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Security Alert: Embassy Recommends to Avoid Travel to 15 Additional Areas in Jamaica
Communities and Parishes Throughout Jamaica
14 MINUTE READ
April 6, 2023

Event: Subsequent to recommendations from the Government of Jamaica, the United States Embassy in Kingston has placed an additional 15 areas on a list of off-limits neighborhoods, parishes, and communities for U.S. government employees under Embassy authority.  These 15 areas are in addition to a list of 29 areas previously made off-limits to Embassy personnel.   None of the 29 previous areas were removed from the list.  Private U.S. citizens should not travel to any of the below-listed areas of Jamaica.  For all areas of Jamaica not listed, the State Department continues to advise U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime.

Actions to take:

Do not travel to:

Areas of St. Ann’s Parish

  • Steer Town
  • Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios

Areas of St. Catherine’s Parish

  • Spanish Town
  • Central Village
  • Certain areas within Portmore to include: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford

Clarendon Parish

  • All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.

Areas of St Elizabeth’s Parish

  • Vineyard neighborhood near Alligator Pond

Areas of Hanover Parish

  • Logwood and Orange Bay

Areas of St. James Parish

  • Canterbury
  • Flankers
  • Glendevon
  • Mount Salem
  • Norwood
  • Paradise Heights
  • Rose Heights
  • Cambridge
  • Springmount
  • Johns Hall

Areas of Kingston and St. Andrew Parish

  • Cassava Piece
  • Downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads.  Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
  • Duhaney Park
  • Grants Pen
  • Standpipe
  • Swallowfield
  • Elleston Flats
  • August Town

Areas of Manchester Parish

  • Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville

Areas of St. Thomas Parish

  • Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth
  • Grands Penn
  • Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs
  • Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway

Areas of Trelawny Parish

  • Clarks Town

      Areas of Westmoreland Parish

  • Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savanna-la-Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road)
  • Morgan Bay
  • Kings Valley
  • The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril

If you decide to travel to Jamaica:

  • Avoid walking or driving at night.
  • Avoid public buses.
  • Avoid secluded places or situations.
  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Crime and Safety Report for Jamaica.
  • U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

·         Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

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