Quote Originally Posted by NEGRILJAIL View Post
Sadly enough this is not an isolated incident in Negril or Jamaica . I have spent over 60 weeks in the course of 10-12 years in Negril . My days vacationing in Negril
came to an end 6-7 years ago with the shooting death of my long time driver while sitting at a restaurant waiting for his lunch . My time and money know goes to
Cuba . I never would have believed it 10 years ago myself . However as I am no longer a spring chicken I prefer the warmth and SAFETY that Cuba has to offer .
Say what you want about Cuba , but if you had to drop off your 16 year old son/daughter in Jamaica - Haiti - Dominican - Mexico or Cuba , what would your choice be ?
Although I was planning on more festive postings today, I want to address this most important topic since I have been directly asked. But before I get to that, after reading the above post from someone who is not returning to Negril I feel I must correct NegrilJail's information based on his own previous posts.

NJail,

Alfred Barrett was one of my best friends. He had been a friend who I talked with nearly daily for over 15 years. I never say this as some form of competition but to let you know my feelings run very deep. And I do not feel it is right for his memory to be used for a rumour.

On your last trip in 2012, as you posted less than 5 years ago, you had Alfred as your driver once again. In March of 2012, late at night, Alfred stopped to pick up leftover food for his dog at his usual spot and walked in on a lover's triangle quarrel that had escalated. He and the chef were both shot and killed by the third leg of the triangle who was subsequently arrested. This was reported on both TVJ and the Gleaner and the tragic bottom line is that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. This did not occur 6-7 years ago nor did it occur at lunch nor did it occur in Negril.

I have missed him these nearly 5 years and still think about him often. Michael from Michael's On-Time Taxi and I always mention him when we talk to keep his memory alive. He was a good man.

An experience for visitors in a country run by a military dictatorship is very different than that of any free country. Get caught doing something illegal in Cuba will also show you how different the experience can be for a visitor. Be glad you only spent time in the Negril jail.