Australia and the United States have issued strongly worded advisories for their nationals traveling to the region for the ICC Cricket World Cup scheduled to bowl off early March. While the advisories have not instructed persons to stay away from the region, they have urged travellers to be very careful. Australian cricket fans set to flock to the Caribbean for the Cricket World Cup have been urged to show caution on crime-ridden countries The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Wednesday released its World Cup travel bulletin for the nine countries which will host the sport's showcase event. These are Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda. In its report the Department of Foreign Affairs says in some parts of the Caribbean, violent crime, including armed robbery, kidnapping and murder, is common. While not specifying any country, the reports says violent crime is often gang-related and perpetrators may be armed. It warns that there is also a high rate of petty crime, including pick-pocketing and bag snatching. According to the Australian agency, walking after dark, including on beaches, can be dangerous due to the increased risk of robbery and assault. The agency says crime, including sexual assault and robbery, has also occurred after travellers have accepted 'spiked' food or drink. A US travel advisory is even stronger. It warns American students heading to the Caribbean for their spring break to be aware of potential danger with the Cricket World Cup in town. The American bulletin says any large-scale public gathering could be the focus of terrorist acts or other forms of violence. Reprinted from radioja.com