Men shot dead at Negril hairdressing parlour

[Rob]

Jojo,

I have been here a very long time and I dont have a choice but to always keep my eyes and ears open to what is happening in Negril and Jamaica. Of course some incidents are not reported here on Negril.com and not just because we are not an official news service. Some incidents cannot be reported even by the official news outlets as they are part of ongoing police investigations to get to the bigger targets. There is even more to this incident that I am not at liberty to post. It is not "keeping a lid" on anything as much as it is allowing the police to do their job. The extra information I have would make no difference to any visitor to the island anyway. What I have posted earlier sums it up.

You cant be naive anywhere. One of the amazing things about Negril is how giddy and free you can feel here. But with that freedom does come the fact that you will be offered drugs because tourists buy them. Prostitution will exist because the tourists want it. In Cuba that same freedom does not exist, thus you didnt get offered drugs, etc. although you will find the Cuban version for getting what you want. But dont get caught! Flying a drone in Cuba just got a Canadian tourist two weeks in a Cuban jail for getting caught.

Since you have been coming since the 80's, you must remember the "stockies" in the 90's that blocked the entrance to each West End Lane extorting money so they could get their next hit of crack. I dreaded having to go up certain lanes just to meet someone and having to deal with that intimidation. But those days are gone. And I heard the same thing back then that Negril was going to become a ghost town. It didnt and it wont.

As a tourist, LivinInThe603 asks how to make a difference. Well, if tourists stopped buying drugs, the illegal drug sales would stop. If tourists stopped paying for sex, the sex trade would cease to exist. For the lotto scam to stop, all it takes is hanging up the phone. But in the world we inhabit, I dont find this very likely to happen any time soon. With the freedom of Negril does come some responsibility.

Use legal taxis. Dont go to unfamiliar places without a good reason. Take a taxi at night. Never carry excess cash. Dont blindly believe anyone, local or visitor alike. Use common sense and enjoy yourself!

[LivinInThe603]

As a tourist, LivinInThe603 asks how to make a difference. Well, if tourists stopped buying drugs, the illegal drug sales would stop. If tourists stopped paying for sex, the sex trade would cease to exist. For the lotto scam to stop, all it takes is hanging up the phone. But in the world we inhabit, I dont find this very likely to happen any time soon. With the freedom of Negril does come some responsibility.

Use legal taxis. Dont go to unfamiliar places without a good reason. Take a taxi at night. Never carry excess cash. Dont blindly believe anyone, local or visitor alike. Use common sense and enjoy yourself!

Thanks Rob! I completely agree with you!

Personally, I don't partake in any of the "illicit" trades. I had an interesting exchange with a man in the beach in June. In the conversation, it came up that he was from another part of the island. I asked him why he came to Negril to sell (whatever he was selling, in any case, I wasn't buying). He said, why shouldn't he. He said, people in US move to where the [work] is... why shouldn't Jamaicans. He makes the same point as Rob... if people buy, sellers will sell. I met more "out of towners" in June than I had in any of my other, though few, trips to Negril.

People are thrilled with their "Wild, Wild, West" until it hits too close to home...

[Rob]

Jojo,

You are under no obligation to answer that... (grin)

[Carrie]

Nice camaraderie to read and long connections and friendship.

I find myself a little surprised … although I'm fairly new, I have felt connected for many years from a fellow Canadian resident. It is my time and I am going to partake. I do also have a few friends in the west end.

Good grief, I think we get good information from Negril. Thailand, Mexico … places I know well. I can also note Vancouver where I'm from. We joke (or jook as I just learned), hear pops you hit the floor. It seems for civilized here I'm sure, I'm thinking wrong place, wrong time … it's sad always. Be safe over the holidays and your exposure to the danger is largely up to you … I'll shut up now and cheers.

[Papa Georgie]

Wrong place...wrong time? A beauty parlor? I'd have to suspend my disbelief. Anything is possible...I guess.

[Carrie]

I'm thinking it's not your thing … I'm also thinking you don't pack the shampoo. Warm regards. I enjoy your lightness. Nice.

[johng]

This topic is addressed every time there is another act of random violence, wrong place at the wrong time..... in Negril. I had noted in an earlier posting that Cuba is poised and willing to welcome the tourists who had former love affairs with Negril / Jamaica but now think otherwise. For those of us old enough to have witnessed the changes in JA since the 70's / 80's the epidemic as I see it is tied directly to the cocaine and gun influx started during the JA political cycles. Our recent elections in America, although so far have not resulted in out right election murdering like in JA in 76, 80, but have shown the huge split of thought and behavior that most did not think possible. Yes the Lotto Scams have recently fueled the gunfire but there is a deeper psychology at work in JA, USA, World that is trying to undermine the good and righteousness of the human race. The accessibility in JA of guns and the willingness to use them has in many cases caused us Negril, Jamaica lovers to consider elsewhere for vacation or move inland in the case of those living the dream.

God almighty I hope we come to our senses!!

[JDd]

amen

[Rob]

The above article from November 29th does not actually state the parish of Westmoreland has prompted the Rotary Peace Conference. For those unfamiliar with the parish, Negril is a very small part of the parish, with about 7000 residents of the 160,000 residents in Westmoreland which includes the capital of Sav-La-Mar..

The article does state "Data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that three of four parishes in western Jamaica, that is, Westmoreland, Hanover and St James, have seen a spike in murders for the first half of the year, when compared to the same period last year..." which has prompted the conference.

The parish of St. James (about 180,000 residents) which includes the capital of Montego Bay is unfortunately the centre of the lotto scamming which has increased the numbers substantially. "With more than 260 murders so far, and another four days to go in 2016, St James is set not only to retain but extend its unenviable reputation as Jamaica's most murderous region" and "Lottery Scamming Capital - Located on Jamaica's north-west coast, and the home of some of the island's top resort areas, St James has, over the past decade, become known as the epicentre of the lottery scamming business and the violent crimes associated with.":

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...ents-lose-hope

The parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover have also seen an increase associated with the lotto scamming. We all hope that this scourge can be stopped. But it will take work on both ends.

[negrilmon]

The above article from November 29th does not actually state the parish of Westmoreland has prompted the Rotary Peace Conference. For those unfamiliar with the parish, Negril is a very small part of the parish, with about 7000 residents of the 160,000 residents in Westmoreland which includes the capital of Sav-La-Mar..

The article does state "Data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that three of four parishes in western Jamaica, that is, Westmoreland, Hanover and St James, have seen a spike in murders for the first half of the year, when compared to the same period last year..." which has prompted the conference.

The parish of St. James (about 180,000 residents) which includes the capital of Montego Bay is unfortunately the centre of the lotto scamming which has increased the numbers substantially. "With more than 260 murders so far, and another four days to go in 2016, St James is set not only to retain but extend its unenviable reputation as Jamaica's most murderous region" and "Lottery Scamming Capital - Located on Jamaica's north-west coast, and the home of some of the island's top resort areas, St James has, over the past decade, become known as the epicentre of the lottery scamming business and the violent crimes associated with.":

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...ents-lose-hope

The parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover have also seen an increase associated with the lotto scamming. We all hope that this scourge can be stopped. But it will take work on both ends.

Sorry for not being more clear... Here was the quote from youth programmes representative of the Rotary Club of Negril, Angela Haye...

"The data show that this year, Westmoreland has recorded an almost 100 per cent increase in murders. St. James has the second-highest movement, and Hanover also has significant increase. Against the backdrop of violence and killings of our young men, women and children in western Jamaica, the cause for concern is paramount. The project is aimed at enabling communities to strengthen and expand their ability to prevent and resolve disputes, thus the involvement of the community from day one to plan ahead for the January conference,"

Sounds like domestic violence is the main issue...

Earlier this year, Police Commissioner Dr Carl Williams said domestic disputes that turn deadly are among the main reasons for the hike in the murder rate this year.