Despite Jamaica鈥檚 prime minister recently declaring a widespread state of emergency following a surge in gang violence and murder on the island, a travel expert warns that Canadian travellers may not be granted cancellation claims for travel insurance policies.
According to Government of Canada鈥檚 travel advice and advisories , travellers entering Jamaica should 鈥渆xercise a high-degree of caution in Jamaica due to a high level of violent crime.鈥�
The state of emergency applies to regions in the capital of Kingston as well as six of Jamaica's 14 parishes. This includes popular tourist spots in Montego Bay.
The Associated Press has reported that the island of 2.8 million people tallied 1,421 killings so far this year. This time last year, Jamaica had 1,375 reported killings, according to Jamaica鈥檚 Constabulary Force.
As the situation continues to unfold in Jamaica, advisory warnings could change.
Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Insurance, warns that travel insurance policies do not necessarily account for cancellations or medical concerns when they are attributed to what constitutes as 鈥渒nown causes.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 a small clause in many of the contracts that basically addresses a 鈥榢nown cause,鈥欌�� he told CTVNews.ca on the phone Thursday. 鈥淚f you bought that policy and it鈥檚 starting to be shown in the media that there is unrest [in a specific destination] and you bought it while knowing that you may want to cancel your trip, it鈥檚 too late.鈥�
Firestone remains uncertain as to whether most cancellation policies will cover claims given the fact that media coverage has already notified Canadians about surges in crime and violence in Jamaica.
鈥淚f you wanted to cancel a trip to Jamaica right now that you bought a couple weeks ago, and you bought cancelation insurance, will you be able to get paid on that claim? Or, if you buy [cancelation insurance] tomorrow after watching all the news reports, is that now too late and after the fact? I can鈥檛 seem to get a clear answer on that.鈥�
Firestone warned that 鈥渂eing afraid of the rioting鈥� is not a legitimate reason to be granted a cancellation claim, despite the pressing dangers spreading throughout Jamaica.
鈥淵ou could buy a 鈥榗ancel for any reason鈥� policy, but that鈥檚 a very expensive proposition and again that is maybe the only advice that could be given to people right now,鈥� he said.
The bottom line, he explained, is travelling to Jamaica right now is 鈥渁 really personal decision, but if you have concerns, you have to decide whether you鈥檙e going to be protected by insurance, both medically and from a cancellation perspective.鈥�
"It鈥檚 going to be dicey how this all falls down.鈥� he added.
With files from The Associated Press
