I agree about lack of resources to fight crime, and I agree poverty is a stressor. But I don't think Jamaica needs more tourism. What it needs is sustainable development. Jamaica needs to be able to feed/house and otherwise meet the needs of its people in an independent way. The country has resources - fertile land, abundant water, plenty of sunshine (for growing things, and for solar power!), a vibrant culture, and is full of intelligent capable people.

Tourism is the wrong way to develop the country. The jobs are inherently servile, and the whole industry can and will disappear in the blink of an eye when there is a global downturn. Actually there are a lot of wrong ways to develop. Here's another book recommendation "The Uses of Haiti" by Paul Farmer https://www.amazon.com/Uses-Haiti-Pa...5642108&sr=8-1 . It's about how the developed world exploits nations like Haiti (and Jamaica) for the benefit of the developed world, not for the benefit of the exploited nation.

In my own small way I am trying to do a bit of good in Jamaica. I bought a no-longer-functioning farm and am in the process of developing it into a working business that can employ a few people and feed myself and others. Looking into installing solar power. The plan is to eventually farm and live in a totally sustainable carbon-free fashion, in rural Jamaica.

Initially I was getting harassed by a neighbor who is a criminal of sorts. His day "job" is he goes into Negril and hassles tourists for money. When I moved to the neighborhood, he must have thought "great, I don't have to go into Negril, my next victim is coming to me". I was getting harassed, threatened, stolen from. I almost decided "time to go elsewhere", like the title of this thread says. But I managed to get rid of him, and I managed to hire a really great honest young guy who is working for me developing my land with great energy and enthusiasm. At this point I am cautiously optimistic that I can be successful in Jamaica. However it's still possible that the high level of crime and corruption will drive me away.