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Viewing cable 07BRIDGETOWN790, COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO COUCH PLUS THREE TO TRAVEL TO

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BRIDGETOWN790 2007-06-15 21:33 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bridgetown
VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0790 1662133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 152133Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUCOCGR/COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA//AP//
INFO RULSJGI/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-001/CG-86/CG-3PCE-1//
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-5//
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4950
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000790 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC OTRA VC DO XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO COUCH PLUS THREE TO TRAVEL TO 
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES AND DOMINICA 
 
REF: 150937 JUN 07 
 
1. Embassy Bridgetown warmly welcomes and grants country clearance 
to Mr. Joseph Couch, USCG, CDR Lee Scruggs, USCG, Mr. James Hurst, 
USCG and LCDR Felton Gilmore, USCG, for travel to Saint Vincent and 
the Grenadines July 09 - 14 2007 and to Dominica July 14 - 19 2007. 
The purpose of these missions is to conduct port discussions with 
port officials IAW IMO ISPS code and U.S. Maritime Transportation 
Safety Act (MTSA). 
 
2. Embassy points of contact are CDR P. Kofi Aboagye, Chief, 
Military Liaison Office, (246) 227-4339 or cell (246) 227-2705; 
Major Curtis Schmucker, Deputy Chief, Military Liaison Office, (246) 
227-4166 or cell (246) 227-2712; and Major Rachelle Harris, 
Operations Officer, (246) 227-4123 or cell (246) 227-2725. 
 
3. The exchange rate for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and 
Dominica is approximately $2.70 xcd (Eastern Caribbean) dollars for 
$1.00 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 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 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 Barbados, 2144 Wyoming Avenue 
N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, tel. 1-202-939-9200. 
 
5. Restrictions: The laws of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St. 
Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis prohibit 
non-military personnel from wearing any articles of camouflage 
clothing. Immigration officers in these countries randomly check 
visitor's baggage on arrival at the airport; if items of restriction 
are found, you will be asked to surrender them to the officers. 
 
6. Departure tax for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is $45.00 ECC 
(Eastern Caribbean Currency) or $17.00 USD. Departure tax for 
Dominica is $60.00 XCD (Eastern Caribbean Currency) or $23.00 USD. 
 
7.  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 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, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent 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 repellant.  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. 
 
GILROY