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Understand the latest travel advice for Jamaica and the Bahamas

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In response to the last one travel advice AND updated warnings about their islands, Jamaica and the Bahamas take the opportunity to make clear facts and dispel misconceptions of potential tourists. Recently issued by the US Department of State travel advice designating Jamaica as “Tier 3: Reconsider Travel” destinations and the Bahamas as “Tier 2: Exercise Increased Caution” destinations. These announcements sparked widespread speculation on social media, including: funny attributions bans to different trends, people or locations. As a result, some travelers reconsidered and canceled their plans, while others were determined to not cancel their upcoming trips.

Importantly, the advisory levels for each countries don’t differ from the previous 12 months. As of 2022, Jamaica maintains an advisory at Level 3, while the Bahamas has maintained an advisory at Level 2 for several years. Please note that the U.S. Department of State routinely issues travel advisories at the starting of every year based on reassessments of safety and security. Tier 1 and 2 travel advisories are reviewed every 12 months, while Tier 3 and 4 travel advisories are reviewed every six months. Therefore, this update is consistent with the department’s customary judgment and shouldn’t be considered an unusual event.

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Looking first at Jamaica, the updated guide considers aspects corresponding to crime, home burglaries, armed robberies, homicides and sexual assaults – even at all-inclusive resorts – to be common occurrences in Jamaica. It further notes that local law enforcement agencies often respond ineffectively to serious criminal incidents, and that U.S. residents involved in accidents, incidents or homicides may experience delays of a 12 months or more in receiving final death certificates from Jamaican authorities. The Jamaican government has reported for several years that homicide rates have consistently been amongst the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

However, what could also be neglected is that violent crimes corresponding to murders have declined in Jamaica since last 12 months. According to Jamaica Police StatisticsThere were 83 murders on the island in the first month of 2024, in comparison with 109 reported in the same period in 2023. Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, emphasized in a press release: “We are making serious progress, although we still have a long way to go to do to achieve everything we want to deliver. “It is not without significance that Jamaica has seen over a 20% reduction in serious crimes, along with significant improvements in arrests and prosecutions.” The Jamaica Tourist Board also stated: “Overall, the crime rate among visitors to Jamaica remains extremely low at 0.01%,” in keeping with NPR.

The Bahamas, on the other hand, shares the same view in response to the U.S. Department of State Level 2 Recommendation, noticing this “Gang violence has resulted in a high rate of homicides, which primarily affects the local population. “Violent crimes such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas.”

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It’s necessary to make it clear that that is over 24 murders in the Bahamas in the first two months of 2024, and all occurred in local and residential areas. In a recent incident, two women from Kentucky visited the Pirates Cove zip line and water park in Freeport as a part of a carnival cruise accused resort employees for drugging and raping them on February 4. Although arrests have been made in reference to the alleged assault, the case continues to be under investigation. The center claims that surveillance recordings contradict the women’s testimonies.

Tourism hotspots employ over half of the island’s workforce and contribute over 70% of the Bahamas’ gross domestic product. Due to this key economic dependence, national officials feel obliged to make clear and dispel misconceptions about travel to the island.

Courtesy of the Jamaica Tourism Board

“Jamaica is incredibly resilient, which is a testament to the love that so many individuals have for it. In fact, 2023 was a record 12 months for Jamaica because it attracted over 4.1 million visitors to the destination, with roughly 3 million of them coming from the United States. This is greater than the variety of pre-pandemic visits in 2019. Jamaica has a 42% return visit rate – the highest in the Caribbean and probably one in all the highest in the world. It is simply too early to find out what impact this suggestion can have – we actually hope it can be minimal. But it is vital that individuals know the facts. For example, this isn’t a brand new, elevated level of consulting. Jamaica has remained at the same level since March 2022, when it was effectively lowered following the pandemic. The U.S. Department of State routinely publishes recommendations throughout the 12 months and then publicly clarifies that no single issue caused this update.

Jamaica Tourism Board

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Courtesy of the Jamaica Tourism Board

When considering traveling anywhere – or anywhere in the world – it’s extremely necessary to prioritize safety awareness. The U.S. Department of State recommends refraining from walking or driving at night, avoiding public buses, avoiding isolated areas, and refraining from physically resisting any robbery attempts in Jamaica. In the Bahamas, it is suggested to not open the door of a hotel/residence unless you recognize the person in query and to avoid physically resisting any attempted robbery.

Additionally, for all destinations, travelers are encouraged to register for the program Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) receive notifications and make it easier to locate them in emergency situations.


Noel Cymone Walker at Grio.com

Noel Cymone Walker is a New York-based author specializing in beauty, fashion, music, travel, and cultural anthropology. She has written and produced artwork for several notable publications including The Recording Academy/The Grammys, The Fader, Billboard, OKPlayer, Marie Claire, Glamour, Allure, Essence, Ebony and more.


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Are you looking for black luxury in full? Spice Island Beach Resort is a new standard

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Janelle Hopkin knows that her father could be proud.

Sir Roiston Hopkin was a figure greater than life, who became a knight by the Queen of England, but egg scrambled eggs for breakfast were still daily, maintaining contact with people around the globe, in addition to his home island Grenada, West India, a small island north of Trinidad and Tobago and only a five -hour flight from New York.

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It was Sir Hopkin who had a vision of constructing a wonderful luxurious resort along the Grenada Grandada Grandada Anse Beach, often known as Spice Island Beach Resort. It began in 1987, when he bought a neglected center from 20 rooms and worked from 12 months to 12 months to expand it to 64 luxury villas. The son of oldsters who had a motel, hospitality ran along with his blood.

In times, he got here across a guest or businessman who was surprised when a young black man was conducting such a great project, his youth or breed was never an obstacle. In Grenada, black entrepreneurship was as common because the nutmeg that grew on the trees across the island. Everyone who was surprised simply catching up.

Sir Roiston Hopkin, visionary Spice Island Beach Resort, poses along with his daughter Janelle Hopkin, who is now the president and managing director. (Photo: Spice Island Beach Resort)

“He traveled a lot and saw things,” he recalls. He at all times got here back from travel and had an idea. He desired to push the novel. When everyone said, “We can’t do it, it’s okay as it is.” He said, “What do you mean I can’t do it because I’m in Grenada?” He loved his country. He desired to encourage Grenada and affinity for Grenada in the hearts of his guests.

And so Sir Hopkin lived daily along with his dream, running along with his wife along with his wife and two daughters watching his every move – including his youngest, Janelle, who asked to learn business and deserved to scrub the kitchen in the kitchen to profitability. Ultimately, Spice Island Beach Resort is growing and fame, winning a five -time rating AAA and accepts guests corresponding to Prince Harry.

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Before her father got sick and died in 2020, Hopkin accepted the fact that at some point he could manage her full-time family business-but her father explained that he trusted her vision to transfer her to a higher level.

Janelle Hopkin is the president and managing director of Spice Island Beach Resort and a third generation hotelier in Grenada. (Photo: Spice Island Beach Resort)

Sir Hopkin was right. Now, having the title of president and managing director, Janelle Hopkin boldly pushed to administer the well -oiled machine Spice Island Beach Resort. In addition to 64 luxury villas, the middle offers a combination of built -in pools, patio and beach balconies, in addition to a delicious full -day dining room and drinks with a non -standard menu prepared by the chef, which may be served by the bed or beach.

Thanks to the best rated SPA, a complete fitness center with yoga classes, a swimming pool and two restaurants, Hopkin claims that Spice Island Beach Resort is designed in order that all the pieces that guests need in one place.

(Photo courtesy of Spice Island Beach Resort)

“But I had to push forward and ignore the noise. If you love what you do, you can’t just do the same every day – you have to think about the bigger one.”

And think she did it. Just in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the anniversary of Independence Grenada, Hopkin also renewed the parts of the beach deck in which hotel guests spilled, enjoyed the weekly Sunday grill buffet and listened to live music Steelpan, bringing a modern atmosphere.

She also intended to convey a donation to varsities, employ locally and trained new generations of Grenadian to prosper in the hotel industry, which might increasingly dominate the company brands coming to the Caribbean Islands to submit their claims.

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“I’m going to speak (students) and let them know, study tourism and hospitality does not give coffee and cleaning. You can get so high in your career,” says Hopkin.

“I honestly believe in employing local employees from all levels. You go to many resorts in the Caribbean, and many senior management is not local” – he explains. “Many of my teams grew up here. Many of them are women. They started as receptionists … It takes much more time, much more training. But the same in itself turns to the island.”

(Photo courtesy of Spice Island Beach Resort)

While Spice Island is the property of Black, its clientele comes from everywhere in the world to experience luxurious accommodation, and a fast crowd scan in a winter week shows a diverse mixture of guests, including about 30 years, but mainly older European couples on vacation from cold, relaxing in private cabins.

But Hopkin also met many black American tourists visiting Spice, moving the inspiring history of her family and the black beginnings of the middle. Recently, she fell on a couple from Chicago, who needed to experience Spice Island for herself.

Such stories confirm Janelle Hopkin that he not only maintains his father’s heritage alive through Spice Island Beach Resort, but expands him to achieve more people willing to offer.

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Now her heritage is also based on the leadership of black women in the Caribbean, which showed that they’ve what they have to be bosses, leaders, innovators and others. As the mother of the young son and executive director, at all times on the go, Hopkin climbs in many mountains at the identical time-but like her father, who marked out a new territory with grace and whose portrait is one in every of the primary things that may greet guests in the lobby of the resort on the beach of Spice Island-Hopkin learns their very own lessons concerning the principles of success and applying them in real time:


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From the plantation to black heritage: like Shadel Nyack Compton, he transformed Estate Belmont Grenada to the destination for a visit

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When Shadel Compton Nyack left her native country Grenada at Howard University a many years ago, her life plan was quite clearly touched – graduation in HBCu, go to law school and continues his profession as a lawyer.

But life has a fun way to shake the best -developed plans.

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She grew up on a farm named Belmont Estate it was dark past-Earlier he served as a profitable plantation on the island of Grenada-as long as its ancestors Indo-Grenadan didn’t buy it. Despite their positive intention, they might allow the terrain to fall into ruins through old age. Compton Nyack saw the opportunity.

“I had a passion and I knew that I wanted to keep this business that has been so important in Grenada for many decades. And this ensured economic stability that provided jobs. “

Compton Nyack saw areas that when produced chocolate and other products and thought that they might be grown again for tourist purposes. She began to transform the property into a university environment, which trained local residents of the production process for crops, together with the activities of the points of business and tourism of the Earth.

Visitors to Belmont Estate can then visit a delicious fragrant production room, wherein the paste is transformed into chocolate bars, trying the final product and buying gifts for the home.

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In addition to the chocolate trip, guests can try goat cheese produced on the farm and eat lunch on the table farm.

The wealthy history and current transformation of the Earth Grenadan is something that Compton Nyack wants more African -American travelers to enjoy.

“I am glad that African Americans spend their dollars in the Caribbean, recognizing our history and culture, as well as for many areas in which we have similarities … and simply develop a greater sense of pride,” reflects Compton Nyack.

Celebration of the New Year in Africa, the Caribbean, focus on the family, food, celebrations

Black leadership in business is a common thread that goes beyond the borders of the Black Diaspora. This one Shadel Compton Nyack Hopes inspires latest generations of entrepreneurs, especially black people, especially women, derive hope from tourist industries, which sometimes seem exploiting.

“They come here and see that we are a black country, that we have black leadership, that there are black in business,” he says. “So many … local entrepreneurs, especially here in Grenada. I think the dynamics here in Grenada is different than on many other islands. And African Americans appreciate it. “

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For anyone who wants to go to the unknown, Compton Nyack offers this encouragement:

“I’m saying, go for it. You know when you’ve got this inspiration, this vision and this passion – you have to have it first – for it. Enjoy the process. It needs to be fun. It should make you are feeling glad. And if possible, ensure your project, what you are promoting makes a difference in the lives of others.

For me it’s the biggest joy – that I develop people here. We support the community. We try to help people maintain the environment higher. So all this stuff provide you with a great sense of goal and satisfaction, and you’ll be able to change your world. “

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohumproxl64

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This black yoga studio is the perfect travel escape in Grenada

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Hidden on the hills of the Grenada island, in the community of St. George’s, sits yoga Spice Harmony, a black yoga studio that seems to escape from the world. Founded by Dr. Kecia Brooks-Smith-LoweHer husband Ferron C. Lowe ESQ.and their daughter, Malaika Brooks-Smith-LoweSpice Harmony Yoga is positioned on the third floor of the Brooks-Lowe-Smith family home. With a fruit and vegetable garden in the yard and medical practice, Dr. Brooks-Smith-Lowe on the second floor, in this house, purpose, passion and repair.

Visitors recognize Harmony Spice as a comfortable space with purple with yoga mats, bands and pillows. It has all the vital elements of a typical studio with unpretentious sense and stands out from one other space on the island as the only non-hotel yoga studio in Grenada.

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The story of Spice Harmony actually began in Montclair, New Jersey, in the 90s, when Dr. Brooks-Smith-Lowee made a medical residence-a stressful and demanding phase becoming a physician. Her husband, Ferron, from Grenada, went to local walks and discovered yoga as a strategy to de -stress, after which brought his family, including Malaika. Soon, the whole family was trained and licensed, in 2011, all three members of the Brooks-Smith-Low family officially launched Spice Harmony yoga on a gorgeous island.

Malaika Brooks-Lowe-Smith co-founder Spice Harmony Yoga along with her parents in Grenada. He stands in front of their great wall to clarify the advantages of yoga for mental and physical health. (Photo: Natasha S. Alfford/Thegrio)
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Malaika says that although people often see yoga as a hobby or fitness trend, Harmony Spice serves a deeper goal in the community by changing the possibilities.

“People often feel that yoga is not for them,” he explains. “For any reason: they are too old. They are not flexible. It’s a man. They have a medical problem. And yoga therapy taught me that you can meet someone anywhere. “

The studio offers private classes, with non -standard experience for couples in honey months or holidays, in addition to classes for kids, seniors, future pregnant moms and others.

“Great Yoga Wall” Spice Harmony is also a special feature that leaves guests suspended in the air, with ropes attached to wall hooks, which make them feel weightless. It helps with flexibility and customary problems.

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Malaika, who is also a trained doula and mother for a six -year -old boy, notes that a lot of her clients also use yoga for medical and therapeutic reasons.

“Some of my parents, my patients had impacts, paralysis, all kinds of things. And there are so many aspects of this practice that go beyond physical. Breath, mindfulness that we still need, especially when our body is not, you know what it was once or passed through something traumatic. So for me the opportunity to have this space and offer something so high quality, which our people deserve. “

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To support this effort, he is working on raising funds for a brand new project called The Wild Seed Sanctuary-Trzy and a half Akra of a social enterprise designed to create a comprehensive, intergenerational yoga space, social events and healing.

Wild seeds will gather all guests and residents in Grenada with the “Pay-What-You-Can” model, creating black coworking and yoga space, which means that you can create organic connections.

The youngest Brooks-Smith-Lowee received numerous support and enthusiasm for the project and hopes that he’ll replace it by the end of the 12 months.

The presence of Spice Harmony in Grenada is in the landscape of many black firms, and it is one among the Brooke-Smith-Lowe malaika, from which it attracts strength.

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“Many people move to Grenada. And this is great, especially since there are more – they are not only white people who move here and call themselves expatt. We also have younger black and brown people who are trying to get out of the USA and Great Britain … I think it is still important that we have companies that we also really run in Grenada, that we also use it. “

Watch Black Travel Diary: Why should you visit the island of Antigua

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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