The Jamaica government is seeking to assure international visitors that the island is safe despite the imposition last week of a state of emergency in the parish of St. James aimed at curbing the rise in criminal activities.
Bartlett responds
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, responding to a UK Foreign Office warning to its citizens traveling to the tourist destination of Montego Bay, the capital of St. James, said that visitors to the island should not feel threatened.
“These enhanced security measures are not out of the ordinary in international tourism markets and therefore would be understood by visitors and welcomed by residents,” he said.
The UK Foreign Office, in its warning to British tourists, cautioned them to remain within “gated guarded compounds except on hotel operated excursions or airport transfers.”
Bartlett told the UK’s Independent Newspaper in order to bring the crime situation under control, tourism stakeholders had given their full support to the state of emergency, “and are feeling that these actions are welcome to ensure the safety of Jamaica’s guests and citizens.”
Government needs public education campaign
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) said the Jamaican government needs to embark on a public education campaign to assure tourists Jamaica is open for business.
“How we manage getting the word out there is important. The Ministry of Tourism will continue to get the word out that we are open for business. There is absolutely no inconvenience to visitors at all,” JHTA President, Omar Robinson, said in an interview aired on Radio Jamaica.
Canada has now joined Britain in issuing advisories for their citizens in Jamaica regarding the state of emergency that came into effect last Thursday.
SOE bearing fruit
Over the weekend, the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) said there were encouraging signs the state of emergency was bearing fruit.
Colonel Daniel Pryce told reporters within the first 24 hours of operations, one Kalashnikov rifle and six live rounds had been seized and that the high-powered weapon may have been used in a recent killing in the parish.
He said that eight members of the Sparta gang, wanted for murder and other gun-related crimes, were arrested, and 15 persons were arrested in connection with the illegal purchase and sale of petrol.
“Over 5000 liters of diesel and petrol, which were being sold from five illegal, makeshift, petrol distribution points, were also seized in that operation,” he said, adding that the JDF would continue with targeted operations, vehicle checks, cordon and searches, patrols and snap raids to put pressure on the gangs and restore peace to St. James.
“Our operations are only as good as the intelligence that drives them. We urge persons to use the JDF tip hotline…to call and tell us what you know about criminal activities in your communities,” he said.
Under the State of Public Emergency, all clubs and fast food outlets must be closed by midnight; all service stations by 10:00 pm; bars and taverns are to be closed by 9:00 pm; cook shops and haberdasheries by 7:00 p m; and hangouts and corner shops by 6:00 pm (local time).
