In response to a reported wave of violent crime, the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for Jamaica and the Bahamas in late January. Jamaica’s travel advisory is more stringent than the Bahamas’, stating that tourists should “reconsider travel,” while the Bahamas’ advisory suggests that tourists should “exercise increased caution.”
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The State Department noted that despite fewer homicides in 2024 than in 2023, Jamaica’s murder rate remains one of the “highest in the Western Hemisphere.” The agency also cited a rise in armed muggings and sexual violence in both countries.
According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, there were 109 homicides between Jan. 1 and Feb. 3 of 2023. In 2024, there were 84 homicides within that same time period.
However, it’s not just murder that is a concern when it comes to violent crime. The State Department also warned that ambulances in Jamaica are not readily available, and they may lack properly trained personnel. Additionally, public hospitals are reported to be under-resourced, and private hospitals often require payment upfront.
The advisory also mentioned that sexual assaults “occur frequently” in Jamaica, including at “all-inclusive resorts.”
In the Bahamas, the State Department warned of a spike in gang-related murders, burglaries, robberies and sexual assaults. Sexual crimes are reported to be on the rise in both tourist and non-tourist areas of the Bahamas.
Two mothers from Kentucky, unaware of the advisories, took a trip on a Carnival cruise ship on Feb. 4. They disembarked to visit Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park in Freeport, where they allege they were raped by two staffers, according to Good Morning America. The resort has refuted the allegations following a review of surveillance video, according to a report by Fox News.
According to LEX 18, the Kentucky women are receiving preventative medical treatment, including a preventative HIV medication that costs nearly $4,000. They also shared words of caution for anyone traveling to The Bahamas.
“Be safe. Two is not a group. Do not buy any drinks unless they come in a sealed container,” Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson said.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force announced the arrest of two men in connection with the rape charges on Wednesday, Feb. 7. In a Facebook post the police force said it is working with the FBI regarding the ongoing investigation.
The rape allegations follow a security alert from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, issued on Jan. 24, stating that 18 murders had occurred at the beginning of the year with most related to gang violence.
The State Department advises travelers to take additional safety steps if traveling abroad, including “keeping a low profile” and avoiding secluded places, public buses and walking or driving at night.
NPR reports that the agency recommends downloading the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which sends alerts to users’ phones and helps law enforcement find them in case of an emergency.
Leaders in Jamaica and the Bahamas are pushing back against the travel advisories.
“Overall, the crime rate against visitors to Jamaica remains extremely low at 0.01%,” the Jamaica Tourist Board said in a statement to Travel Weekly.
The board added that the places of concern are “very distinctly defined areas,” and that most of the region “remains unaffected.”
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