Americans have been warned to reconsider travelling to Jamaica after at least 65 people were murdered in the past four weeks.

The State Department raised its warning to the second highest level, just below ‘do not travel’, in response to the wave of violence.

Jamaica is the latest Caribbean nation American tourists may think about crossing off their winter holiday list, joining the Bahamas with new warnings.

‘Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,’ the warning for Jamaica read.

Americans have been warned to reconsider travelling to Jamaica after at least 65 people were murdered in the past four weeks (Jamaican police investigating are pictured)

Jamaica is the latest Caribbean nation American tourists may think about crossing off their winter holiday list

‘Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence.’

‘Families of US citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities.’ 

State said Jamaica’s homicide rate was among the highest in the Western Hemisphere for the past several years.

However, none of the 65 people killed in Jamaica this year were visitors.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Jamaica last week, meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and other dignitaries – but under extreme security.

Sexual assaults are also common in Jamaica compared to other parts of the world, and are the number one concern of tourists in all-inclusive resorts.

Canadian travel warnings even advise women to avoid drinking heavily at resorts in case they fall prey to predators.

‘There have been reports of sexual assaults at tourist resorts carried out by resort staff and, in some cases, by other tourists. Women travelling alone are often harassed,’ it read

‘Be wary of strangers who seem friendly, refrain from excessive drinking, especially at all-inclusive resorts, and ensure that your hotel room doors and windows are locked.’

An AK47 assault rifle, four magazines, eighty-six 5.56mm cartridges and forty-seven 7.62mm cartridges seized by Jamaican police earlier this month

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica 

Much of Jamaica’s poor reputation in this regard is dated, stemming from between 2011 and 2017, when 78 rape cases at all-inclusive resorts were reported.

This equaled one American raped every month during this period, according to State Department statistics.

The worst year was 2016 when 18 Americans were sexually assaulted, followed by 15 in 2012.

‘You had some [resorts] that would have guests sign nondisclosure agreements and they refund their trips,’ a 2018 report by the Detroit Free Press read. 

‘There were other victims that told me, “the resorts just ignored me and just try and forget about it”. There were others that talked people out of going to the police.’

Another victim was an 18-year-old au pair whose American host family was paid $25,000 by the hotel in exchange for their silence.

The newspaper reported that two women from Detroit were raped at gunpoint inside an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica in October 2018.

Since then, Jamaican resorts have vastly improved their practices to prevent sexual assaults and attract more tourists – but it remains a concern. 

The second reason for the advisory was that medical facilities were well below American standards and specialized care was hard to come by.

Ambulances may take a long time to arrive and were not always staffed by trained personnel.

Montego Bay in Jamaica is a popular tourist location in the Caribbean nation

The second reason for the advisory was that medical facilities were well below American standards in Jamaica, and specialized care was hard to come by

Americans who were injured in Jamaica and needed to be repatriated for proper medical care would have to pay $30,000 to 50,000 if they didn’t have travel insurance, State warned.

Travelers who decided to go to Jamaica anyway were warned to avoid public buses or driving or walking around at night.

Certain parts of Jamaica were considered so unsafe, US Government personnel under embassy security responsibility were banned from visiting a long list of locations.

Jamaica had 33 murders in the first 13 days of January, which rose to 65 as of Saturday, a Jamaica Constabulary Force crime report said.

Despite being more than two murders a day among 2.8 million people, police said this was a drop in homicides compared to last year.

Turks and Caicos, and Trinidad and Tobago were other Caribbean islands struggling with increased violent crime.

 Americans have been advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties in the Bahamas

The State Department has placed the Bahamas on its ‘Exercise Increased Caution’ warning list and even asked people to stay from water tours and sports

Americans were earlier advised to be cautious when visiting the Bahamas after nearly 20 people were killed in just a month.

The warning was prompted by rising gang violence and homicides, with retaliatory gang violence being the primary motive.

Americans were advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties. 

‘Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets,’ the US Embassy in Nassau advised. 

Officials also asked tourists to not physically resist any robbery attempt and to not answer the front door at any hotel or residence for unknown people. 

The State Department placed the Bahamas on its ‘exercise increased caution’ list and even asked people to stay from water tours and sports. 

‘Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated,’ it said.

A security warning and advisory warning tourists about the rising levels of gang violence and homicides has been released by the US embassy in Nassau (pictured) 

Officials have also asked tourists to not physically resist any robbery attempt and to not answer the front door at any hotel/residence for unknown people

‘Watercraft may be poorly maintained, xxx Cxc and some operators may not have safety certifications. Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities.

‘Never swim alone, regardless of your age or level of swimming skills. Keep within your fitness and swimming capabilities. 

‘Be mindful of sharks when swimming and engaging in water activities, as there have been recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving sharks. Here’s more on adult xxx movies free look into our website. ‘

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis commented on the advisory: ‘We will not violate anyone’s civil liberties, but you are likely to be impacted by more roadblocks and unannounced police action.

‘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.’

According to local news, Davis has already introduced a crime plan to the public in response to the soaring murder rate this month. 

Crime