Time to look elsewere

[Highlander]

Hi. T & A .. It seems to me .. In my opinion of course.. The New... type is not there as a Peddler of Good's as in the past.
They Very Aggressively approach you in a (Threatening manner). Demand you buy something (Usually Dope !!) They are on something ??? And even after saying a Polite No Thanks. They then want to berate you and anyone who is walking with you. ( My Wife )
Also my experience this year involved the lack of respect by people in the Hospitality Industry.. Had a couple Bad experiences I did not like .. To point of (Thug Life !! ) I want to add I have gone to Ja. for many a year now. And love my times there .. But for the 1st time in all those years.. I felt uncomfortable. And I do not that easily ... This last trip was not as Good !!! Bad JUJU !!

[alix]

I'm traveling to Negril in Dec with my husband and 2 adult daughters and I must say that reading these comments make me very uncomfortable. What I find most disconcerting is the lack of specific information that might help us to be more aware and how to avoid trouble. What EXACTLY is going on in Negril? Stabbings? Rape? Getting jumped as tourists walk to a restaurant and robbed and beaten? Taxi drivers taking you to unknown places and stealing your money? or worse? I've read all the comments and haven't found specific examples or situations that I might avoid to ensure our safety. Also, the same people comment in this thread about feeling unsafe, are the same ones who assured me in my own previous thread that I had nothing to worry about.

We're not naive travellers but I get that even the most astute can become victims. I currently live in what is considered the "most violent city in Canada" where a**h*** kids or young adults are randomly macheting people, swarming stores to rob them blindly, meth is fueling rage and violence beyond anyone imagination. It's totally out of control but I also know that by avoiding certain areas and groups of people I'm safer then if I'm hanging outside the bar at 2:00 am lipping off to an angry gang ready to curb stomp any one who looks at them the wrong way. I also know a lot of the violence is a result of addictions and they're turning on each other so the numbers are skewed and the general public isn't as threatened as it may seem.

So again, my question is, what exactly is happening? And how do we stay safe? What and who do we avoid?

[RyanP]

I'm traveling to Negril in Dec with my husband and 2 adult daughters and I must say that reading these comments make me very uncomfortable. What I find most disconcerting is the lack of specific information that might help us to be more aware and how to avoid trouble. What EXACTLY is going on in Negril? Stabbings? Rape? Getting jumped as tourists walk to a restaurant and robbed and beaten? Taxi drivers taking you to unknown places and stealing your money? or worse? I've read all the comments and haven't found specific examples or situations that I might avoid to ensure our safety. Also, the same people comment in this thread about feeling unsafe, are the same ones who assured me in my own previous thread that I had nothing to worry about.

We're not naive travellers but I get that even the most astute can become victims. I currently live in what is considered the "most violent city in Canada" where a**h*** kids or young adults are randomly macheting people, swarming stores to rob them blindly, meth is fueling rage and violence beyond anyone imagination. It's totally out of control but I also know that by avoiding certain areas and groups of people I'm safer then if I'm hanging outside the bar at 2:00 am lipping off to an angry gang ready to curb stomp any one who looks at them the wrong way. I also know a lot of the violence is a result of addictions and they're turning on each other so the numbers are skewed and the general public isn't as threatened as it may seem.

So again, my question is, what exactly is happening? And how do we stay safe? What and who do we avoid?

All of this is very concerning, but violence is rarely targeted towards tourists. Daylight hours are safe, but I would start making my way back towards home base around 8p or so. You are generally safe all hours, but this is to minimize risk to a level that you should not be concerned.

[Accompong]

I'm traveling to Negril in Dec with my husband and 2 adult daughters and I must say that reading these comments make me very uncomfortable. What I find most disconcerting is the lack of specific information that might help us to be more aware and how to avoid trouble. What EXACTLY is going on in Negril? Stabbings? Rape? Getting jumped as tourists walk to a restaurant and robbed and beaten? Taxi drivers taking you to unknown places and stealing your money? or worse? I've read all the comments and haven't found specific examples or situations that I might avoid to ensure our safety. Also, the same people comment in this thread about feeling unsafe, are the same ones who assured me in my own previous thread that I had nothing to worry about.

We're not naive travellers but I get that even the most astute can become victims. I currently live in what is considered the "most violent city in Canada" where a**h*** kids or young adults are randomly macheting people, swarming stores to rob them blindly, meth is fueling rage and violence beyond anyone imagination. It's totally out of control but I also know that by avoiding certain areas and groups of people I'm safer then if I'm hanging outside the bar at 2:00 am lipping off to an angry gang ready to curb stomp any one who looks at them the wrong way. I also know a lot of the violence is a result of addictions and they're turning on each other so the numbers are skewed and the general public isn't as threatened as it may seem.

So again, my question is, what exactly is happening? And how do we stay safe? What and who do we avoid?

Bad news travels fast and a lot of the people on the board are repeat visitors so realize that they often know of the people involved and post their condolences which keeps the thread alive unlike positive posts that tend to sink into the oblivion. Jamaica has a population slightly larger than Toronto and the majority of that population is (obviously) in the big cities and Negril is not one of them.

Tourists are pretty much a protected species in Negril as it behooves the local businesses to keep it that way to avoid the negative affects of bad press and travel advisories. Most of the violent crime is Jamaican on Jamaican and, occasionally, a person who stays long-term around Jamaicans and less frequently a tourist in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you use the same common sense that you would at home, you should be quite safe and enjoy a nice vacation.

Respect.