Canadians urged to be cautious in Jamaican resorts

OTTAWA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian government Friday warned all Canadian tourists in Jamaica's Montego Bay to remain in their resorts after the Jamaican government declared a state of emergency and deployed military forces to the island's St. James Parish due to a spike in thefts and murders.

Canada Travel said in a warning advisory there have been reports of alleged sexual assaults at tourist resorts.

"If you are staying at a resort in the affected area, restrict your movements beyond resort security perimeters. If you do travel outside these perimeters, use transportation arranged or provided by the resort. Use organized tour operators for excursions and travel to and from the airport. If you are in the affected area, be extremely vigilant, follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local news," said the advisory.

Jamaican authorities said that violence, in particular murders, has been escalating and endangers public safety.

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a statement Thursday night that the parish recorded 335 murders in 2017, twice the number of any other parish.

Under the state of emergency, security forces will have "extraordinary powers and some rights will be suspended. Those powers include search of persons and vehicles, curtailing business hours and detaining people without a warrant. Checkpoints will be set up on roads in and out of the parish. Enditem