Caribbean

St. Lucia: Officials to Increase Safety for Tourists, Engage Marginalized Communities

Date: February 3rd, 2010 |

Tourism officials vowed to increase safety for tourists following a decision by Norwegian Cruise Lines to remove the island from its itineraries in the 2011-2012 season. The company dropped St. Lucia because of three attacks on cruise passengers in 2009. Tourism officials will work with police to reduce crime, including launching a public awareness campaign [read more]

Haiti: Major Earthquake Devastates Port-au-Prince

Date: January 13th, 2010 |

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Haiti: A 7.0 earthquake struck near the capital Port-au-Prince Jan. 12, devastating the city. Thousands of buildings collapsed, including the National Palace, parliament, the cathedral and the main prison. Tens of thousands are fe [read more]

Bahamas: Cruise Ship Passengers on Segway Tour Robbed in Nassau

Date: November 25th, 2009 |

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Two tour groups on shore excursions from separate cruise ships were robbed in Nassau by two gunmen armed with shotguns Nov. 20. The groups were on a Segway tour of a forest preserve called Earth Village near the port when the robbers tied up the Bahamian tour guide of the first group, ordered everyone down, [read more]

Antigua: Tourists Dispute Taxi Fare, Scuffle with Cops, End Up in Jail

Date: September 9th, 2009 |

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Tourists coming off cruise ships for short island visits can be vulnerable to scams from individuals who know they cannot afford to be delayed for fear of missing a ship’s departure. The recent case of a group from Brooklyn is a good example of how things can go wrong. They disputed a taxi fare and [read more]

Jamaica: Ocho Rios to Get Security Cameras

Date: August 5th, 2009 |

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With more than 1,600 killings last year, this island of 2.8 million people has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Tourists are seldom homicide victims, but they are subject to other crimes, which officials in Ocho Rios hope to curtail with the installation of dozens of surveillance cameras. They will go up [read more]

Antigua: American Woman Murdered in 4th Major Incident in Two Years

Date: January 27th, 2010 |

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The tragic murder of an American woman on a shore excursion at Pigeon Point Beach Jan. 19 was the fourth major incident in the last two years involving tourists visiting the island. In 2008 a honeymooning British couple was murdered in their hotel room; in 2009 an Australian yachtsman was killed when walking with his [read more]

USA-Bound Travelers from “Countries of Interest” Face Tightened Security

Date: January 6th, 2010 |

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Anyone flying to the U.S. from or through countries the U.S. government considers state sponsors of terrorism or “other countries of interest” will face enhanced screening under new security measures that took effect Jan. 4. Countries the U.S. considers state sponsors of terrorism are Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria, and the “other countries of interest” [read more]

Cuba: Passengers with Flu Symptoms Face Quarantine on Arrival

Date: October 14th, 2009 |

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Health authorities have the right to quarantine arriving passengers if they feel the visitor may have H1N1 flu. Travelers are required to fill out a health questionnaire on arrival at the airport, and if they are identified with flu-like symptoms they may be evaluated by medical personnel and sent to quarantine in a local hospital [read more]

Trinidad and Tobago: High Crime Prompts UK Travel Warning

Date: August 13th, 2009 |

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Prompted by a knife attack on a retired British couple in Bacolet, Tobago, the British High Commission warned U.K. citizens about the high crime rate in the islands. Trinidad is plagued by gang-related violence in inner city neighborhoods, but violent crime has also occurred at tourist sites, including Fort George and Pitch Lake (tar pit). [read more]

Jamaica: Police Could Take Sick Leave in Labor Dispute

Date: May 13th, 2009 |

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A labor dispute between the Jamaican Constabulary Force and the government has raised the possibility that police officers could take sick leave in large numbers as a form of protest, creating a shortage of police services throughout the island. A union leader said the police would not strike and jeopardize the nation’s security, but the [read more]