News

Lamothe: Haiti Among the Safest Destinations in the Americas

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - January 7, 2013 - 9:38 pm

Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (Photo: OPM Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Responding to a pair of new travel warnings from the United States and Canada on Haiti last week, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said the country was among the safest in the region.

Haiti’s violent death rate was 6.9 out of every 100,000 Haitians, among the lowest rates in the Americas, according to 2012 data from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

“The kidnapping and murder of U.S. citizens is extremely rare in our country,” Lamothe said. “We work diligently and closely with the United States, Canada and the international community to fight the proliferation of criminal activities.”

Lamothe also said that Haiti was “definitively more secure today than two years ago.”

Data from the Haitian National Police found that murders of American citizens, which was cited as a reason for the new warning by the State Department, have dropped by two thirds, to two from six, the lowest rate since 2006.

Kidnappings of US citizens, also cited by the US in its warning, have reportedly dropped to nine in 2012 from 11.

The US had reported that two US citizens had been shot and killed in robbery attempts last year in Haiti.

The warnings drew “vehement protest” from Haiti’s government, which has been making tourism a major part of its policy push over the last year as it seeks to reshape the country’s economy.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts jetblue caribbean major expansion

JetBlue Is Launching Another Major Caribbean Expansion

JetBlue Airways is set to launch a significant expansion to the Caribbean this summer, Caribbean Journal has learned.  In July, JetBlue will launch new routes to destinations including Antigua, Puerto Rico, Cartagena, Haiti, Puerto Plata, Saint Lucia and St Thomas, […]


Spirit Relaunches Flights to Cap-Haitien, Haiti

haiti spirit airlines cap-haitien

Spirit Airlines has relaunched its flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cap-Haitien on the northern coast of Haiti.  The low-cost carrier resumed the service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Cap-Haitien International Airport on Dec. 3.  The service is the only […]


Eastern Airlines Is Launching Flights to the Dominican Republic

dominican republic eastern airlines

The revived Eastern Airlines is back in the Caribbean.  The new iteration of the once-legendary carrier is set to launch expanded Caribbean flights in December with service to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Eastern Airlines will be launching twice-weekly flights from […]