Jamaica's tourist paradise marred by crime wave: 65 killed in less than a month

Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicates that no less than 65 murders took place on the island within less than a month. This alarming increase in crime prompted a special statement from the US Ambassador to Jamaica and the State Department.

"Violent crimes including house break-ins, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murders have become commonplace. Sexual assaults occur frequently, even within the confines of all-inclusive resorts", the warning stated.

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"Local police often fail to respond effectively to severe criminal incidents. Even when arrests are made, cases are seldom pursued through to the final verdict," the report reads. "Murders can happen at any time, including in broad daylight on the streets," reported the embassy of the Bahamas.

The Ministry advises against non-essential travel to the parishes of St. James and St. Catherine, and the districts of Kingston, due to the state of emergency declared in these areas. For the rest of Jamaica's territory, travelers are urged to exercise a high degree of caution. It also urges safety when using taxis, recommending that tourists use only taxi services or hotel transport authorized by the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Statistics show that Jamaica has not had fewer than a thousand murders per year over the last 10 years, a notable statistic given the country's population of only 2.8 million.

Source: New York Post/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs