Safety and Security
Demonstrations and strikes, usually caused by labor disputes, can occur and can have a substantial effect on all sectors of society, including halting many social services. Commercial activities, including fuel sales and flights, can be curtailed significantly or shut down entirely. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. While not common, these strikes significantly impact the tourism industry in the French West Indies, and U.S.citizens should avoid the islands when a strike is ongoing. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan of the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on facebook as well.
You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).