From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Jamaica Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 13:30:33 GMT Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1573 Path: world!crb Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199712190836_MC2-2C91-612A@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 165 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Jamaica ============================================================ Jamaica - Consular Information Sheet November 21, 1997 Country Description: Jamaica is a developing nation. Facilities for tourism are widely available. Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens traveling as tourists can enter Jamaica with a U.S. passport or a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate and current photo identification. They must also have a return ticket and sufficient funds for their visit. U.S. citizens traveling to Jamaica for work or extended stays are required to have a current passport and a visa. 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 Jamaican consulate in Miami or New York, or honorary consuls in Los Angeles, Atlanta or Chicago. Medical Facilities: Medical care is limited in comparison to care available in the U.S. 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 helpful. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Crime is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston. Criminal acts can rapidly turn violent. Sporadic gang violence can spread from neighborhoods west of downtown Kingston to the fringes of the downtown area. These areas of Kingston occasionally have been subject to curfew. The areas affected by curfew are not tourist areas, 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 Kingston Airport via Mountain View Avenue and Windward Road, especially after dark, because of the crime threat in the neighborhoods they traverse. The U.S. Embassy also advises its staff not to use buses, which are often overcrowded and provide a venue for crime. Visitors should not walk outside after dark or at any time in neighborhoods known for high crime rates. 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, smaller establishments, and facilities which have fewer security arrangements because of eco-tourism concerns. Travelers should be more cautious in unfamiliar surroundings than they are at home. In particular, valuables should not be left unattended at the beach or anywhere else. Relatives of Americans visiting Jamaica and Americans who are prisoners in Jamaica 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 needs financial help. The caller states that money should be sent to the caller who will assist the visitor or prisoner. Money is sent but fails to reach the American. Americans who receive calls such as these should contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the Embassy's Consular Section at tel. (876) 929-4850 for assistance in confirming the validity of the call. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported to local police and the U.S. Embassy in Kingston or the Consular Agency in Montego Bay or George Town, Grand Cayman A U.S. birth certificate and/or drivers license generally cannot be replaced outside 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. Substantial fines plus mandatory sentences of six to nine months are common, and longer prison sentences are often levied under Jamaican law. Departing visitors are thoroughly screened for drug possession. Traffic Safety/Road Conditions: Driving in Jamaica is on the left-hand side of the road. Almost all roads have two lanes and often have no shoulders. General road conditions, including potholes and stray animals, make inter-city driving at night inadvisable. Travelers who use taxicabs should take only licensed taxicabs having red-and-white "PP" license plates. A number of Americans who have taken advantage of motorbike rentals have been involved in serious accidents. Extreme caution should be used in driving these motorbikes on unfamiliar roads. There has been one case of criminals "bumping" a rental car from behind and robbery of the occupants after the driver has pulled over to examine the "accident." If a so-called accident such as this occurs along a highway, the U.S. Embassy recommends that the driver proceed to the nearest police station or populated area before getting out of the car. Aviation Oversight: As the result of its July 1997 reassessment, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has found the government of Jamaica's civil aviation authority to be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Jamaica's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Other Information: According to a 1996 report by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, after heavy rains, pollutant levels at Walter Fletcher Beach in Montego Bay and Turtle Beach and Sailors Hole Beach in Ocho Rios, can exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency water quality standards. Some street vendors and taxi drivers in tourist areas are known to confront and harass tourists to buy their wares or employ their services. The government of Jamaica is making efforts to solve this continuing problem. In cases of sudden or accidental death, Jamaican law requires that an autopsy be performed. The law does not provide for waiver of the autopsy requirement. This requirement can cause delays of five business days or longer before authorities release a body for burial. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. The Consular Section is located on the first floor of the Life of Jamaica Building, 16 Oxford Road, tel. (876) 929-4850 through 4859; fax 935-6018. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30a.m.-11:30a.m. The Chancery is located three blocks away in the Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, tel. (876) 929-4850 through 4859; fax 926-6743. There is a Consular Agency in Montego Bay at St. James Place, 2nd floor, Gloucester Avenue, tel. (876) 952-0160; fax 952-5050. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00a.m.-12:00noon. The U.S. Embassy also has consular responsibility for the Cayman Islands. There is a Consular Agency in George Town, Grand Cayman; tel. (345) 916-2166, fax 945-6829. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information from the U.S. Embassy on travel and security in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. No. 97-159 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 10, 1996, to update entry requirements, crime information, traffic safety/road conditions, other information and aviation oversight; and to change the telephone and fax numbers for the Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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. 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