The silence is deafning!

[Rob]

Here is another article about the shooting last night, and it conflicts slightly with the article above - from the Observer:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...ssman-murdered

The rumors and speculation on Facebook should not be taken as fact - the Negril rumor mill is well known for being wrong most of the time. Even the two main news papers in Jamaica have differing stories.

This expected increase in crime during the Dream Week holiday for Jamaica was addressed by the police in an article in the Gleaner on July 26th, quote:

"Speaking on the readiness of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Inspector Clevert Foster of the Negril Police Station, said the police are prepared and ready, however, one primary concern for the police is the emigration of criminals into Negril for the period of Dream Week.

"My concern is migration of criminals," Foster said. "Right now we are maintaining a constant patrol on the (Norman Manley) boulevard and we are on the lookout for people who plan to come from Kingston, Clarendon, and all over Jamaica to really capitalise on the event."

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2.../western1.html

The article further states that planning began back as far as a month ago. Lenbert Williams was also quoted as follows:

"Likewise, I know the police are geared up to tackle imported petty crimes, because it's not the typical wrongdoers in Negril that do this. You have people who come in with their armbands under the guise of partygoers; they are wolves in sheep clothing," he added."

[Packrat]

gordo, I don't want to minimize what has happened in the West End these last few days but it is certainly not typical either. Traveling from MoBay to Negril is a safe and exciting venture. Tens of Thousands do it every year. I love Negril, and I am deeply pained by the few who are damaging the serenity & reputation of this slice of paradise. As previously stated by many, violent crime involving a tourist is extremely rare. I do not live far from you here in the Maryland and without a doubt, I feel far safer in Negril than almost anyplace inside the city of Baltimore or DC, especially at night. Go, have a great time, enjoy the beach, the music, the people, the food. Being concerned for ones safety and that of their family is at the core of who we are, but try not to let it hold you back from enjoying Negril and all it has to offer.

[Chris B]

These things happen. None of us is exempt from serious crime in our neighborhoods, no matter how cosmopolitan or rural or developed or undeveloped they may be. Negril has had its share of it as well. Heck, a fellow Wisconsinite was doing a couple of small beach developments near Negril and was murdered, the story goes, as a result of a land dispute he was involved in. This wasn't really recent... it was in January of 2004 (I had to look it up). I'm sure the same uproar occurred back then, but it didn't stop us from going to Negril to enjoy ourselves. The crude joke then was that all we had to do was stay out of the property development business. The point was then, and is now, that these are not random acts. The victims were targeted.

When things like this DO happen in our neighborhoods, the news cameras come in to get the obligatory reaction from the folks who live nearby... "They seemed so quiet"... "I never would have suspected"... "This is so tragic"... and so on. The news vans disappear, we watch it on the news, we move on... we always move on. Maybe that says something bad about our society; and maybe it says something about our strength.

Is it acceptable that these things happen? Of course not! But in the absence of a lot of civil unrest about the whole affair, I see no reason for any of us to do anything but move on with life. Exercise the same care and caution that you would if you were at home. Don't become a victim of your own carelessness or stupidity.

Enjoy!

[Rob]

Georgelenard,

From the 2 references you cite, it seems to be a rather large leap to the concept of "rouge group of criminals harboring in the west end." Even in the article in the Gleaner dated the 26th before either incident and before you started this thread, with the large influx of people from all over the island during the Dream Week Emancipendence holiday, the police expected an increase in imported crime to Negril caused by those not living (or being harbored) in Negril. This would tend to discount your speculation.

As for the new Superintendent, for years now the JCF has been moving their police force from district to district. This has nothing to do with Negril or Westmoreland, it is being done island wide. Our old Super is now in St. James. The new Super does come from Kingston and gained a reputation opposing gangs as well as corruption, which would make sense after serving in Kingston.

After talking with some police friends of mine this morning, all I can say is that they are not taking this immediate situation lightly.

There have been two threads I have removed in the past 3 years that you may be referring to - one was removed at the request of one of the victims as they didnt want strangers to dissect their incident publicly here as well as feeling that some of the details were not quite accurate.

The second was removed as the source of the comment was questionable. To publicly libel potentially innocent people is not the intent of this site and I had to consider the source.

And seeing how this thread is up and active, along with two other threads on this very topic, to insinuate that negative information does not last on this Board is misleading everyone who reads it. I even started one of the threads mentioned, and I can think of nothing more negative than having to make a post like that about a friend and neighbour. It was hard to keep my emotions in check, but it was the truth and something that our visitors needed to be made aware. Many of you have met and knew Colin, may he rest in peace.

Several of the initial stories I have read on other sites have almost no correlation to what has transpired. Negril.com was created so our visitors to the island could find helpful information to have the best vacation possible and not have to sift through rumor and speculation.

I just noticed that the Gleaner has made corrections to their own story of the latest incident. The truth is often something that takes time to determine, and usually the first story you hear is far from the real truth.

We always welcome the truth here, our visitors can find out how to have the best time possible by knowing the facts. Truth is based on facts, not rumor, speculation or opinion. But your comment about "rogue group of criminals harboring in the west end" is speculation.

Even with the two terrible and unjust incidents that have occurred, the timing would suggest that this may be the imported crime during Dream Week to which the police made reference to in the Gleaner article.

[original spanky]

This is all very troubling . As a long term visitor to negril, I am also concened about staying on the west end . I would guess some reward money offered could help to uncover the group doing this. Rob, is that something that is done in negril?
I had not visited the out of gown pastry in quite a few years . Where is the location ? What hotels are near?

[Accompong]

I had not visited the out of gown pastry in quite a few years . Where is the location ? What hotels are near?

I have never been to the "Out of Gown (sic) Pastry" but, if I had, I think I would remember the location. Just sayin... (((just a cheap joke... no hate mail please}}}

The mental image of an "Out of Gown Pastry" has me a likkle aroused!

[Todd]

Now that's funny. Good one Accompong! hahaha.

[Papa Georgie]

original spanky,

I also find this a bit troubling.
Thugs shooting guns from motorbikes ? Yikes !
We are due to be on the West End the end of November and I hope there is some resolution by then.
Wouldn't want to end up as "collateral" damage.

Here is the Observer story:

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...urder_17290834

R.I.P. Winzil Heron and Colin Lynch



Papa

[suziep55]

[QUOTE=Maryann;142061]

We live with crime everyday in the United States....by far worse than what you're talking about in Jamaica"
NO "we" don't. Speak for yourself!

I also live in a small town less than 5,000 population with little to no crime....my point I was trying to get across was, at anytime, anywhere you can be the victim of a crime. I've been going to Negril since 1995 and have walked from Cliffs to beach no problem, but everyone should always be aware of whats going on around them.

[jon c.]

my point I was trying to get across was, at anytime, anywhere you can be the victim of a crime.

This might be the most often repeated meme on travel sites. And although it is strictly, theoretically true, for practical purposes isn't really true and it isn't really relevant. As a traveler, I want and need to know what the chances are that street crime might impact my vacation. Sure, you can justify the statement that "crime happens everywhere," but when I go to our beach house in the Florida panhandle I have zero concern about being accosted, mugged, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can walk the beach or the streets as safely at 3 am as at 3 pm.

I can't do that in Negril. Doesn't mean Negril is too dangerous to visit as I certainly don't feel that's the case. On balance, I think Negril is very safe. But it isn't Seagrove Beach. And knowing that when I travel allows me to take the proper precautions. That "anytime, anywhere, you can be a victim of crime" is just an irrelevant distraction that doesn't help the traveler at all. The level of danger from potential crime is different everywhere and that's why it's a topic of discussion.