Caribbean News
Canadian Government warns citizens about travelling to Jamaica
By Sherrica Thompson
Staff Writer
#Canada, January 11, 2023 – The Government of Canada has warned its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Jamaica due to what it said is the “high level of violent crime” in the country.
The advisory was updated on Wednesday, December 28, the same day a new slate of state of emergency (SOEs) was imposed in eight parishes in Jamaica and during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family’s one-week vacation to the island.
The SOEs were declared in Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, St Andrew, St Ann, St Catherine, St James and Westmoreland and will be in effect until January 11, 2023.
This is the second travel advisory issued by the Canadian Government for Jamaica in December. An advisory was issued on December 6 after a state of emergency (SOE) was imposed in eight parishes.
Canadian citizens were warned that if they travel in the affected areas, they may be subject to searches by security forces.
They were also encouraged to:
- Always cooperate with military and police officers.
- Carry valid ID at all times and be prepared for various checkpoints.
- Allow extra time to reach their destination
- Follow the instructions of local authorities.
- Monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation.
According to the travel advisory, despite the presence of police to counter criminal activity, violent crime, including armed robbery and murder, is a problem in large cities and tourist areas, including parts of Kingston and Montego Bay.
The advisory also warned citizens about the possibility of becoming a victim of crossfire.
“The availability of firearms is a widespread, and most violent drug- and gang-related crimes, especially murder, involve firearms. There is a risk of becoming the victim of crossfire in these areas. Tourists are also at risk of crimes of opportunity, especially theft and robberies,” the advisory read.