Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:808 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!bzs From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Jamaica Message-ID: <950825132455_76702.1202_CHN64-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Fri, 25 Aug 1995 13:24:56 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 130 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Jamaica ============================================================ Jamaica - Consular Information Sheet August 24, 1995 Country Description: Jamaica is a developing nation. Facilities for tourism are widely available. Entry Requirements: If traveling directly from the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens can enter Jamaica with proof of U.S. citizenship, photo identification, return ticket and sufficient funds. A tourist card is issued on arrival for stays up to six months. For further information concerning entry requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of Jamaica, 1520 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W, Washington, D.C. 20036, tel: (202) 452-0660 or the nearest consulate in Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago or New York. Medical Facilities: Medical care is often limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. In some cases, supplementary medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation insurance, has proved useful. For additional health information, the traveler may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Crime is a serious problem in Kingston. Criminal acts can rapidly turn violent. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston advises its staff not to use buses, which are often overcrowded and provide a venue for crime. Travelers who use taxicabs should take only licensed taxicabs. It is dangerous to walk outside in Kingston after dark. It is also dangerous for visitors to frequent neighborhoods known for high crime rates. In 1995 for example, sporadic gang violence spread >from neighborhoods west of the downtown area to the fringes of downtown Kingston. These areas are sometimes subject to curfew. Tourist areas are usually not affected by curfews, but travelers should check with local authorities or the U.S. Embassy for details. The U.S. Embassy advises its staff to exercise caution when traveling to and from the airport area via Windward and Mountain View Avenues because of the crime threat. The U.S. Embassy suggests that flights in and out of Kingston be scheduled for daylight hours whenever possible and discourages after dark travel to and from the Morgan's Harbour/Port Royal area. The government of Jamaica has taken a number of steps, including assignment of special tourist security personnel, to enhance security in the major resort areas on the north and west coasts. Resorts that feature self-contained facilities offer a higher degree of security than other facilities. Particular care is called for at isolated villas and smaller establishments and at facilities which have fewer security arrangements because of eco-tourism concerns. Valuables left unattended on beaches are subject to theft. There have been recent scams involving relatives of U.S. citizen visitors and prisoners in Jamaica who have received telephone calls >from people alleging that they are Jamaican police officers or other public officials. The callers state that the visitor or prisoner has had trouble and that money should be sent to the caller, who will assist the U.S. citizen. These calls are hoaxes. The American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section can assist in confirming the validity of the call. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported to local police and the U.S. Embassy or Consular Agency. A U.S. birth certificate and/or drivers license generally cannot be replaced outside of the U.S. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad," which provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Both this pamphlet and "Tips for Travelers to The Caribbean" are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Criminal penalties for possession, use and dealing in illegal drugs, including marijuana, are strict and have recently been increased to include possible life imprisonment. Substantial fines plus mandatory sentences of six to nine months are common. Departing visitors are thoroughly screened for drug possession. Aviation Oversight: As a result of an assessment conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in November 1994, the FAA has found the Government of Jamaica's Civil Aviation Authority to not be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Jamaican air carrier operations. While consultations to correct the deficiencies are ongoing, Jamaican air carriers are permitted to conduct limited operations to the U.S. subject to heightened FAA surveillance. The FAA is not providing heightened surveillance for operations to destinations other than the U.S. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens may register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. The U.S. Embassy is located on the third floor of the Jamaica Mutual Life Centre, 2 Oxford Road; telephone (809) 929-4850 through 9859; fax (809) 926-6743. The Consular Section is located at the Life of Jamaica Building, 16 Oxford Road; telephone (809) 929-4850 through 4859; Consular fax (809) 935-6018. There is also a U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay at St. James Place, 2nd floor, Gloucester Avenue; telephone (809) 952-0160; fax (809) 952-5050; office hours Monday-Friday 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston also has consular responsibility for the Cayman Islands. A Consular Agency will reopen soon in George Town, Grand Cayman. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information >from the U.S. Embassy on travel and security in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. No. 95-099 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated July 28, 1995, to include Aviation Oversight Information and additional Crime Information ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories