Common Sense Living Jamaica

Six Things You Must Understand About Jamaica

Jamaica like any other place in the world, is a tough place to live, work, raise families and do business. If you are to thrive and be happy here, there are a few things you should understand about this country. They are:

1. Things Take Time – From simply commuting to paying taxes, most if not all activities involving public sector bodies and commercial banks (especially customer service) take time. Depending on what you want to do, you may need to reserve an entire day to handle business. Going to public (and even private) medical facilities for non-emergency issues is no different. Lower your expectations where wait time is concerned even if you scheduled an appointment.
2. Driving in Jamaica is an Extreme Sport – Whether commuting in public passenger vehicles or in a private vehicle, driving in Jamaica is extremely hazardous. Jamaican drivers are largely high risk takers and by driving defensively you can sometimes find yourself on the receiving end of other drivers’ road rage. Nevertheless defensive driving is the best tactic you can employ to survive in the streets. Be cautious at traffic lights because running red traffic lights is a common practice among Jamaican drivers especially at nights. Do not escalate conflict on the road, it could cost you your life.
3. People Will Exploit Your Ignorance – This is not to say that Jamaicans are terrible people but some have a penchant for overselling and underdelivering. The auto-mechanic will tell you he’ll service your car in 2 hours but if you leave it, he might take the whole day or more. Even after the delay, you may still have problems with the quality of his work. The same can be said about furniture makers, welders and tailors. Vendors will sell you inferior goods at higher prices if they realize you’re trusting and/or do not know what you’re looking for. They are very persuasive too. Even at the bar, the bartender at a regular local bar will overcharge you if she realizes you have no clue.
4. Crime is Bad but You Can Live – Sometimes the media can make things seem more dangerous than they really are. Yes Jamaica’s crime statistics are bad but you can still walk around freely in all major town centers in every parish without becoming a victim of any serious crime. There are still some areas in Jamaica which have very low levels of crime both in rural and urban areas. You can follow the local news as well as check with the local police to find out what areas to avoid and for other safety tips. Some locals will also give you good advice as well.
5. Customer Service is Determined By Who You are Perceived to be – Customer service is generally poor in Jamaica and unless you are very popular and/or wealthy you are likely to experience bad customer service at some point. Not much can be done online and very little can be done over the phone as well.
6. Money and Links Get You What You Want – Believe it or not you can get almost anything in Jamaica for the right price and with the right connections. Money is the most persuasive tool and can give you a competitive advantage in having a fulfilling experience here. Connections bring you to the table and your money does the rest. From getting your child into your preferred choice of school to getting better customer service, your money can do it all for you. Tipping a worker where allowed can allow you to experience better customer service. In fact how you are treated by most businesses is largely determined by your perceived ability to pay. However be careful not to attract exploiters and scammers by splashing your cash.

This list is not exhaustive but you can use it to remind you of what to expect while here in Jamaica.