Quote Originally Posted by Rob View Post

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...