VZCZCXYZ0044
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #1452 2301601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181601Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3129

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: ASEC EAID OTRA AC DO XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO EARLE TO TRANSIT BARBADOS TO 
ANTIGUA AND DOMINICA 
 
REF: E-MAIL BLACKWOOD/MOTES 08/16/06 
 
¶1.  Embassy Bridgetown warmly welcomes and grants country clearance 
to Peter Earle, to travel to Antigua August 25, 2006 and to Dominica 
August 26, 2006.  The purpose of this travel is to conduct training 
sessions for numerators for the baseline survey. 
 
¶2. Please note that traveler will be staying at the Cortland Hotel 
in Upper Gambles, St. John's, Antigua and the Fort Young Hotel in 
Roseau, Dominica.  Embassy point of contact is Mansfield Blackwood, 
phone: 1(246) 228-8070, fax: 1(246)228-8589. 
 
¶3.  The exchange rate for Antigua and Dominica is approximately 2.70 
Xcd (Eastern Caribbean) dollars for 1 U.S. dollar.  U.S. currency, 
traveler's checks, and credit cards are routinely and widely 
accepted here. 
 
¶4. Entry requirements: A valid U.S. passport is required to enter 
Antigua and Dominica.  No visa is required if your stay is under six 
months, including those travelers arriving with diplomatic or 
official passports.  For further information, travelers may contact 
the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda, 3216 New Mexico Avenue, NW 
20016, tel: 202-362-5122 and the Embassy of the Commonwealth of 
Dominica, 3216 New Mexico Avenue, NW 20016, tel: 202-364-6781. 
 
¶5.  Departure tax for Antigua is XCD$50.00 (Eastern Caribbean) 
dollars or US$19.00 and for Dominica is XCD$16.00 (Eastern 
Caribbean) dollars or US$10.00. 
 
¶6.  The following is general information pertaining to security and 
health consideration throughout the Eastern Caribbean: 
 
Security 
--------------- 
In the Eastern Caribbean, foot travel outside of 
well-established tourist areas are 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. 
 
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 the major health threat is dengue fever, 
transmitted by 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, 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