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Blingy, I am sorry to say that your friend is correct. There have been several sad reports of Jamaicans returning and being killed for their money during the past year. As an American that sticks out like a sore thumb here, I am very careful when I shop and travel in my vehicle. I have been lucky in that no one seems to bother me except to beg. Today was the first time in months that no one bothered me when I was out shopping.

Tourists have been victims of robbery too. Some have been murdered, but for the most part the robber just tries to get away with the purse.

There seems to be a spirit of great cheer in Jamaica today. I talked to several women and really laughed at one of the daughters as she was trying on a pair of shoes and they were too big. She would not give up however, trying to push her foot into the shoe just like one of the stepsisters in Cinderella. Her mother and I had a good laugh together about it.

Although I am not Jamaican born, I have tried to help with problems here. I have a school that is near and dear to my heart. I also have a 16 year old without parents that I have taken under my wing. I know these are small things but if all of us who come to Jamaica would do just small things they would add up to big things.

This really saddens me ... is it jealousy? why would u kill your brother and yet accept handouts from foreigners?? someone needs to help with the restoration...the first being the restoration of the beliefs in themselves as a people.
It seems like such a contradiction to me.....
I think we can all do our own bit in our own little way as u said jamaica miss ...

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II have heard also that when Jamaicans go back home to vist Jamaica coming from the states, they do get robbed and I do know one jamaican guy that has not been back to Jamaica in 10yrs and the other's that I do know here in my hometown stay and the resorts for their safety.

Even though I am a black American I must stick out like a sore thumb because one minute the Jamaican's are asking me am I Puerto Rican and the next minute they are calling me white girl and that's because of my European(Lincolnshire England) African(Madagascar Africa) Indian(Pamunkey Indians) ancestors, but still very well accepted in Jamaica. I go so much the Jamaican people have begun to say Oh! your back home again, Welcome home. I don't ride up and down the street but mainly like walking door to door talking to eveybody and greeting old friends.

I never carry a purse but like to put my money in my jean pocket and I use to put my money in my bra but my husband wasn't too crazy about that idea.

Now, I am going to keep it real here for a minute....Some of the Jamaican people that have never been to America think that that streets are paved with goal here for "US" but that is not true because alot of "US" go through some of the same hardships as some of the Jamaican's do. Just take a look now at the victims of Katrina and I am wondering now what the Jamaican people think about America now!

I myself would rather live in Jamaica then any other place in the world--Why? Because I am stress free and feel at home amoungst my brother's and sister's. Jamaica has it crime and poverity but we do too. There are hungry people in America even when their food stamps run out but you can always pick something off the trees in Jamaica to eat or drop a line in the water to catch a fish. America has the homeless but I can always but up a couple of pieces of wood and sleep on a rasta bed by the ocean. And Yes, I pray that someday I will go back to my adopted home to live or permanetly float amist the Caribbean Sea where my ashes will be completely free...

Peace and Blessings to all of Jamaica!

in reality ppl get robbed killed ran over hit by lightning hit by storms drown murdered shot abused etc etc EVERYDAY IN EVERY COUNTRY!! personally i wouldnt let anything stop me from doing what is thought to be good for me and others!

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What you say is true, but Blingy was asking about returnees and other problems with Jamaica because years ago this seldom occurred here. None of this has deterred me from living here, but it does not preclude me from being extra careful. It would do no good to hide the truth from anyone.

Now on a better note there are some very good people here that have been invaluable to me in learning the culture and warning me of every day problems. These people would never think of hurting me for any reason.

We need to be cautious no matter where we are and be ever mindful of our surroundings.

Yes, that is so true for the Jamaicans returning back home and I have heard some Jamaicans say that if you have been out of the country for a long time they expect you have more or less hit the lottery while you were away and you should be rich. So I am told they will beat you up and rob you.

I was concerned about this situation so I asked a Jamaican guy I know of that lives in my hometown, Why do some of the Jamaicans go back home pretending they have struck it rich in America when actually it is just as much as a struggle here as it is anywhere else.

I said to him, don't the Jamaican's in Jamaica know that nothing is handed to anyone on a silver platter! And his response was this: Some of the Jamaicans who live in the states go to the loan company and borrow all this money and take it to Jamaica and start spending big time like they got it going on for real on borrowed money!

Another guy in Jamaica told me that they have classes in Jamaica that they can take teaching them not to believe the hype about coming to the states where they will so called, and I say, find a pot of gold waiting for them, it's just not true.

You do of course have some Jamaican people who have left Jamaica and come back home to build homes but in my observation they build those homes in upscale neighborhoods...where you will find the Marksmen of Jamaica who's job is to keep that particular area safe from robbers or any other problems that may entail.

In my opinion I really feel that the Prime Minister needs to put more money into the police force by upgrading it's services to become more efficient especially 119 and getting the police more police cars. You see, I just don't only go to Jamaica for the sand sun and all the fun but I am trying to learn and understand more about this country socially, politically, and economically because this is the foundation and structure that Jamaica is built on.

After contemplating it for over four years, I have decided that this is the year I begin the move back to Jamaica. I was born in the place, living in UK for over 20 years, and with plenty of experience, and go-getting, I want to put this to use in my paradise home. Love the place the more I travel back. The crave is so much now, that I feel afraid that it might not work out as I am planning or imagine it to.
But in terms of safety, I was born in Kingston, but find it the most unsafe part of the paradise (the political riots back in the late 70's/early 80's were always more intense in Kingston. Montego Bay, I say is much safer - even than in London - but having travelled to other countries - I think you should always have your wits about you anyway - wherever you go. You get senseless murders, and hagglers both in Ja, and other countries - European or non... What you do get in ja is a slower pace of life, paradise, and of course it being my birthplace, I want to get to love it again as I did as a child.
Tell me that I mad /overly romantic anyone, I think I need to hear some more contra argument to make me think even more about what I am doing.


Then again...maybe I have thought enough already!

I asked my boyf about this and he said its just not true... its not really an issue..perhaps more ppl have heard about it occuring recently but its not that big a deal...he also said , ppl that come back with money tend to be more careless with it... they know theres more where it came from and perhaps dont use the same measures of securing their stuff like they used to.

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I have a neighbor across the street that is building near Lucea and she is a returning Jamaican. She said that because she is able to build a modest home and also is in charge of building another home on the property for her brother who remained in England, the people here think she is rich and have ripped off thousand of dollars worth of building materials even though she has a "guard". She thinks he may be assisting the theft. She says that everyone thinks they have money because of their circumstances and she says they are on a modest retirement budget.

It is happening here. You may not see it in the news because she has never reported the thefts, because she believes as I do when they stole from me that it does no good here to report it. The police sometimes say when people call in a burglary, "So what do you want us to do about it?"

Wow!...all I have to say is that I consider myself very lucky to have someone that I know and trust in charge of my building plans...I have not had any problems like you are describing, yet I know they exist....wish I had the solution!

You speak the "Honest Truth" This is why I put the Topic on here 119. First of all the Prime Minister need to up the police departments pay maybe we will get better results and then they need to upgrade the department with more police cars and some 119 operators so they will know your exact location.

And Believe it or not you are bascially on your own in Jamaica. I have dealt with 119 on two different occasions. Anyway, my bet is, he is assisting the theft. I have found the attitude with the police very lax and I don't know whether they are afraid or just basically want you to deal with your own problems.

I was told by some Jamaicans in Jamaica that the police just don't care. Sorry just keepin it real

looking to move to JA also.. I'm married to a Jamaican and although we have not worked out I still feel this connection with the country. I have my work permits.. my residency and plan on working in hotels for the next eyar or so just for a change but maybe more.. would you say that this is not in my best interests?

I would say it was in your best interest to follow your heart. I would never tell anyone not to come here, just cautioning them on what is happening. I still live here even with adverse conditions, i.e. corruption, little help from the government, long line waiting, etc. The gains for me far outweigh the losses.

You have a husband who needs you. Looks like you have the work figured out, so my advice is to follow your heart, be cautious and report back to us on your decisions. Peace n nuf luv.

You seem like you have it all together with nothing holding you back so from one Jamaican wife to another, it is always good to be with your husband..so go! and I am wishing you all the best!