Harassment

[fawnridge]

It seems the focus of the article deals with tourist harassment at the ports - Montego Bay and Ocho Rios - where the tourists pour off the ships and are immediately set upon by vendors. The beach vendors we encounter in Negril are tame compared to the swarms of vultures that prey on the cruise ships. Having been to Negril nearly 2 dozen times since 1999, I can't say that many of the beach vendors remember me (although some do) but I've been able to fend off those I don't wish to deal with using a simple "no thank you."

While I've never been to Jamaica by cruise ship, I have been to several other ports in the Caribbean by ship and can attest to the uncomfortable feeling you get when the locals and tourists meet.

[smith744]

here're a couple *thoughts*, ideas & suggestions & observations

1...your body language is key ..... just the other day, when the Lucea-electrician & I were chattin', we had a lot of laughs about the how *residents* can READ body-language ....... they do it so well, that many-times it's as if they've '''...read-my-mind...''' ...... they can even *read* fellow-Jamaicans who're visiting/returning from-foreign.

2....wear your sunglasses ----- they like to get close, and look in your eyes .... no can see eyes, and they have a *problem*

3....move, walk, what-ever, etc. with-a-purpose in your demeanor ::::: project confidence, and no-fear ..... There's NOTHING to be afraid of, ESPECIALLY in-Negril, or some other tourist area.

4....STOP giving money to ANY & ALL folks beggin' .... this INCLUDES the children/pickneys, who're practice-ing and testing their wings to become future beggers. ..... STOP it...!!!.... I repeat::::>> STOP giving money to folks you don't know....!!!! ..... STOP it STOP it STOP it.

those who give money to strangers are feeding the *beast* and encourage-ing the beggin' behavior, and ALL other forms of so called harrassment.

so,
STOP it...!!!!...
.
.
.
:-(

.
.
5....IF your have a problem,
always keep in mind that you have a ""..Tourist-card...''' you can always play....so, play it.

YOU ~~~ the tourist/visitor/guest ~~~ have a LOT of clout/power..... so, use it.

Jamaica's NUMBER-#1 business is YOU-the-tourists :::::::::::: they want NOTHING to mash-up the tourists bizness.

so,
if you're troubled/bothered/harassed, etc etc, what-ever
....call a cop
....scream
....cry
....act the fool
....holler
....asked the other Jamaicans in the area/vicinity to HELP HELP you.
.....get one of those toy-cops (i.e., beach patrol) to help you

stop feeling sorry for people
...you're on vacation .... you're not Mother Theresa .... you are not a social-worker ...... YOUR-tax dollars are doing a lot of good-thing$ right-now in Jamaica [[[[ minus a likkle Ja-government *administrative* this & that ]]]
.
.
6....the trouble-makers ain't gonna do physical harm to ya


7.....do what YOU want --- NOT what THEY want you to do.

8.....I *think* 'tis written some-place:::>> ''''...for everyting there is a season, blah blah blah ....... a time to be polite and a time to BE RUDE, blah blah...''''

so,
if you find yourself in a *season* which requires rude-ness, then BE RUDE,,,,, and forget about all that '''respect'''' foolishness/con

9....again,,, STOP giving 'em money [[[ period ]]]

[smith744]

...asked the other Jamaicans in the area/vicinity to HELP HELP you.

10...go to a nearby shop/business/bar
and asked someone there to HELP you with the trouble-maker

11....if you have a cell phone,
pull it out
and tell 'em you're gonna dial 911

ummmmm
that won't work

can't remember what the **911 number*** is in Jamaica

somebody help me with this, please

[TAH]

119

[smith744]

119

Thanks..!!!...

:-)

so,
as i said,

PULL OUT your cell phone

and tell 'em you're gonna call the police & dial #119

[captaind & Linston]

I don't have the problem but I can see the tourists point. Especially the cruise ship folks.

Negril has many repeat visitors or at least people staying several days.

Cruise ship people have 6 hours or so and probably don't understand anything said in Patios. That can be frightening all by itself.

It would be best if all they see is the "floor show" version

Cap

[*vi*]

I've spoken to many people that said they would never come back to Jamaica because of harassment.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...sment_19135181

That’s a shame because this “harassment” does NOT take place everywhere in Jamaica. In the limited key tourist areas & cruise ship ports, yes, but where the country’s true vast beauty and amazing culture thrive…rarely or never. So if a person has a low tolerance for or just tired of the “in-your-face” higgling, these are the locations they should avoid. If not, their overall view of Jamaica will be negative causing them to miss knowing what the country is really about.

There are countless places throughout the land where “tips” on how a visitor is to respond to an aggressive individual are not even needed.

[jamaicarob]

i have a Jamaican flag tatoo on my upper right arm, most of the higglers see it and do not bother us, soon come

[jojo p]

jamaicarob, when I saw your tattoo, I bothered you....lol... (have a great trip ! )

[gregandkelly63]

I have a Jamaica flag tattoo and an awesome Bob Marley tattoo on my back. I do believe it helps. Some of the Google would rather talk about my tattoos than give me the hard sell.