VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0558 1291735
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADXB84B45 ICWSC8449)
P 091735Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
INFO RUEHWN/CHUSMLO BRIDGETOWN BB PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4663

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000558 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y  (PARA MARKINGS ADDED) 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017 
TAGS: OTRA AC
SUBJECT: SPECIAL AREA CLEARANCE GRANTED TO ADMIRAL 
STAVRIDIS FOR TRAVEL TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 
 
REF: MLO 031745Z 
 
Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Embassy Bridgetown warmly welcomes and grants clearance to 
Commander, U.S. Southern Command, Admiral James Stavridis, 
USN, to travel to Antigua and Barbuda from May 22-24, 2007, 
for the purpose of attending the Caribbean Nations Security 
(CANSEC) conference.  Country clearance is also granted for 
the following members of Admiral Stavridis' party: Mr. 
Amselem, CDR Wilkenson, ENS Prewett, MAJ Fick, SA Rivera, and 
SFC Cruceta, from May 22-24, 2007. 
 
¶2.  (C) Embassy Bridgetown also grants special area clearance to 
the following advance personnel:  SA Lopez, SA Morales-Ramos, 
SA Black, CW3 Codds, SFC Hamilton, SSG Mattocks, and SGT 
Pallares, from May 17-24, 2007. 
 
¶3. (C) Admiral Stavridis will be met by Commander Aboagye of the 
Military Liaison Office.  Further assistance will be provided 
by CANSEC conference coordinators and members of the Antigua 
and Barbuda Defence Force.  Embassy point of contact is Major 
Rachelle Harris, MLO; tel: 246/227-4123, cell:  246/230-2725. 
 
¶4. (U) Entry requirements: Mission policy is that all USG 
travelers to the region be in possession of a valid passport. 
 Visas are not required for short visits.  There is a 
departure tax of 50 xcd (Eastern Caribbean) dollars or 19 
U.S. dollars. 
 
¶5. (U) The exchange rate in Antigua and Barbuda is 2.70 xcd 
(Eastern Caribbean) dollars for one U.S. dollar.  U.S. 
currency, traveler's checks, and credit cards are routinely 
and widely accepted. 
 
¶6.  (U) 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 machines 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 
------ 
 
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, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines 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 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. 
OURISMAN