There has been a lot of pushback from the Jamaican government, its ambassador to the US, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and Jamaicans in general, over a recent travel advisory issued by the US government warning Americans against travel to Jamaica.
This wasn’t the first time the US government issued a travel advisory regarding travel to Jamaica, but while those in the past cautioned Americans against crime in Jamaica, this one emphasized not only violent crime but weaknesses in Jamaica’s healthcare system.
Issued on January 23 when Jamaicans eagerly awaited the announcement of Local Government Elections scheduled before Feb 29, some Jamaicans questioned the motive of the advisory, suggesting there are political implications unfavorable to the sitting government. This, the US government has since denied.
Of course, the travel advisory is damaging to Jamaica’s reputation. According to reports, there have been significant tourist cancellations since the advisory was issued. But it’s time to pause, be objective, and look at the situation in Jamaica leading up to this advisory.
Violent crime has been a serious problem in Jamaica for months. The news out of Jamaica is often heavily laden with reports of incidents of violent crimes and multiple related killings. The government has been relentlessly criticized for what is interpreted as its ineffectiveness in controlling crime.
Violent crime is so serious and so concerning to the diaspora that many people are wary of visiting their homeland. When and if they visit, some seek to stay in hotels or gated communities where they feel safer. Also, a significant percentage of Jamaicans in the diaspora who would normally opt to return home to live on retirement are reluctant to do so because of persistent violent crime.
Isn’t the Jamaican government cognizant of the negative impact news of violent crime is having overseas? Maybe it does, but since tourists visiting Jamaica tend to remain within the confines of all-inclusive luxury hotels, and when they leave those hotels they mostly do so on secured guided tours, the government has not been overly concerned.
But in recent months, there have been reports of tourists attacked within the confines of the luxury hotels.
If the government made a greater effort to stem persistent violent crime, resulting in a safer environment, there would be no need for travel advisories. But violent crime continues to plague the country, to the alarm of Jamaicans at home and abroad and potential visitors to the island.
Turning to the section of the advisory cautioning Americans against Jamaica’s healthcare system, this too is a problem that has worsened. Jamaica is woefully short of medical facilities, and most of the existing medical facilities are short on medical supplies, medication, and medical personnel.
Those residing in the diaspora with relatives and friends in Jamaica are aware of the trials they face in seeking medical attention, especially at public hospitals.
Patients admitted to hospitals or scheduled for procedures are required to take medication and medical supplies with them. There are reports that private hospitals require upfront payments before patients can be attended to.
Emergency medical service is even more concerning, as emergency hospital rooms are understaffed, often overcrowded with reports of patients unable to be assigned beds. It’s disconcerting that successive governments, both JLP and PNP, have not been able to make significant improvements to the nation’s overwhelmed healthcare assets, and to the effective operations of the system.
Many in the diaspora are asking why the government isn’t seeking assistance from foreign governments to improve the current healthcare infrastructure. Millions of dollars have been invested by China in building highways in Jamaica.
While highways are important to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services throughout the country, are all these roads more important than building and improving medical facilities?
The current government has been very successful in raising international funding to expand Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Why hasn’t there been even one-third of this success in securing funding to improve the nation’s healthcare system?
Doesn’t anyone in the government realize if more tourists come to Jamaica, there is the potential for greater demand on the healthcare system?
Indicative of Jamaica’s weak healthcare system is the tendency for some Jamaicans, including government ministers and officials, to travel to Miami, or elsewhere in the US, when they need serious medical attention.
These people travel overseas to seek medical attention because they either have no confidence in medical treatment in Jamaica, or the relevant treatment isn’t available.
So although there is much angst against the recent US travel advisory, Jamaica must shoulder blame for making the advisory necessary. Enough has not been done by the Jamaican authorities to control violent crime or improve the country’s flailing healthcare system.
The glaring problems must be addressed to avoid negative publicity. It’s pointless and disingenuous to criticize the US government for an unfair and unwarranted travel advisory while the issues the advisory warns about abound unabated within the country.
