The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas has issued a travel advisory and warning to Americans, citing a concerning surge in murders on the island nation. Since the beginning of the year, 18 murders have been reported, prompting the embassy to caution citizens about the safety risks.
The advisory highlights that the murders have taken place at various times, including broad daylight on the streets. It specifically notes that retaliatory gang violence has been identified as the primary motive behind the murders in 2024.
In response to the escalating crime rate, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis announced measures to address the situation. These measures include setting up roadblocks and implementing additional police actions. Despite potential inconveniences for residents and visitors, the prime minister emphasized the importance of prioritizing public safety.
"We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action," stated Prime Minister Davis. "This may make you late for your appointments, or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer, and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes."
This travel advisory comes shortly after the State Department issued a "reconsider travel" advisory for Jamaica earlier in the week. The warning for Jamaica cited common violent crimes, including home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides. It expressed concerns about the effectiveness of local police response to serious criminal incidents and the infrequent prosecution of cases to a conclusive sentence.
