For Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his cabinet, the visit by American Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the northern Caribbean island last week addressed several important issues, including the U.S. government habit of issuing damaging travel advisories to its citizens as a guide to which destinations they should frequent or avoid.
When the two shared a podium for a joint press conference after their bilateral meeting, Holness was quick to raise the issue with Rubio publicly and, in the end, won a vow from the State Department to review the contents of travel advisories to make them more accurate and reflective of the present reality.
His motivation to do so appears to have stemmed from what the PM said has been major success in reducing violent crime on an island nation where 1,400 murders per year could be the norm. The head of government, facing general elections with a determined opposition, said the situation has changed drastically for the better.
“Jamaica today is safer than at any time in the last two decades,” Holness said. “In fact, crime against visitors represents less than 0.01% of the more than 3 million visitors to Jamaica annually. We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure that travel advisories reflect the current realities and promote safe travel. For the first time in the history of the constabulary, we have met the establishment strength of 14,000 officers. More police officers, more vehicles, and greater intelligence capabilities mean a more rapid response to threats and citizens’ emergencies.”
Speaking in parliament as well, the prime minister was proud to point out that there are fewer than 100 gangs today, compared to about 350 nine years ago. He said efforts to dismantle them will continue.
Rubio, for his part, had also met with the leaders of Haiti, Trinidad, and Barbados in Jamaica, and pledged to review the basis for travel advisories.
“We pledged that we’re going to go back and reevaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers and what the numbers show,” Rubio announced, adding that the island has “made very impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth … Governments have two primary responsibilities: the safety and prosperity of their people. Your prime minister and his government [are] very focused on those two priorities.”
Rubio’s announcement has, as expected, met with an outpouring of gratitude and relief by the tourism and hospitality sector. They have suggested that negative advisories have had a devastating impact on the lifeline sector.
“Coming from America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reinforces that all the hard work Jamaica has put into lowering crime rates is paying off. It’s wonderful to hear that our collective calls for a review of the U.S. travel advisory are being acknowledged and acted upon,” said Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.
Senior tourism executive John Byles described Rubio’s open-minded approach to Jamaica’s plea as a blessing. “The travel advisory has been like an albatross around the neck of the tourism sector, affecting us in every possible way,” Byles told the Jamaica Information Service. “It is uplifting to hear that our efforts to reduce crime are being recognized at such a high level, especially by Secretary Rubio.”
Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President Robin Russell also lauded Rubio. “What is most encouraging is the tone of the discussions with Secretary Rubio and his team,” Russell said. “It was one of mutual respect and recognition of the hard work Jamaica has been putting in to address our issues as a country. We hope the U.S. travel advisory review will be favorable and we can continue to do the work to make Jamaica the best country to vacation in the world.”
With elections expected by September, Holness has constantly pointed out the gains made against violent crime, noting that murders declined by nearly 20% last year compared to 7% in 2023, while the 47 killings in February were the lowest in 25 years.
