Breaking news [1] in Jamaica [2] this morning is that a hostage situation has developed with the crew of a Canadian jet at Sangster International Airport [3] in Montego Bay [4]. Canadian mainstream media [5] is since reporting that the situation was resolved without any loss of life when “an anti-terrorism unit of the Jamaican military stormed the plane and disarmed the gunman”, but bloggers [6] Caribbean-wide and throughout the diaspora are still in disbelief [7].
Bajan Dream Diary [8] posted regular updates throughout the incident, while fellow Barbadian blog Barbados Free Press [9] thought it better to take advantage of the tourism marketing opportunity the incident presented:
While the truth is, the situation could probably have happened just about anywhere — it didn’t. It happened in Jamaica, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world and a gun culture that is even reflected in popular music. If any of our Canadian readers are thinking of a vacation in Jamaica, may we suggest you reconsider that Barbados is a much friendlier and safer vacation place.
Jamaica Salt [10] agreed that:
The hijacking of a plane at Sangster international airport is what Jamaican tourism needed like a hole in the head.
This is the worst thing that could have happened to Jamaica as it faces major economic trouble. International headlines like this could not have come at a worse time.
But there is a silver lining [10]:
On the bright side, at least everyone got out of it unharmed, that’s a major blessing.