Tourists endure ‘hell’ after blowing $10 million

A Texas couple, who arrived in Jamaica in June 2022 to explore the island's culture, have described their experience as a horror, claiming they have been robbed by locals and even encountered homelessness.

"It's been hell in this lovely island you guys call home. We came here to be a part of the culture, because we are God-fearing people and we've been ripped off every step of the way," Kenneth Feagias shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday.

Feagias and his wife, Treasure Evans, arrived with the sole intention to "learn and love". They carried about US$64,000 (approximately J$9.7 million) in cash, for their stay. The couple travelled the north coast, and also stayed in hotels and other scenic spots in Negril, Westmoreland and Portland.

But Feagias said while they were sharing love and eager to learn more about the country, locals saw the opportunity to capitalise on their kindness.

"Everybody robbed us, they had us paying 10 times the price of something. We had a lot of money and even when we told them that we understood the money, they would take the stuff away from us," he said. He explained that as their funds started to dwindle, they made attempts to return home.

"I was trying to get a remote job or start a business or something, but by that time the money was done. We had to sleep outside for five days," Feagias said, followed by nods from his wife, who stood close beside him in the prisoner's dock.

"So what I am to understand is that you basically overstayed because you fell in bankruptcy?" Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque sought to confirm, to which the defendants agreed.

"To add insult to injury, we were not helped by the US Embassy in Kingston. They said they would give us a loan but the bond would be our passports. But we didn't want to hand over our passports and that's how we ended up because they called the police," Feagias alleged.

The judge said that she had no doubt that Feagias and Evans had "no intention to overstay their time or to breach the Jamaican laws".

"I feel for you, I really do and I am so sorry that this has been your experience," Cole-Montaque remarked.

Feagias was allowed to embrace his wife, to whom he has been married for six years, as they stood awaiting their sentence after pleading guilty to overstaying.

They were fined $10,000 or 20 days' imprisonment. It is expected that there will be a flight in the next two weeks to Texas to facilitate their return to the US.