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Crime and safety
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While Jamaica's murder rate is undeniably high - the average is about a thousand per year - the JTB is keen to stress that you are more likely to be mugged in New York than Montego Bay. Nonetheless, robberies, assaults and other crimes against tourists do occasionally occur, and it's wise to apply the
precautions
you'd take in any foreign city.
Hustling can be a major annoyance in Jamaica. Especially in Montego Bay, young hopefuls aggressively (or humorously) accost foreigners in the street with offers of transport, ganja, aloe massages, hair-braiding and crafts. While an inevitable few street touts see tourists as easy prey for exploitation, most are just trying to make a living in an economically deprived country. Best advice is to keep things in perspective and employ a dash of humour. Though tourism officials are loath to acknowledge it, many people do come to Jamaica in search of what aficionados agree is some of the finest marijuana in the world. If you're fairly young, expect to be offered ganja in the tourist areas; if you're not interested, calmly and firmly refuse. Bear in mind, too, that the possession, use, export or attempted smuggling of any quantity of ganja is against the law in Jamaica and carries stiff penalties.
The
emergency number
for the Jamaican police is 119. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Jamaica |