BY NAN STAFF WRITER
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. November 16, 2022: Crime continues to be an obstacle for many Caribbean countries with the US State Department warning citizens to reconsider travel to a Caribbean country.
The United States is warning Americans to reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago because of crime in the twin island republic.
“Exercise extra caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to terrorism and kidnapping,” the advisory said. “Some areas have increased risk.”
US government personnel are now prohibited from traveling to Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite and inside the Queens’ Park Savannah in Port Of Spain, the nation’s capital, and are prohibited from traveling to downtown Port of Spain after dark. view of Fort George and all the beaches.
“Violence and shootings occur regularly in some areas of Port of Spain,” the advisory said. “Violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion and kidnapping, are common. Gang activity, such as drug trafficking, is common. A significant proportion of violent crime is gang-related. Terrorists can attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports and other public areas.”
The advisory comes as Trinidad and Tobago’s homicide rate has surpassed 585 murders so far this year.
Meanwhile, in Jamaica, crime has prompted the country’s prime minister to declare a state of emergency in several areas, including the popular tourist destination of Montego Bay.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday declared a state of public emergency in parts of the capital Kingston and several central and western parishes in an effort to control rising crime linked to gang violence.
States of emergency give authorities increased powers, including the ability to search buildings and make arrests without a warrant.
Last month, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning suggesting that Americans reconsider traveling to Jamaica due to rising crime, explaining that “the homicide rate reported by the Jamaican government has been for several years among the the highest in the Western Hemisphere”.
“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and murders, are common,” the warning said. “Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime incidents.”
