North and Central America and Caribbean

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism abroad.

Crime

There have been random shootings of civilians in incidents of street robbery.  Foreign nationals have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

In Port-au-Prince you are advised to exercise caution while walking in the streets during the day, and especially at night; not to leave property in vehicles and  always to travel with doors locked and windows up. You are advised to park close to any venues that you visit and not to leave a venue alone and always check your surroundings. It is not advisable to go out after dark in down town Port-au-Prince and particular care should be exercised there during daylight hours. The area around the National Palace and Champs de Mars can be a focal point for local demonstrations. Some areas should be avoided whenever possible such as the “bidonvilles” (slum areas) of Martissant, and Cite Soleil.

The security situation is better in cities outside the capital, with the exception of Gonaives and to a lesser extent, Cap Haitien.  The areas of Petionville and Bourdon are inhabited by expatriates and, although regarded as relatively safe during daylight hours, care should be taken at night.

Across Haiti, pickpockets and theft of valuables are common.

Security guards are recommended at the homes of long-term foreign residents.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery reached a high during 2008.  Since then, the threat has reduced markedly but still exists.  These are usually targeted at Haitian nationals, although some foreign nationals have been held hostage and subsequently released.  The most vulnerable areas appear to be at venues following meetings and receptions where kidnappers target individuals as they return to their vehicles.

For more general information see Victims of crime abroad.

Political Situation

Haiti Country Profile

Rene Preval was inaugurated as President in May 2006. Violence flared at the time of the Presidential elections, but was followed by successful municipal and local elections in December 2006.  The Prime Minister resigned in April 2008 following riots over food prices and shortages.   Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis was introduced as the new Prime Minister in August 2008 after two earlier candidates were rejected by Parliament.  Important Senatorial elections took place in April, having already been delayed by over a year.  Despite the low turnout, the President’s party now enjoys a small majority.  

The political situation in Haiti is continuing to improve slowly, but remains fragile and requires continued supportfrom UN forces.  Popular demonstrations can occur without notice and sometimes  turn violent.  They can spread quickly or flare up anywhere in any city.  You are advised to avoid any demonstrations or civil disturbances and leave the area immediately should you get caught up in one.

Local Travel

We advise those travelling in Haiti to exercise a high degree of caution.  You should take the following precautions:

• You should travel with a knowledgeable and reliable guide
• You should avoid all public transport and only use rented cars with a local driver from a reliable agency (Avis, Budget etc)
• You should be aware that the security situation in Haiti can change at short notice

Road Travel

A UK driving licence is only valid for  three months in Haiti.   Visitors who intend to remain in Haiti longer than this period should obtain an International Driving licence.

The standard of both roads and driving is very poor in Haiti.  Many of the tarmac roads are in a state of disrepair whilst other roads, particularly in the countryside are little more than dirt tracks.  Drainage is poor and flooding is common after rainfall.  Roads are often unlit and it is not uncommon after dark to encounter cars, trucks or motorcycles driving without lights.  Drivers often pay little regard to the laws of the road and you should therefore drive with extreme caution at all times.  Standards of car maintenance are also low.

It is possible to drive between the Dominican Republic and Haiti but be prepared for long queues at the four crossing points to deal with the bureaucracy of customs and immigration.

A luxury bus service operated by Caribe Tours runs daily between Santo Domingo and Petionville (not Port au Prince) and vice versa. It is comfortable and the journey takes about 6 hours.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel

Internal flights between the capital and some provincial towns are available but see note below on Caribintair.  

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Government of Haiti's civil aviation authority has been assessed at Category 2 which does not meet ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) safety standards for the oversight of Haiti's air carrier operations. 

For security reasons, staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are not allowed to use the Haitian domestic airline  Caribintair for any official journeys.  You should take this into consideration when making travel plans.

For more general information see Airline security.