Travel Alert for Jamaica

(Dive Travel Business News - May 27, 2010) --The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston, Jamaica and its surrounding areas because of escalating violence, shootings and unrest.  The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency in Kingston and St. Andrew.  Jamaican Defense Forces are engaged in an operation to arrest an alleged drug and weapons trafficker. 

Access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis by gun battles between criminal elements and police.  A number of air flights into and out of Kingston have been canceled. 

Travel experts are urging travelers to Jamaica to follow the situation closely, but not to let the turmoil in Kingston automatically taint the rest of the island: They compared the situation to recent violence in Mexico, which has been centered near the country's border with the United States but has affected tourism in Cancun and other popular spots far away from the unrest.

Emergencies involving U.S. citizens can be reported by contacting  the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 142 Old Hope Road in the Liguanea area of Kingston, telephone (876) 702-6450; after hours emergency telephone (876) 702-6000;  Consular Section fax (876) 702-6018; and e-mail at KingstonACS@state.gov.  The U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay has moved and is now located at Whitter Village, Ironshore, telephone (876) 953-0620. 

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://kingston.usembassy.gov and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution Messages, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  

The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for living and/or traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

This Travel Alert replaces the Travel Alert issued on May 21, 2010 to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston and to provide updated information on the security and airport situation.  This Travel Alert expires on June 23, 2010.

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