Due to a surge in violent crime and a state of emergency since last December, Trinidad and Tobago has been placed on the U.S. State Department’s Level 3 – “reconsider travel” list.
Gang activity, shootings, and kidnappings have plagued the country, under a temporary state of emergency issued in December and renewed in January. Travel + Leisure, a tourist industry site, has the story.
The warning is expected to hit Port of Spain’s famous annual spring carnival.
“If you already have tickets to this beautiful nation or must travel to Trinidad and Tobago during the state of emergency, the U.S. State Department suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP),” T+E reports. “The STEP will send you alerts from the embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.”
The State Department has four travel warning levels:
- Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
- Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
- Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)
- Level 4 (Do Not Travel)