Uzra Zeya, the undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, assured reporters at the Jamaica Observer that Washington’s recent travel advisory has no hidden agenda.
“I can assure you, having worked in this consulate myself and starting my career here, that there is no hidden agenda when it comes to protecting American citizens. Ultimately, what I saw firsthand during my visits today is a mutual calling between the U.S. and Jamaica to promote the safety and well-being of all our citizens, and we are very proud to be able to support that through our partnerships in support of civil security.” Zeya said.
Jamaica’s high crime rates and lack of medical supplies prompted the US State Department to advise Americans not to travel to Jamaica from January 23. In addition, government personnel have been banned from visiting several areas due to increased security risks.
“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, assaults and murders, are common. Sexual violence is common, even in all-inclusive resorts,” the advisory said.
It further stated that when arrests are made, cases are rarely prosecuted to a final sentence and that police officers often do not respond adequately to serious violations.
Additionally, it stated that private hospitals require full payment before accepting patients and may not be able to provide specialized care. while public hospitals are underfunded and sometimes unable to provide high-quality or specialized care.
However, Prime Minister Andrew Holness seemed “really perplexed” by the timing and content of the advice Travel weekly.
The Financial Times had written a positive story about the island two weeks before the publication of the opinion, praising it as “perhaps one of the most remarkable and radical, yet underappreciated, stories of turnaround in economic history.”
State Secretary Zeya confirmed again on Tuesday that the travel advisory system is in place a critical tool and part of the U.S. government’s obligation to protect the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens.
Zeya stated that while the advisory level remained unchanged, information on medical and health considerations had been updated. This data is collected objectively and based on facts.
“The United States is proud of the fact that American citizens represent the vast majority of tourists to Jamaica, and we believe that Jamaica is and will continue to be an important tourist destination for the American people, but our travel advisory system, [and] The work of our consulate here is intended to make those journeys safe,” she told reports.
Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States says travel advice is ‘inaccurate’
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks expressed the country’s strong objection to the advice Facebook, in which she criticized the misrepresentation of the situation in Jamaica and the distortion of the facts. To refute the advisory’s claims, Marks provided a fact sheet from the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Ambassador Marks highlighted the use of exaggerated language in the advisory, suggesting that Jamaica is being wrongly depicted as experiencing a significant crisis of violence. She highlighted that Jamaica recorded the lowest crime rate in over two decades in 2023 and pointed out that the illicit drug and arms trade, mainly from the US and Latin America, contributes to 80% of serious crimes in Jamaica. Marks also noted that more than 90% of illegal firearms in Jamaica come from the US, underscoring the complexity of the crime situation and efforts to improve it.
