten track. Pictures of Negril in the "old days" does little to describe a place like Whitfield Hall or may other rural places where tourists infrequently venture.

In fact, if you had to stay at a JTB sanctioned place around where I live in Accompong Town you would probably end up sleeping in your car because there are only a scant few.

I don't know how many people here have ventured up to Mavis Bank, Whitfield Hall or Blue Mountain Peak but I would bet it is only a handful at best. Rural Jamaica is not necessarily the type of place that most travelers that visit this board want to stay but only go out on Day Trips to enjoy.

If I never would have started out visiting rural Jamaica and instead started by staying at Sandals then perhaps I would never have gotten so comfortable out on the island living in a Jamaican community. I had my share of misfortunes over the years having been robbed and pick-pocketed but never felt in danger staying at "off the beaten track" type of places but it is not for everyone. On that, I think we all can agree.

If you want to play it safer, stay in places where they are inspected, licensed and sanctioned so you at least have some legal recourse if something happens. I think this board is a valuable resource for casual travelers to Jamaica and that is the choir we are all preaching to. Always know your own limitations.

Peace and Guidance