US Government warns citizens against travelling to Jamaica.

 The United States' State Department has issued an advisory to its citizens, urging them to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to the level of crime in the country.

In an update to their website on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the Department of State noted that violence and shootings occur regularly in many neighbourhoods, communities, and parishes across the island.

The State Department says US government personnel are prohibited from travelling to many areas in Jamaica due to increased risk.

It says violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and homicides, are very common, while sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. The government agency said that the local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

It also says when arrests are made, cases are not always prosecuted to a conclusive sentence.

According to the advisory, families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by the Jamaican authorities.

It added that emergency services and hospital care vary throughout the island, as well as response times and quality of care.

U.S. government personnel are also prohibited from using public buses and driving outside of prescribed areas of Kingston at night.

The statement also revealed that their personnel were also banned from travelling to sections or all of eleven named parishes in the country known for concerning levels of violence.

These include sections of St. Ann, St. Catherine, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, St. Thomas, Westmoreland, Clark’s Town in Trelawny, all of Montego Bay in St. James and all of Clarendon.

Health benefits of garlic you didn't know about.

Author: S. Gordon-Jeffery

For Jamaican people and other Caribbean nationals, there are just some herbs and spices we have to have in our kitchen. One of them we can't do without is garlic. We use it to season our meats and add an interesting kick in flavour to our pot.  We are a people who strongly believe in natural remedies and have discovered that garlic is excellent for "cutting down di preshah", referring to drinking garlic tea when blood pressure spikes. In fact, many of our elders here in Jamaica use it as an interim remedy for hypertension until they can get to the doctor for medication. And folks who are concerned with keeping their blood pressure at a safe level insist on using it in the preparation of nearly every meal!

Jamaican Legends: Tacky, the Akan slave warrior.

Of all the stories of Jamaica's colonial past, this one is by far the one we can never get enough! The brave, the brazen ambition of this African chief who was captured, but refused to be trampled. This is the story of Tacky. 

Who was Tacky?

Retrieved from internet images Oct. 25, 2020.

Tacky belonged to the Akan people of West Africa and was originally from the Fante ethnic group located in the central region of what is now present day Ghana. Tacky (also spelled Takyi in his native language (Twi/Fante), was a prominent chief of his village and was unfortunately very much involved in the selling of his fellow Africans from the Ashanti, Nzema and Ahanta tribes, as captors to the British slave traders during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

How Annie Palmer became known as the White Witch of Rose Hall.

 There is a story, a legend really, often told by the Jamaican people to their children and to anyone who will listen. A story of intrigue, murder, romance and even betrayal.  This is the story of Annie Palmer, the infamous owner of the Rose Hall estate. The folklore of Annie Palmer has been told and retold countless times, but in this blog I seek to give a clear picture about this lady: who she was, her motivation and how she became known to Jamaicans as the White Witch of Rose Hall.

Jamaican Legend: The story of Three Finger Jack.

We will all agree that Jamaica has a rich history, rife with action-packed events and interesting characters. This article will be discussing a character spoken of in Jamaican history archives but little is known about him. We will attempt to give as much information as sources will allow into the life of Three Finger Jack.

We know him as Three Finger Jack but his real name was Jack Mansong. It is said that his origins can be traced to the lushly green country of Gambia in West Africa. It is believed that Jack was enslaved at a plantation in St. Mary, but managed to escape and became the leader of a group of maroons who terrorised the white colonists in the hilly parish of St. Thomas (called St. Thomas in the East in colonial times).

Rice Bitters: The powerful detoxifier!

An exotic plant native to Southern and Southeast Asia (found predominantly in India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam), Andrographis paniculata, popularly known as rice bitters, is not a widely used plant in Jamaica. To its enthusiasts however, this plant is the perfect body detox solution. 

Guinea Hen Weed: The mysterious, powerful healing herb.

By S. Jeffery

What are these plants? Yuh know the name? A few years ago (maybe 5 or 6 years) after one heavy shower of rain, my family and I noticed these plants growing in our back yard. We had no clue what they were, we thought they were some exotic weed. As I said, it just started growing in the backyard after some heavy June/July showers caused by a passing hurricane.

How the beautiful island of Jamaica got its name.

Jamaica, also referred to as JAH-MEK-YAH or lovingly called JAM-ROCK, from the very beginning has had colourful tales being told about it. This article is a tribute to its rich history and culture as we contribute to tell the tale that is Jamaica by revealing how it got its name. 

Health benefits of Ginger you didn't know about.

Yes, many Jamaicans and other Caribbean people will swear to drinking Ginger tea for 'bussing up the gas on wi stomach' or just how great it is to season our meats and excellent for cooking other dishes. But there are some other cool and healthful things it can do too. Continue reading to find out more...

Curing Migraines: What causes them and medical treatment available.

Migraines: Causes and triggers

Migraines are headaches that cause severe, throbbing pain, along with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine headaches usually last for between four (4) and seventy-two (72) hours. Many people experience symptoms, called "auras," before their migraine starts that signal one is coming on.


What causes a migraine?
Though tests are inconclusive most researchers believe that migraines are due to an imbalance of hormones and chemicals produced in the brain. When the levels of these hormones or chemicals increase they lead to inflammation. This inflammation then causes the blood vessels in the brain to swell and press on nearby nerves, causing pain. Persons with migraines can usually tell when when an attack is coming on and can identify what is called triggers that cause migraine pain.