By NAN Contributor
News Americas, TORONTO, Canada, Weds. June 20, 2018: The Canadian government this week updated its travel warnings, adding a Caribbean nation to the list.
On Monday, Canada urged its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution” if travelling to the CARICOM nation of Haiti due to high crime rates in various parts of the country and ongoing political tension.
Canada also said crime rates in Haiti are high and the security situation is unpredictable with theft, including armed robbery, purse snatching and pickpocketing, common.
It said thieves often try to distract foreigners to steal their passports at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince and criminal activity is especially prevalent in large centres such as downtown Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs operate and there is also a high level of criminal activity near Haiti–Dominican Republic border.
The Canadian government statement said several areas continue to be dangerous areas due to criminal activity and local authorities’ lack of capacity to ensure order.
Canadians were also warned to avoid the areas of Bel Air, Carrefour, Cité Soleil and Martissant if in Haiti and to be on the look-out armed thieves on motorcycles in Pétion-Ville and in Petit-Goâve, where criminal gangs have committed robberies by erecting roadblocks along Route Nationale 2, between the Petit‑Goâve and Miragoane.
“Police presence is not guaranteed in these areas and your personal safety might be at risk,” the Canadian government updated advisory warned. “The police are unable to respond in a timely manner to calls for assistance.”
