VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0202 0311055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311055Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-MP/G-CI/G-86//
RUEHSJ/CHODC SAN JOSE CS
RUCOCGR/COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA//AM//
RULSJGI/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-5//
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CI//
RUDGABP/DET 1 45RANS ANTIGUA AC
RUDGAAA/45 CES PATRICK AFB FL
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1780

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000202 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC OTRA AC BB XL
SUBJECT:  COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR AVSED TO TRAVEL 
TO BARBADOS AND ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 
 
REF: 271256Z JAN 06 
 
¶1. Embassy Bridgetown grants country clearance to Lt 
CDR Kimberley J. Avsec, U.S Coast Guard, for travel to 
Barbados February 22 - 26, 2006 and to Antigua and 
Barbuda February 26 - 02 March, 2006. The purpose of 
these missions is to have bi-lateral port security 
discussions with port officials of Barbados and Antigua 
and Barbuda. 
 
¶2. Understand Embassy assistance is not required. Point 
of contact is CDR Peter Kilfoyle, Chief, Military 
Liaison Office, (246) 436-4950, ext 2300. 
 
¶3. Unfortunately, post's resources do not allow us the 
flexibility to meet and assist visitors at the airport. 
However, Barbadian Customs and Immigration are visitor- 
friendly.  The taxi rate from the airport to the hotel 
is approximately BDS$30.00 (USD$15.00).  The exchange 
rate is a constant 2 Barbados dollars to 1 U.S. Dollar. 
You should bring enough U.S. Dollar bills to pay the 
taxi.  The embassy is co-located with a bank that can 
accommodate currency exchange.  However, U.S. currency, 
travelers' checks, and credit cards are routinely and 
widely accepted here. 
 
¶4. Entry requirements: A valid U.S passport is required 
to enter Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.  No Visa is 
required if your stay is under six months, including 
those travelers arriving with diplomatic or official 
passports. 
 
¶5. Departure tax for Barbados is $25.00 BDS or $15.00 
USD. Departure tax for Antigua & Barbuda is $50.00 ECC 
(Eastern Caribbean Currency) or $19.00 USD. 
 
¶6. The following is general information pertaining to 
security and health considerations throughout the 
Eastern Caribbean: 
 
Security 
-------- 
   In the Eastern Caribbean, foot travel outside of 
well-established tourist areas is not generally 
recommended, especially at night.  Be vigilant when 
using public telephones or ATM facilities near 
roadsides or quiet areas.  As in many U.S. metropolitan 
areas, wearing expensive jewelry, carrying expensive 
objects, or carrying large amounts of cash should be 
avoided.  Visitors should also safeguard valuables 
while at the beach.  While hotels are generally safe, 
many visitors have experienced loss of unattended 
items.  Hotel burglaries are not uncommon and all 
valuables should be locked in room safes if possible. 
 
Health information 
------------------ 
   Throughout the Eastern Caribbean, the most likely 
threat to a visitor's health is sunburn. It takes 
several weeks to become accustomed to the heat and 
humidity.  Prolonged exposure to the sun, without 
protection, causes sunburn, and may ultimately result 
in sun-damaged skin or even skin cancer.  Sunscreens 
should be used for protection. In Barbados, Saint Lucia 
and Saint Vincent, the major health threat is dengue 
fever, transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito. 
Dengue cases are most often seen in the summer months. 
Persons should therefore protect themselves with insect 
repellent. There is also a growing number of HIV/AIDS 
cases reported.  The Eastern Caribbean enjoys clean and 
safe drinking water.  Only routine boosters for 
immunizations (i.e. tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and 
oral polio vaccine) are required when traveling to this 
region.  Barbados has the best medical facilities of 
all the islands in the region and most of the medical 
specialties have practitioners here. 
 
KRAMER