JAMAICA · TOURISM SECURITY
Key Facts
- The country Jamaica is a Caribbean island nation, and its tourism industry depends heavily on visitors from the United States.
- What happened On Tuesday 20 October 2026 the tourism ministry handed 7 vehicles worth J$20 million (about US$126,000) to the police unit that covers resort areas.
- The vehicles The gift includes 2 all-terrain vehicles, 4 motorcycles and 1 pickup truck, bringing the total supplied to the unit to 18.
- The giver The vehicles came through the Tourism Product Development Company, a state agency under the tourism ministry.
- What it means for you Americans heading to Jamaica for the winter season will see more police presence around resort zones, though the US government still advises extra caution.
- Still open The handover came days after two officers were killed in St Catherine, and the investigation into that gunfight is not finished.
Seven new Jamaica police vehicles went to the unit covering tourist areas on Tuesday 20 October 2026, a boost aimed at keeping US visitors safe. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett handed them over in Kingston, and the Jamaica Gleaner valued them at J$20 million (about US$126,000).
The gift matters to American travellers because Jamaica relies on US visitors and wants more Jamaica police vehicles on resort roads. It also arrived in a week of grief for the police force, which lost two officers in a shooting days earlier.
What the Police Received
The Jamaica police vehicles are two all-terrain vehicles, four motorcycles and one pickup truck. They go to the Resort Areas Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the island’s national police service.
With this delivery, the Tourism Product Development Company has now supplied 18 vehicles to that division. The Gleaner put the latest batch at J$20 million, about US$126,000 at 158.8 Jamaican dollars to the US dollar on 21 October 2026.
Who Paid and Who Spoke
The vehicles came from the Tourism Product Development Company, usually shortened to TPDCo, a state body under Bartlett’s ministry. Its executive director, Wade Mars, was at the handover at the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Charmaine Shand accepted the gift on behalf of Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake. She said tourism and national security are closely linked and that protecting the industry needs a coordinated approach.
Why Motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles
Shand described the new equipment as a way to extend police reach and strengthen front-line support. Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are built for tight spaces and rough ground, which suits Jamaica’s coastal tourist areas.
Bartlett said visitors must feel confident, safe and welcome, which he described as the aim of the government’s destination-assurance policy. He called the handover a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to visitor safety.
A Handover in a Week of Mourning
Shand used the ceremony to mourn Corporal Trevoy Shaw and Constable Devoney Rose, 19, fatally shot last Friday during a planned operation at Five Miles. The Independent Commission of Investigations, known as INDECOM, said 10 people suffered gunshot wounds.
INDECOM said three civilian men were also fatally shot, and its investigation is continuing. Shand told the gathering that the force would keep mourning the two young officers.
What the US Government Tells Travellers
The US State Department rates Jamaica at Level 2, which means travellers should exercise increased caution. Its advisory, issued on 23 June 2026, says violent crime is a risk throughout the island.
The same notice says tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country. It adds that gated resorts can still experience violent crime and that the US embassy receives reports of sexual assaults involving American tourists at resorts.
What It Means for US Readers
Visitors from the United States are a major market for Jamaica’s hotels, tours and restaurants, so their sense of safety matters to the industry. More Jamaica police vehicles in resort zones are meant to reassure them, but the delivery does not change the State Department’s Level 2 rating.
Travellers can enrol in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program before departure and follow the advisory’s guidance. For the wider picture of the industry’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa, see our report on Jamaica’s tourism arrivals.
What Is Not Known
The Gleaner did not say whether more vehicles or officers are planned for the Resort Areas Division after this handover. No figure was given for how many police the unit has on duty in each resort town.
INDECOM has not announced findings on the Five Miles shooting. It is also unclear whether the new equipment will be in service before the main winter travel period opens.
What Comes Next
The police will now put the new Jamaica police vehicles into service along the resort coasts. TPDCo has so far supplied 18 vehicles to the division in total.
INDECOM’s inquiry into the St Catherine shooting will continue and may shape how police operations are reviewed. For another recent sign of how the island honours its officers, see our report on six police honoured for Melissa rescues.
More: Jamaica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new Jamaica police vehicles?
The Resort Areas Division received two all-terrain vehicles, four motorcycles and one pickup truck on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Gleaner valued them at J$20 million (about US$126,000).
Who gave the vehicles to the police?
They came from the Tourism Product Development Company, a state agency under the tourism ministry. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett handed them over in Kingston.
Is Jamaica safe for American tourists?
The US State Department rates Jamaica at Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime. It says tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the island.
How many vehicles has the unit received in total?
The Tourism Product Development Company has now supplied 18 Jamaica police vehicles to the Resort Areas Division. The latest seven are the newest addition.
What is INDECOM?
INDECOM is the Independent Commission of Investigations, the agency that examines shootings and abuse complaints involving Jamaica’s security forces. It is investigating the Five Miles shooting in St Catherine.
Sources: The Jamaica Gleaner, 21 October 2026; The Jamaica Gleaner, 21 October 2026; US State Department, 23 June 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error