What is this Jamaica phenomenon?

[rastalady]

That is great, "over the wall". So true. So many people are terrified to travel beyond the resort.
I've been told by some of the Jamaicans that so many of the stories are "made up" to purposely keep tourists
at the resorts. If they venture out, then the locals can make money at their business' and the government wants to keep them poor.
I have NO clue if this is true because I never got into the Politics of the island, but I have been told this a few times from the locals

[Homebrewer]

LOL, I still remember when we booked our 1st trip, we were going to Sandals Ocho Rios and had to book at a travel agency (internet booking wasn't invented yet) and the travel agent was trying to discourage us from even going to Jamaica because she heard it was sooo dangerous, let alone go "over the wall"

[rastalady]

Travel agents scare so many tourists. You can definately be scanned if your not careful,
but for the most part, I feel very safe there.