With a total of 35 countries making
up the region, each with different
levels of population, development
and standards of living, it's
difficult to do anything but
generalize about safety standards in
the Caribbean. On the whole, though,
the region is politically stable and
safe. If you don't venture outside
the resorts and heavily touristed
areas, you might believe that it is
also economically prosperous -
though this is not necessarily the
case, as it is heavily reliant on
tourist trade for survival and large
pockets of poverty do exist.
However, certain common-sense
measures should be observed when
travelling in the region. For
tourists, the most common hazards
are bag snatching and
pickpocketing , so always make
sure you sling bags across your body
rather than letting them dangle from
one shoulder, keep cameras concealed
whenever possible, don't carry
valuables in easy-to-reach places
and always take a minimum of cash
out with you. Needless to say, don't
leave bags and possessions
unattended anywhere, especially at
the beach. Most resorts and
hotels in the Caribbean are
very safe; guests should nonetheless
use room safes when they're
available. Also avoid leaving
personal possessions on view in a
rental car, even in the trunk, as
these are also a prime target.
Violent street crime -
such as tourist assault and even
rape - while rare on most islands,
has been reported throughout the
region. Incidents tend to take place
at weekend "jump-ups" or street
partie s, where locals and
tourists mingle freely and many
visitors make the mistake of
ostentatiously displaying their
wealth. Visitors should take extra
care at street parties and during
carnival time, when everything
seems like one big heady mix of
music, alcohol and people.
That said, criminals can attack
at any time, and are more likely to
do so at night: women
especially should take care after
dusk and try not to wander through
unpopulated areas alone at any time.
Avoid deserted beaches or poorly lit
areas at night, and make sure that
any taxi you take is officially
licensed - look for identification,
take down the licence number and
check the plates for the identifying
"H" symbol (if there is one - see
individual sections for details of
taxi travel).
As an additional precaution,
visitors should know that car
theft has been on the increase,
so be sure to check all
documentation carefully - sometimes
vehicle leases or rentals may not be
fully covered by local insurance,
and car thieves often target rental
cars. If you are unlucky enough to
be the victim of theft or
other offences, report the incident
immediately as you'll need a police
report to make any insurance claim.
Visitors should also be aware
that heavy drug trafficking
and production is a major problem in
many Caribbean countries - the
Bahamas and the Dominican Republic
have been included on the US
government's list of major narcotics
producers. Penalties for committing
a crime in the Caribbean can be
extremely harsh, and those for drug
use, possession and trafficking are
severe and usually include jail
sentences and heavy fines.
Certain islands in the Caribbean
- especially Cuba, Jamaica and the
Dominican Republic - are known for
both their potent marijuana
and the lax attitude of the
authorities regarding recreational
marijuana use: Jamaica's local
marijuana crop brings in more
cash than its tourist industry.
However, the consumption or
possession of marijuana is not legal
on any of the islands, and as
governments of individual countries
try to crack down on drug
trafficking in general, penalties
are likely to be harsh.
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