Caribbean

U.S. Virgin Islands: Assaults in Havensight, St. Thomas

Date: April 23rd, 2008 |

Tourists in almost any cruise ship port stand out like sore thumbs, so prudence suggests that to avoid trouble they should know where they are going. A U.S. citizen was pistol whipped and robbed by four assailants when he wandered into the Oswald Harris Court housing community near the Havensight cruise ship dock area on [read more]

Barbados: “Highly Unusual” Armed Robberies

Date: February 27th, 2008 |

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Crime against tourists is low here and usually takes the form of petty theft, but twice in January tourist groups on guided tours of the island were held up at gunpoint. In the second incident shots were fired but no one was hurt. Police believe they have identified some of the perpetrators, and the U.S. [read more]

St. Maarten: Water Shortage Should Be Resolved by Peak Tourist Season

Date: December 13th, 2007 |

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This Dutch territory that shares its Caribbean island with the French territory of St. Martin has been experiencing water shortages that have left some residents without water for at least five days. People are collecting rain water for bathing and cooking while authorities say they will begin buying water from French St. Martin to slake [read more]

Antigua and Barbuda: Violent Crime Increase Prompts New Police Initiatives

Date: November 15th, 2007 |

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Antigua is experiencing an increase in violent crime with three recent shooting deaths bringing the murder count to more than 30 in the past two years on these islands whose population is just under 70,000. Officials have implemented crime-fighting initiatives and have made two dozen arrests in the recent killings, but opposition leaders complain that [read more]

Caribbean: Hurricane Dean Misses Major Tourist Sites

Date: August 22nd, 2007 |

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Category 5 Hurricane Dean churned through the Caribbean and Mexico Aug. 19-22 causing extensive property damage but generally sparing tourism facilities. Jamaica took a glancing blow, with the north coast resorts suffering little damage and airports fully functioning again. The Cayman Islands largely escaped with just wind damage. In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Dean hit land [read more]

Haiti: Riots Erupt across the Country

Date: April 10th, 2008 |

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Demonstrations that started as protests over escalating food costs devolved into widespread rioting and looting in Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and other cities. The U.S. Embassy suspended operations April 9 and urged Americans in Haiti to remain indoors, follow local press reports and stay in touch with the embassy until the situation s [read more]

Trinidad and Tobago: More Soldiers to Patrol with Police until Carnival

Date: December 26th, 2007 |

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The national security ministry mobilized soldiers to join police patrols from Christmas through Carnival in February in response to rising crime. The soldiers will help police patrol cities and towns, especially malls and shopping areas, entertainment centers and beaches. Officials expect that the military presence will deter criminals. Further, in response to a wave of [read more]

Dominican Republic: Contaminated Water in Santo Domingo

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo reported that following tropical storm Noel and recent heavy rains, the water supply of Santo Domingo became contaminated and should not be drunk or used for cooking or brushing teeth. Visitors should use bottled water that has not been exposed to floodwaters, should boil all tap water or disinfect [read more]

Haiti: U.S. Embassy Prohibits Personnel from Flying Caribintair Airlines

Date: September 19th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince now prohibits all U.S. government personnel from flying on Haiti’s Caribintair Airlines, and warns travelers to avoid the carrier. The airline has had two forced emergency landings in the past month and Haiti’s civil aviation authority has grounded its domestic flights while continuing to allow flights to Santo Domingo, Dominican [read more]

Mexico: Dengue Fever Cases Up around Country

Date: April 4th, 2007 |

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Dengue fever is surging in Mexico and other areas of Latin America. Dengue cases in Mexico have increased more than 600 percent since 2001, with the deadly form of dengue hemorrhagic fever increasing dramatically. It now accounts for one in every four cases compared to one in every fifty cases seven years ago. Officials have [read more]