Jamaican govt. upset over "inappropriate" US travel advisory for Jamaica

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Wrong country!
Jamaica tells US travel advisory inappropriate
Observer Reporter
Friday, September 17, 2004

THE Jamaican government yesterday asked the Americans to tone down a travel advisory the State Department placed on the island on Wednesday, saying the post-Hurricane Ivan warning was "inappropriate" and "unnecessarily harsh".

The message, conveyed by the foreign ministry to US Ambassador Sue Cobb, came on the heels of Prime Minister PJ Patterson's attempt at damage control during a visit to Westmoreland Wednesday afternoon. He wanted the whole world to know, he said during a closed-door meeting with Negril business interests, that Jamaica was safe and open for business.

"We are not faced with insurrection, we are not faced with riots, we are not faced with civil disturbances," the prime minister said. "We have, however, a responsibility to ensure that despite a hurricane or a natural disaster, we can maintain essential supplies of goods and services, and that we have the necessary powers to ensure the maintenance of public safety throughout the island of Jamaica."

Full Story Here... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040916T230000-0500_66174_OBS_WRONG_COUNTRY_.asp)

Do you think the advisory was too harsh?

[AngelsKiss]

Full Story Here... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040916T230000-0500_66174_OBS_WRONG_COUNTRY_.asp)

Do you think the advisory was too harsh?

It was way too harsh. I don't know why they continue to do stuff like that. They wouldn't take kindly to us doing that to them. :(

[Drew]

why does the us believe that they can control the world. maybe i should post this in the stupid questions thread.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

They wouldn't take kindly to us doing that to them. :(

Somehow, I think they wouldn't care... they may actually be happy people are being discouraged from going to the US.

[AngelsKiss]

Somehow, I think they wouldn't care... they may actually be happy people are being discouraged from going to the US.

Like every where else the USA needs tourist coming to their country to spend money. Secondly they would care simply because they don't like anything bad being said about them.

[Arch_Angel]

But they have every right to warn thier citizens. They are not telling thier citizens NOT to go to Jamaica, just warn them that it may be dangerous. The ultimate decision belongs to the tourist. And why would I come to Jamaica after hurricane has devastated the country? Not to mention the looting going on? Are you kidding me? I wouldn't even come to Jamaica!! Until they have gotten back on thier feet and some stability has returned to the island, of course.

If I was the US I would have done the same thing.

[Cocoa]

Don't see anything wrong with a prewarning. I mean, the island is in a state of turmoil after a devastating disaster, so keeping in mind that tourist wants to go to "the beautiful island in the sun" to relax, escape troubles etc. Jamaica is a lil upside down now therefore the purpose of going will be defeated. Plus what Arch_A said. True.

Think on it :eusa_thin , would you like to invite anyone at all to your house with dishes in the sink, children running around making a mess, the house needs cleaning?
I know I wouldn't. So just maybe when the island gets 'fixed-up" and everything is back to business as usual, then we can give the go to go to Jamaica.

[AngelsKiss]

The reason why I don't support the travel advisory and why the JA Govt would have a problem with it, is because the advisories are never just simple warnings with explanations.

Coupled with the news coming out of North America, this can be a very devastating thing to Jamaica. For example during Ivan, there was looting in Jamaica we all know. However some of the news made it seems like the entire Jamaica was being looted.

Another example is an ad that they keep playing here about ppl traveling to the Caribbean needing to be careful beacuse of Hepatitis. Now I am not syaing it couldn't happen, however we rarely hear of ppl getting Hepatitis in the Caribbean. Not to say they shouldn't warn their ppl but the ad specifically targets the Caribbean. You can get Hepatitis from travelling anywhere and I don't think the its more prevalent in the Caribbean.

[Arch_Angel]

I have noticed that with the US news broadcasters. They usually fluff up thier news reports and exagerate it a little. I don't know how many times, on other forums I attend, where persons overseas see things happening in jamaica on the news, and ask me if it's true. It's always partially true, but not fully true. :rolleyes:

[BlackCryptoKnight]

I have noticed that with the US news broadcasters. They usually fluff up thier news reports and exagerate it a little. I don't know how many times, on other forums I attend, where persons overseas see things happening in jamaica on the news, and ask me if it's true. It's always partially true, but not fully true. :rolleyes:

I think that's the bone of contention with this advisory AA. There are claims there which are not entirely true.Eg. a statement was made to the effect that there was no telephone service, but we all know that C&W landline and the cell networks held up pretty well throughout the hurricane. Many people never lost their landline service.

The story also said something about the advisory being based on reports from US embassy staff based on their personal experiences. That is, someone from the embassy tried to make a phone call but couldn't get through so then the whole Jamaica has no phones. That isn't the correct way to go about gathering information to formulate an advisory. It gives the wrong picture.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

It appears that the US has revised their travel advisory:


Tourism officials yesterday welcomed America's toning down of its advisory to US citizens on travel to Jamaica, and European visitors began to stream into the island again after Hurricane Ivan.

"It is very good that the advisory is now appropriately worded," Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook told the Sunday Observer. "It means that we can now continue our business of restoring the industry to our former level of activity."
A softened, and more contextual version of the advisory appeared on Friday, still cautioning Americans about the situation in Jamaica but stating that normality had begun to return.
Full Story Here... (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040918T230000-0500_66267_OBS_OPEN_FOR_BUSINESS.asp)

[Arch_Angel]

So the travel advisory was holding back the tourists? It sounded as if the travel advisory was the flood gate holding back the wave of tourists that are dieing to come here. :rolleyes: