The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for the Bahamas, following a spike in homicides over the past month. Americans are being advised to “exercise increased caution” if traveling to the Bahamas after 18 homicides were committed over the course of January.
Tourists are advised to be on high alert, specifically on the islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama where two of the most popular cities, Nassau and Freeport are located. In Nassau gang-on-gang violence has seen 18 murders committed in the “Over the Hill” area south of Shirley Street.
“Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas,” said the State Department in their advisory. “Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.”
Also last month, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Jamaica. Americans are advised to “reconsider travel” to the Caribbean country due to “crime and medical services,” according to ABC.
The State Department cited violence and lack of law enforcement as primary reasoning for the advisory. “Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence,” the advisory stated. The department also raised concerns about access to emergency and hospital services.
