Last Updated: April 15, 2024
This report covers the French Caribbean, served by the Barbados & Eastern Caribbean OSAC Chapter and the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown. OSAC Country Security Reports are available for these locations across the region:
- OSAC’s Eastern Caribbean Country Security Report covers Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
- OSAC’s Dutch Caribbean Country Security Report includes Dutch Sint Maarten and Dutch territories outside of the Eastern Caribbean.
- OSAC Barbados Country Security Report is country-specific.
- OSAC Grenada Country Security Report is country-specific.
Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise normal precautions in the French Caribbean, which includes Guadeloupe, Martinique, French St. Martin, and Saint Barthelemy. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Crime Environment
Although the French Caribbean does not have official ratings for crime from the U.S. Department of State, travelers should consider the criminal environment similar to Bridgetown, which the U.S. Department of State has assessed as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the French Caribbean.
The crime emergency lines are as follows:
- Guadeloupe: 17 (Fire), 18 (Ambulance and Police)
- French St. Martin: (590-590) 87-88-33
- Martinique: 596596599000 (Non-Emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 18 (Fire), 17 (Police)
- Saint Barthélemy: 17
Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Crime: General Threat
Regional police forces usually cooperate with U.S. counterparts. However, response time to law enforcement and security requests can at times be quite slow due to inadequate funding, lack of equipment and training, and staffing shortages. Criminals do not specifically target U.S. travelers visiting the French Caribbean. Tourism is a major contributor to regional economies. Those residing in the French Caribbean do not always enjoy the same level of police protection that regional governments provide to tourist areas.
There is also minimal risk of petty theft; while travelers should always exercise caution and guard their belongings, street crime targeting tourists is not common.
Crime: Areas of Concern
There are no specific geographic areas of concern. Undertake travel outside of tourist areas with caution, especially at night, due to the prevalence of unmarked and unlighted roads. Be vigilant when using public telephones or ATMs, especially those located near roadsides or in secluded areas.
Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, and Taking Credit.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the French Caribbean. Kidnapping appears to be a relatively rare phenomenon in the French Caribbean, consistently ranking near the bottom of reported crimes.
Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.
Drug Crime
Many tourists report being harassed by individuals attempting to sell illegal narcotics. In years past, there have been a few cases where U.S. tourists alleged that someone had slipped a “date rape” drug (e.g., Rohypnol or “roofies”, PCP, scopolamine) into their drinks or food. Do not leave drinks or food unattended while at public venues.
All French Caribbean territories have laws prohibiting the purchase, possession, transportation, sale, or use of illegal substances; but effective enforcement of these laws is hampered by lack of resources.
While local drug dealers do get involved in shootings, this type of activity is localized and not directed at bystanders. The region is primarily a drug transshipment point from South America (e.g., Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela) to Europe, West Africa, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Consult with the CIA World Factbook’s section on Illicit Drugs for country-specific information.
Terrorism Environment
Although the French Caribbean does not have official ratings for terrorism from the U.S. Department of State, travelers should consider the terrorism environment similar to Bridgetown, which the U.S. Department of State has assessed as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Eastern Caribbean.
Terrorism: General Threat
There is minimal risk from terrorism in the region. Though specific terrorism incident reporting from the French Caribbean remains relatively low, the region has several vulnerabilities that terrorist elements could exploit, such as porous borders, established narcotic and alien smuggling routes, and limited counter-terrorism capabilities. The exploitation of one of these vulnerabilities could have serious implications for U.S. organizations based in the Caribbean, and the Caribbean tourism trade in general.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest Environment
Although the French Caribbean does not have official ratings for unrest from the U.S. Department of State, travelers should consider the political unrest environment similar to Bridgetown, which the U.S. Department of State has assessed as being a LOW-threat location for unrest directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the French Caribbean. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
The islands of the French Caribbean are peaceful and have experienced little political violence or revolution. As French territories, the political climates are stable, with little threat of political violence.
Protest & Demonstration Activity
While violent public protests and demonstrations are rare in the French Caribbean, there was a short period of civil unrest in French Saint Martin in December 2020. During this period, protest activity and roadblocks (as a result of water quality issues and the implementation of post-2017 hurricane rebuilding efforts) affected tourists in Saint Martin as well as adjacent Dutch Sint Maarten. Outside of this activity, very little civil unrest occurs throughout the islands. Most civil unrest is connected to labor issues, which are usually settled by union and government intervention.
In the summer of 2021, demonstrations occurred in St. Vincent, Antigua, Barbados, St. Martin, and Martinique over proposed COVID-19 prevention measures, including mask and vaccine mandates. While most of these demonstrations were peaceful, there were isolated instances that escalated into violence.
Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Law Enforcement Concerns: Security Agencies
As French overseas territories, the police are administered at a municipal level within each territory. There are no serious law enforcement concerns.
Police Response
The level of professionalism and quality of service can vary from island to island, and the level of protection is directly proportional to an incident’s possible impact on the tourist trade. Areas tourists frequent command a more visible police presence.
Generally, uniformed police are adequate to have an influence on crime deterrence, but uniformed police response to alarms or emergency calls are sometimes below U.S. standard. Police performance and conduct varies from poor to acceptable in professionalism and training, and regional police organizations have definite resource/manpower limitations that inhibit their deterrence and response effectiveness. It is not uncommon to wait an hour or more for police response.
Any U.S. citizen detained or harassed by police or other security services should immediately contact American Citizen Services (ACS) at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados during business hours, or the U.S. Embassy duty officer during non-business hours or holidays.
Law Enforcement Concerns: Emergency Contact/Information
In case of an emergency, contact:
- Guadeloupe: 17
- French St. Martin: (590-590) 87-88-33
- Martinique: 0596-630000
- Saint Barthélemy: 17
Transportation Security
Road Safety
The roads in the French Caribbean are the best in the Eastern Caribbean. Driving is on the right side of the road. Roads are well paved and well maintained. Main roads are well marked; secondary roads and tourist sites are adequately marked. Excellent maps are available and local residents are helpful. Martinique and Guadeloupe each has expressways. The police enforce traffic safety. Night driving can be dangerous, especially in the mountains and on winding rural roads. Children under 12 may not sit in the front seat. Authorities enforce seatbelt laws strictly.
If you become involved in a vehicle accident, do not move vehicles unless absolutely necessary, remain calm, call police, call insurance or rental company, standby for insurance adjuster/or rental company representative, and wait to move vehicles until instructed by authorities.
For detailed, country-specific road and vehicle safety information, read the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Safety
In the French Caribbean, public transportation consists of taxis, vans, and buses, all of which are relatively safe. The 2017 hurricane season affected infrastructure heavily, particularly in Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, limiting public transportation and making travel around the islands difficult.
Aviation Concerns
Regional airports serving over one million passengers annually include Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in Guadeloupe (PTP) and Aimé Césaire International Airport in Martinique (FDF). The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of France’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of France’s air carrier operations. This assessment extends to the French Caribbean islands.
Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights; and consider the European Union Air Safety List.
Maritime Security
Generally, the threat to maritime security is low in the region. Piracy is a rare occurrence. The Regional Security System (RSS) works with several countries to secure the maritime environment through drug interdiction and search and rescue.
Personal Identity & Human Rights Concerns
The law includes all protections of human rights included in the French legal system.
Safety Concerns for Women Travelers
Although there are no specific concerns about women travelers in the French Caribbean, instances of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual harassment remain a risk.
Review the State Department’s webpage for female travelers.
Safety Concerns for LGBTI+ Travelers
There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI+ events in the French Caribbean, and no known issues traveling on nonbinary X gender passports.
Consider information from Destination Pride, a data-driven search platform associated with PFLAG Canada that visualize the world's LGBTQ+ laws, rights, and social sentiment; as well as from ILGA World, a worldwide federation that produces an annual map showing sexual orientation laws from around the world, available in multiple languages.
Review OSAC’s report, Supporting LGBT+ Employee Security Abroad, and the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI travelers.
Safety Concerns for Travelers with Disabilities
Access to buildings, pedestrian paths and transportation is extremely difficult for persons with mobility issues. Sidewalks (if they exist) are very uneven and will only occasionally have ramps at intersections. Pedestrian crossings are also very infrequent and can be poorly marked. Buses and taxis do not have special accommodations.
Review the State Department’s webpage on security for travelers with disabilities.
Safety Concerns for Travelers Based on Race, Religion, & Ethnicity
Generally, there are no specific safety concerns for racial, religious, or ethnic minorities in the French Caribbean.
Review the latest U.S Department of State Report on International Religious Freedom for country-specific information.
Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based travelers.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
U.S. travelers and organizations in the French Caribbean have not been the focus of terrorist actions, crime, or political violence based on their nationality. Peaceful protests are rare and do not target U.S. interests.
Concerns involving the Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption &/or Transparency
There are no serious concerns about arbitrary detention or official harassment in the French Caribbean.
Communication Issues
Generally, there are little to no concerns with press freedom, internet freedom, or freedom of speech in the French Caribbean. There are no known issues traveling with satellite phones.
Health Concerns
For emergency Medical Service in the French West Indies, call 911.
The following diseases are prevalent: Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.
Carefully assess the potential risks of recreational water activities and consider your physical capabilities and skills. Never venture out alone, particularly at isolated beaches or far out to sea. Avoid entering the water above your waist if you have been drinking, and always be mindful of jet ski and boat traffic in the area.
Hyperbaric chambers are available in Guadeloupe at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Abymes, and in Martinique at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Fort de France. Consider purchasing medical evacuation (medevac) insurance prior to your travel to the region. Individual medevac without insurance could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the State Department’s webpage on health insurance overseas.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the French Caribbean. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.
See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the State Department’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.
Vaccinations
Strongly consider COVID-19 vaccination prior to travel.
Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.
Issues Traveling with Medications
There are no known issues with traveling to the French Caribbean with medications.
Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.
Water Quality
Water throughout the French Caribbean is generally potable from the tap.
Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?
Environmental Hazards
The French Caribbean is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, with the season lasting from June through November. The most recent major hurricanes to strike the region were in the summer of 2017. While hurricane-force winds caused much of the damage in these instances, even storms without such powerful winds can cause extensive flooding damage through sheer quantity of rainfall due largely to inadequate drainage infrastructure.
The most recent, notable earthquake in the region occurred in 2015 in Barbados. The 5.7-magnitude earthquake caused no reported damage or casualties, and was felt on nearby St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Martinique. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the last significant earthquake in the region occurred in 2007, 30 miles northwest of Martinique. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused one fatality.
In 2021, La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent erupted multiple times, dumping ash on St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Barbados. No causalities were reported.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Cybersecurity attacks frequently target public institutions, financial institutions and critical infrastructure. Many of the French Caribbean police forces are ill-equipped to prevent and investigate these types of attacks and intrusions. The governments of the Eastern Caribbean appear to be taking some steps to develop better investigative infrastructure for cyber incidents as evidenced by the 2017 opening of the Regional Security Systems Digital Forensic Laboratory, significantly enhancing their ability to investigate crimes with a digital nexus. Digital security remains a concern in the region, particularly with ATM fraud, credit card fraud and other cybercrimes.
Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage.
Counterintelligence Issues
There are no specific counterintelligence issues in the French Caribbean.
Other Security Concerns
Landmines
There are no known or reported landmines in the French Caribbean.
Import/Export Restrictions
Firearms entry restrictions may exist. Contact the Embassy of France before you travel.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Photography
A permit is required to conduct photography via drone.
Review OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography.
ID Requirements
Therea are no ID requirements unique to travel to the French Caribbean.
Critical Infrastructure Concerns
Most utilities are above ground in the French Caribbean. A hurricane or earthquake would potentially disrupt power and internet connectivity, effectively cutting off all but satellite communication in the country.
Many countries rely on large diesel power plants for power. Poor fuel quality and/or mechanical failure has led to large scale power outages.
OSAC Country Chapters
The Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Chapter is active and meets semi-annually, with smaller breakout meetings focusing on other parts of the region.
Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.
Embassy Contact Information
U.S. Embassy in Barbados: Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael 14006. Tel 1-246-227-4399, Emergency 1-246-227-4000.
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