Ottawa's Warnings To Canadians About Mexico Are Disturbing
2007/01/10 | CityNews.ca Staff
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It's another case of who done it - and whether anything was done at all.
The latest instance of tragedy for a
Woodbridge citizen in Mexico has once again raised the troubling question of just how safe it is to travel to the land south of the border.
Appeals to various levels of government to get involved in the case of
Domenic and Nancy Ianiero have already been made and more may be coming in the latest death of Adam De Prisco.
But it turns out the feds aren't totally unaware of the hazards of heading to Mexico - although the tourist city of Acapulco was likely deemed to be safer than most.
What do the folks in Ottawa tells Canadians planning to head there?
Foreign Affairs has a special page dedicated to the country called "Mexico: Que Pasa?" (pictured top left.)
It advises tourists about passport requirements, cultural differences and even what shots you should get before you leave.
But its caveats about crime are especially interesting and not a little disturbing.
It blames an economic crisis and a devalued peso for the rise in attacks against travellers, and notes that street crime has increased.
"You should take common-sense precautions to protect yourself," it warns.
Among the worst hazards cited are robbery and thefts, especially in the larger cities. Crooks know that tourists bring lots of cash with them, making them easy targets.
It tells you to avoid beaches at night and that Canadians should return "directly to their hotels from restaurants and nightclubs," a scenario that sounds more like a prison stay than a vacation.
The government also urges caution when taking a cab or a bus, since taxi drivers have been known to beat and rob foreign passengers.
Another area of concern: ATMs. Visitors have been held captive while thieves clean out their account before setting them free.
Among the steps Ottawa suggests those going to Mexico take:
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- When calling radio taxis, always obtain the name of the driver and the number of the vehicle coming to pick you up.
- Take taxis only from authorized stands, and never in front of nightclubs or tourist facilities.
- Leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a hotel safe or other secure location.
- Don't wear expensive jewellery, carry objects of conspicuous value or wear expensive designer clothing.
- Carry only the money and credit cards you need for any individual trip away from your hotel.
- Make copies of your credit card and ATM numbers so they can be cancelled quickly.
- Don't drive at night and never pick up hitchhikers.
- If you must use an ATM, do so during business hours at a location inside a bank, supermarket or large commercial building.
- Avoid drinking alone in bars, especially at night.
- Avoid the subway during rush hour and hold purses and other valuables securely when using any public transportation.
All the advice applies to the bigger cities. Things get even worse when you wind up in rural areas, especially after dark.
As for the justice system, the feds are coy. They remind Canucks that anyone who gets into legal trouble in the country won't get any special protection from officials here and that their citizenship won't do anything to help them get bail.
And it concludes with another ominous sentence: unlike Canada and the U.S., anyone arrested in Mexico is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
And while the government site doesn't deal with this, some travellers continue to allege the cops in the country take bribes and that justice comes mostly at the end of a dollar bill.
To see the government's page about Mexico and Canadians,
click here.
Information courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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