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From: usadaca@uiucuxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Caribbean Bargains?? - (nf)
Message-ID: <5304@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Feb-84 23:20:01 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.5304
Posted: Wed Feb  1 23:20:01 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Feb-84 15:34:43 EST
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#R:ihu1g:-13500:uiucuxc:5300005:000:1604
uiucuxc!usadaca    Feb  1 13:12:00 1984

avoid jamaica at all costs! a friend went there recently (jan)
he has been a regular for about 5 years. this time, on the last
day of his stay, 2 uniformed men "police" brandishing MACHINE
GUNS, no less, burst into his room and accused him of stealing
video equipment and threatened to take him to prison where
he could await trial...in about 6 months! the absurdity of the
charges is underlined by the fact that the man is a priest
and travels very light...one bag for suits and other priestly garb
and a small case for personal items. after some small amount of time
and a lot of "negotiations", the "officers" agreed to let him go
IF he paid each of them $500.00!! they accompaied him to the 
telegraph office where he wired a friend back in the states
(who shall remain nameless) for the funds. he missed his plane
waiting for the wire transfer, but nonetheless is now back on
American soil. a little investigation on the part of some
well-connected friends has revealed that this is becoming
a recurring problem, especially in Jamaica; and yes, it
appears that the men involved were indeed police officers...
although they were not on duty at the time, at least according
to their boss (moon-lighting?). since the payments were in cash,
and there were no witnesses (at least in the eyes of the Jamaican
officials) there is less than a zero chance that the money will
be recovered or that there will be any investigation into the
matter, let alone punishment of the offenders. so ,beware!!
ps some local travel agents are actively discouraging trips
to Jamaica and some have refuse to book to same.