Just say it ain't so ????

[negrilmon]

Very sad to hear the violence continues...Here is a link to the United States Department of State 2016 Jamaica Crime and Safety report...

https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentRe...aspx?cid=19562

Lottery Scam is mentioned as a big issue but I think this is the root of most of the problems...

Police corruption and police involvement in criminal activity is not uncommon. Citizens are often indifferent to police authority, adding to a perceived sense of lawlessness. The general perception is that the majority of crime victims do not report crimes against them due to fear of reprisals by the police, the belief that police are corrupt, or the feeling that nothing would come from such reports. Reporting crime can seem archaic, and the confusing, lengthy process is widely believed to be a waste of time except for the most serious of crimes where a police report is required for insurance purposes.

I experienced a hit and run with my rental car in Negril a couple of years ago (no injuries). I went through the process of reporting the crime (I had the licence plate number) and in hindsight I should have just continued on with my vacation because nothing came out of the report other than lost time. I guess my wife, children and I now know what Negril Police station looks (dump) and smells like (ganja) but I think we would be just fine without that memory.

I was told to stop by the police station right before I left the island to pick up the police report for the rental car company but it wasn't even started. I stopped in to the station right before driving back to Mo Bay for our flight which was three business day after the hit and run...Soon Com Mon...

I paid the $500 deductible to the rental company and never heard from Negril Police (they told me they would mail a copy)...Oh well, I learned from the experience and no longer do my own driving in Jamaica...Sit back and enjoy the ride.

[Bnewb]

Very sad to hear the violence continues...Here is a link to the United States Department of State 2016 Jamaica Crime and Safety report...

https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentRe...aspx?cid=19562

Lottery Scam is mentioned as a big issue but I think this is the root of most of the problems...

Police corruption and police involvement in criminal activity is not uncommon. Citizens are often indifferent to police authority, adding to a perceived sense of lawlessness. The general perception is that the majority of crime victims do not report crimes against them due to fear of reprisals by the police, the belief that police are corrupt, or the feeling that nothing would come from such reports. Reporting crime can seem archaic, and the confusing, lengthy process is widely believed to be a waste of time except for the most serious of crimes where a police report is required for insurance purposes.

I experienced a hit and run with my rental car in Negril a couple of years ago (no injuries). I went through the process of reporting the crime (I had the licence plate number) and in hindsight I should have just continued on with my vacation because nothing came out of the report other than lost time. I guess my wife, children and I now know what Negril Police station looks (dump) and smells like (ganja) but I think we would be just fine without that memory.

I was told to stop by the police station right before I left the island to pick up the police report for the rental car company but it wasn't even started. I stopped in to the station right before driving back to Mo Bay for our flight which was three business day after the hit and run...Soon Com Mon...

I paid the $500 deductible to the rental company and never heard from Negril Police (they told me they would mail a copy)...Oh well, I learned from the experience and no longer do my own driving in Jamaica...Sit back and enjoy the ride.

It's a good article written for US Embassy employees that are relocating here. I think if one is truly interested, they should read the whole article themselves. It's quite an extensive article covering everything from where to live in Kingston, how to get around and dealing with crime.
Negrilmon, while I appreciate your research and comments...as someone living in Jamaica I find your highlighted section a bit out of context.

As for getting "things" done down here...yes, it can be difficult as everything isn't computerised (though they are working on it) and unfortunately many of the systems are still backed up in all forms of government agencies. You should definitely have received that paperwork.

And, on a slightly lighter note...the police station is currently being renovated.

[negrilmon]

It's a good article written for US Embassy employees that are relocating here. I think if one is truly interested, they should read the whole article themselves. It's quite an extensive article covering everything from where to live in Kingston, how to get around and dealing with crime.
Negrilmon, while I appreciate your research and comments...as someone living down, here I find your highlighted section a bit out of context.

As for getting "things" done down here...yes, it can be difficult as everything isn't computerised (though they are working on it) and unfortunately many of the systems are still backed up in all forms of government agencies. You should definitely have received that paperwork.


And, on a slightly lighter note...the police station is currently being renovated.

Hi Bnewb, the police ledger they wrote the report in was an huge old leather bound book that looked 100 years old (may have been). I'm glad to hear they are moving toward computers!

My 1st visit to Negril was in 1975 as a 10 year old (stayed at Seagrape on the Cliff's) and there was hardly any electricity available in Negril and only one pay phone down by the roundabout...Many days the phone wasn't working because it was full of coins and no more could be added to make additional calls...In 1975 at Rick's Cafe, if you ordered a drink that used the blender, the music would be impacted as the blender sucked away the energy from the stereo...I believe they used a small generator at Rick's in those days...To think that they are now moving toward computers at the police station is a huge difference from where Negril once was but I don't know if I would call it progress...I think I liked Negril back then better that today...


I'm not trying to take the comment that was highlighted out of context...Hence why I attached the full article and linked it above my highlight.

My point was that I feel police and government corruption are the primary problems in Jamaica beyond the root of all evil which is the love of money.

Jamaican Police corruption isn't a new concept to me...I recall during my visits to Negril as a teenager in the Early 1980's that my Father would give me a few $100 bill's to carry around with explicit instructions to bribe the police if I was ever accused of doing something against the law. I was told that bribing the police wasn't against the law and a much better alternative to ending up in a Jamaican jail. FYI I never had to use the money.

Unfortunately my father( Scott was his name and he was known as the man with the sick legs up on the cliffs due do his needing canes and a problem walking) has passed away. I spread his ashes off the bridge at Tensing Pen about 20 years ago so I consider Negril my home away from home and love it and most of it's people! I think I have passed that love on to my children because my Daughter and Son are now teenagers and have some great memories of Negril and they talk about them often!

Peace

[Bnewb]

I was told that bribing the police wasn't against the law and a much better alternative to ending up in a Jamaican jail. FYI I never had to use the money.

Unfortunately my father( Scott was his name and he was known as the man with the sick legs up on the cliffs due do his needing canes and a problem walking) has passed away. I spread his ashes off the bridge at Tensing Pen about 20 years ago so I consider Negril my home away from home and love it and most of it's people! I think I have passed that love on to my children because my Daughter and Son are now teenagers and have some great memories of Negril and they talk about them often!

Peace

I'm sure most everyone knows...but just in case...it is not legal to bribe a police officer in Jamaica. Many people have been busted for bribing in the last few years, including some politicians.

Negrilmon, much respect to you and your Father...my Mother passed away a couple of years ago and I brought her ashes here to be with me in Negril ❣

[negrilmon]

Bnewb, I'm sorry to hear about your mother passing but I'm glad to hear she made it to heaven!!!!

Good point on the bribe legality...I was talking about Negril around 35 years ago and things have certainly changed...

negrilmon