US warns of travel dangers for two more Caribbean nations

WASHINGTON – Less than a week after warning travelers to avoid one Caribbean nation, the U.S. State Department has issued advisories for visiting two others, including a warning to stay away from one.

U.S. officials on Tuesday warned that people should not travel to Venezuela over concerns that the South American nation has “a high risk of wrongful detentions, terrorism, kidnapping, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure.”

“Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela,” the State Department said in its advisory. “Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Police and security forces have instituted a brutal crackdown on anti-Maduro demonstrations, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, and which occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism.”

The United States withdrew all its diplomatic personnel from the embassy in Caracas and suspended all operations there in 2019. The government now has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela, the warning said.

The State Department frequently issues travel advisories – more than 100 this year alone, ranging from notes advising U.S. citizens to use normal safety precautions and increased caution to warning them to reconsider travel plans or to not visit a nation at all.

Level 4 warnings are unusual, with about 20 issued this year, mostly for war zones or areas with extremely heightened political tensions.

The warning for Venezuela was just the second Level Four warning issued for a Western Hemisphere nation this year. It came a week after the State Department warned travelers to steer clear of Haiti.

On Monday the State Department issued a lower level warning for travelers to Panama. In that advisory, a Level Two alert, U.S. travelers were urged to exercise heightened caution if they visit that country due to crime and potential for civil unrest.

“Crime occurs in Panama, including theft and residential break-ins,’ the State Department said. “Crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen in tourist areas. The Embassy receives occasional reports of residential break-ins, especially during the holiday season.

“Demonstrations periodically occur due to local issues and have disrupted some normal travel patterns in the past, including the flow of goods and services to some parts of the country,” the alert cautioned.

The alert warned travelers to steer clear of two areas of Panama due to crime – parts of the Mosquito Gulf on the Caribbean coast and the Darién Region near the border with Colombia.