Fox News Channel 2

Wednesday, June 16 Sue is the "Travel Expert" for Fox News Channel 2 in St. Louis and was interviewed by anchor John Brown on the Drug Crisis in Kingston, Jamaica and Mexico and the Gulf Coast Oil Crisis. Jamaica http://www.travel.state.gov/ Dept. of State warns against traveling to capital city of Kingston, Jamaica.  The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency.  Prime Minister Bruce Manning agreed with U.S. to extradite one of the world's most dangerous narcotics kingpins, Christoper "Dudus" Coke.  His supporters have been stockpiling arms and having clashes with police.  Some airlines have cancelled flights into the capital city and access to the Norman Manley International Airport has at times been blocked by the clashes with the police and the criminal elements.  The drug lord has been compared to Robin Hood by the locals since he gives to the poor. TIPS  Avoid public gatherings and use a high degree of caution when traveling in the Kingston area. Gulf Coast Oil Crisis Edith Parten, Communication Director for the Alabama Gulf Coast Region said, "We have had hundreds of calls and requests from across the state and U.S. asking what they can do to help with the Gulf Coast oil spill crisis.  We are asking potential tourists and visitors to keep their vacation plans on the Gulf Coast.  That is the best way they can help." "There are so many things to see and do on our Gulf Coast other than getting in the ocean.  Swimming pools, shopping, great restaurants and attractions like Bellingrath Gardens and the Exploreum in Mobile, and the Zoo and Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores." "Keep your plans, the beaches are still beautiful in many areas and crews are working hard to clean up what has come ashore." http://www.alabama.travel/ www.facebook.com/AlabamaTourism Baldwin County, Alabama has 40,000 travel-related jobs that will be affected and visitor spending is $2.3 billion. Florida Governor Charlie Christ has made preparation and response to the oil crisis his top priority.  For primary updates and info on response actions and impacts to the state of Florida go to www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon Some hotels and resorts are experiencing some cancellations. The residents say they are used to hurricanes and tropical storms, but not this kind of threat with uncertainty. For maps and tracking on the oil spill go to www.CNN.com/specials/2010/gulf.coast.oil.spill/interactive/map.impact.google/index.html www.CNN/2010/US/04/29/interactive.spill.tracker/index.html The surface point of the spill is now 160 miles. Destin, FL has piled up 244 loads of sand berms to protect the 15 rare coastal freshwater dune lakes.  Santa Rosa Beach, FL has concrete barriers and mesh netting ready if needed to protect their beaches. Rescued birds from the Gulf of Mexico have been moved to the Atlantic Ocean side at Wabasso, FL. MEXICO DRUG WARS Updated travel warnings remain in effect for the Mexico border towns of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarea, Nuevo Laredo, Monterray and Matamoros. Millions of U.S. citizens visit Mexico annually and the resort and tourist areas do not see the level of crime and violence.  Most of the victims are Mexican citizens who are associated with criminal activities, security also poses a threat for U.S. citizens.  TIPS  Avoid dangerous situations, know who to contact in an emergency, avoid areas where crime might occur and visit tourist areas in daylight.