Traveling to Jamaica? A MUST READ! :surrender:

[WaterWalker]

The yellow poster says it all.

I had made several trips with no problems. NO MORE.
This month’s trip was going well, fast flow more area, really nice improvements to Sangster International Airport (MBJ)
It was big surprise to see so many bags opened for inspection at the new arrival Custom Inspection area. The agents were diligent in doing their job, very professional, polite and explained everything that was to happen. We had to empty one suitcase and put the banded/restricted metal detectors in the one suitcase. The other items from the one suitcase were put into other suitcases so all we had “DETAINED” were our metal detectors and the one suitcase. To retrieve the detained items we had to arrive an hour earlier for our flight home, a week later. We were allowed to put more items into the suitcase with the detectors prior to it being escorted to the ticket counter by two Custom Agents. There documents were signed, baggage check number noted and co-signed by the ticket agent. Back in the USA we collected our bags and headed home with a tale of travel that I just had to pass along. I was given information on who to contact to request a permit, but it would take a minimum of two weeks and probably would not be granted.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Since when is a metal detector so evil & dangerous, that it's lumped into a category along with weapons, explosives, etc... ?

 

[Elton]

Since when is a metal detector so evil & dangerous, that it's lumped into a category along with weapons, explosives, etc... ?

You ask since when ?? Seems like now in Jamaica would be the answer...… So better figure their going to take your detector and store it till you leave.
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Thanks for the heads up Waterwalker. Hope your detector wasn't damaged by careless handlers.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

You ask since when ?? Seems like now in Jamaica would be the answer...… So better figure their going to take your detector and store it till you leave.

At least he didn't encourage people to do it anyway because of some arcane legalese imaginative interpretation of what is pretty clear to me. That's progress.

Hope other similar places don't get any ideas from this 'government'.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

haha.

Ok, here's a quiz for you guys: It was mused, on another forum where water-walker posted that info, that the reason for this law, is purist archie concerns.

Assuming that is truly the origin of this rule, then .... a quiz for you :

1) How many purist archies do you think exist in a 3rd world poor country like Jamaica ? Eg.: 1 in 100,000 ? 1 in 1,000,000 ? etc....

2) Do you think that this lone archie or two, just happen chanced to see a tourist on a beach, and thought : "Gee, let's invent a rule to stop this evil activity ?"

3) Or ... if not .... what do you think put this "on their plate" as some pressing issue that they needed to make a law or rule about this ?

It was water-walker, on that other forum, where he had posted this, who had made the followup that it was archie concerns . So I'm only quoting him. And he alluded to laws there that any resources, under the ground, belong the crown. Not unlike British laws, where the queen owns mineral wealths (oil, etc...) that you might discover. And treasure troves you might discover , etc.... Yet you'll notice that there is NO LACK OF MD'R's IN BRITAIN, despite such language.

Ok, so if this was born out of purist archie concerns, I'm going to go out on a limb here, and suggest that the possible origin on this, in Jamaica, was sincere and well meaning tourists, who "inquire ahead" to make sure it's ok to bring their detectors. And then .... sure as heck, the "pressing question" gets passed up and down the chain till it finally lands on the desk of a purist archie. Who knows ? And then we can all sit around and say "durned those archies" and lament our lack of freedoms, eh ?

 

[Champ Ferguson]

I agree with a poster in that same thread that you refer to who said that it is just another way for a 3rd world, ahem, Nasty Place to shake down the tourists.

 

[dobbratacus]

As one that detects worldwide, I know exactly what this is about. It has nothing to do with security or archeology. It is nothing more than who gets a chance to find the lost valuables. Picture yourself as a Jamaican(or whatever nationality) that has been recovering valuables the old way since scuba masks were invented. You go down, you fan the sand, then you look in the hole. Lot of work for a chance of a payoff, but hey, it puts food on the table. Now a tourist shows with an xcal and in matter of minutes the chances of a local using nothing but his eyes, of recovering anything valuable is all but non existent. You leave, more valuables are dropped, then the next guy comes along and the beach is Hoovered once again. Gets old after a while for the locals who like Gold , too. So, somewhere along the line someone high enough realizes that “hey, there’s gold in that thar water”. So, they ban the “rich tourist” from enjoying his hobby. Notice they don’t hold your valuable jewelry for you while you vacation there. They have no problem with you leaving anything behind, but other lost stuff is for the locals only. Just my two cents. Good fortune to all..

 

[Champ Ferguson]

As one that detects worldwide, I know exactly what this is about. It has nothing to do with security or archeology. It is nothing more than who gets a chance to find the lost valuables. Picture yourself as a Jamaican(or whatever nationality) that has been recovering valuables the old way since scuba masks were invented. You go down, you fan the sand, then you look in the hole. Lot of work for a chance of a payoff, but hey, it puts food on the table. Now a tourist shows with an xcal and in matter of minutes the chances of a local using nothing but his eyes, of recovering anything valuable is all but non existent. You leave, more valuables are dropped, then the next guy comes along and the beach is Hoovered once again. Gets old after a while for the locals who like Gold , too. So, somewhere along the line someone high enough realizes that “hey, there’s gold in that thar water”. So, they ban the “rich tourist” from enjoying his hobby. Notice they don’t hold your valuable jewelry for you while you vacation there. They have no problem with you leaving anything behind, but other lost stuff is for the locals only. Just my two cents. Good fortune to all..

Yeah that sounds about right. Maybe left out the part about some local's uncle being in the rule making department or getting paid off tho.

 

[doc holiday232]

The US has so many beautiful destinations---why go to these SH countries ruled by people with IQ's in double digits??

 

[dobbratacus]

Great point. I only go when work calls. Ain’t gonna spend a dime of my own money in a country like you mention. Life’s too short.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Great point. I only go when work calls.....

And if I was you, I'd be doing exactly as you're doing. If someone has an issue, you're just looking for the wedding ring your wife lost the night before.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

...... If someone has an issue, you're just looking for the wedding ring your wife lost the night before.

That AND a 20 MIGHT keep you out of jail in a 3rd world country. Have you ever flouted a 3rd world country's no detecting laws, Tom?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

dobbratacus is an airline pilot. Therefore he finds himself with layovers, in countries all around the world. I'm sure he has the presence of mind to be aware of laws, his surroundings, etc..... If a law truly did exist, and jail was "an imminent threat", I'm sure that would be an exception to his habit of detecting in the various countries he comes to.

 

[WaterWalker]

-- moved topic --