It’s not all sun and fun in the Caribbean

You often read stories in the Economist you don’t find elsewhere; this week’s issue offers an unpopular reminder of the violent crime problem that faces most popular destinations (islands and otherwise) in the Caribbean & Central America.

The story comes just after the shooting in Guyana a little over a week ago, which didn’t make major news, as it is not a tourist destination, per se. Guyana, interestingly, has one of the lower per capita murder rates in the region, according to data collected on more than 20 countries from The Bahamas to Suriname.

Predictably, Jamaica takes the crown, with 59 murders per capita this past year. That’s actually the world record, according to the story. (By contrast, last year, New Orleans, currently in the heat of Mardi Gras, took the prize stateside. While the exact ratio is in dispute due to a lack of hard population numbers, the best estimate is 63.5 per 100,000, which has Jamaica beat).

Other tourist hotspots, like St. Kitts & Nevis, ring in at 32, while The Bahamas tie with Mexico for 25, Barbados 11. The safest country in the region, according to data collected, is Suriname, with just 6 murders per 100,000 in the past year. Not included in the study were islands like St. Barts, which easily have Suriname beat. Though don’t assume too much – a drunken brawl in the hills last spring left one dead. So, you know, nowhere’s perfect.