VZCZCXYZ0031
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #1355/01 1572012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 062012Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8452

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR OTRA DR
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FAA OFFICIALS DANIEL D. 
CASTRO AND JOAQUIN OCHOA 
 
 
¶1.  US Embassy Santo Domingo welcomes and grants country 
clearance to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight 
Standards Services Inspectors Daniel D. Castro and Joaquin 
Ochoa to travel to Santo Domingo from June 11 to 15, 2007. 
The purpose of this visit is to conduct surveillance of U.S. 
registered aircraft jointly with the Dominican civil aviation 
authority, Instituto Dominicano de Aviacion Civil (IDAC). 
 
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¶2. Assistance 
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Per REFTEL, no Embassy assistance is required. 
 
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¶3. U.S. Embassy Point of Contact: 
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Economic Officer Stephen Wheeler will serve as Point of 
Contact for this visit.  Mr. Wheeler can be reached at 
(809)731-4395 during office hours. In case of an emergency 
during visit, including medical, please contact the US 
Embassy Post One at (809) 221-2171, extension 4398. 
 
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¶4. Clearances 
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Post is aware of Secret Security Clearance held by visitors. 
 
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¶5. Travel Documents: 
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All official visitors are encouraged to enter the Dominican 
Republic on valid passports, with valid visas.  If a visa 
cannot be obtained before entry into the Dominican Republic, 
a 30-day visa can be purchased for USD 10.00 in the airport 
terminal upon arrival. A USD 20.00 airport departure tax is 
charged to all non-residents leaving the country.  Many US 
carriers include this tax in the ticket price, so please 
consult your ticket agent. 
 
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¶6. Monetary Exchange: 
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Embassy does not recommend use of local ATM machines, 
accordingly visitors are encouraged to bring sufficient cash, 
traveler's checks or credit cards for their needs.  Although 
many merchants in the Dominican Republic generally do not 
accept US currency as payment for goods and services, most 
commercial banks and hotels provide exchange services. 
Please note that most hotels will calculate the room charges 
in pesos at their own exchange rate.  To be certain that you 
pay only your advertised dollar rate, travelers should pay 
their bill in US currency (thereby avoiding currency 
fluctuations).  Banco de Reservas, a Dominican commercial 
bank, offers check cashing and accommodation exchange 
services in the Embassy from 0900-1100 and 1200-1545 during 
official workdays.  Official visitors may cash personal 
checks and can elect to either receive US Dollars or 
Dominican Pesos.  US credit cards, especially Visa and 
Mastercard, are widely accepted in major cities and tourist 
areas. 
 
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¶7. Medical Attention: 
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In late March 2007, the Dominican Minister of Health 
announced an exacerbation of a Dengue Fever ("bone break 
fever") epidemic that has already resulted in over 5000 
reported cases (Embassy estimates 50,000) and at least 48 
deaths in the last 12 months.  Hospital authorities confirm 
an additional spike in the infection rate in the last several 
weeks.  Dengue Fever is a serious viral infection transmitted 
through the bite of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. 
Mosquitoes that transmit Dengue are day biters, with peak 
biting times during the early morning hours and again from 
late afternoon to dusk.  Post advises travelers to use common 
sense precautions such as applying a repellent containing 
DEET or Picaridin during daytime hours and wearing clothing 
that exposes as little skin as possible. 
 
Center for Disease Control (CDC) also reports risk of Malaria 
in all parts of La Altagracia Province.  For more information 
please go to www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean. 
 
In the event medical services from Embassy Health 
professionals are needed, visitors will be expected to 
provide a copy of their orders upon receipt of care.  In 
cases of medical emergency, please contact Marine Post One at 
(809) 221-2171, extension 4398 or (809) 731-4398. 
 
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¶8. Country Threat Assessment: 
----------------------------- 
A)    Terrorism:  The Dominican Republic is considered a low 
 
threat post for terrorism.  Embassy is unaware of any 
terrorist groups operating in the Dominican Republic or of 
local support for terrorist groups.  However, transnational 
terrorism is a possibility due to a number of factors, some 
of which include extremely porous borders and a culture of 
corruption that adversely impacts police and other security 
agencies. 
 
B)    Crime:  The Dominican Republic is considered a high 
threat post for crime.  Street robberies, pick pocketing, 
credit card fraud, ATM fraud, burglaries, and theft from 
vehicles are all common crimes in the Dominican Republic.  If 
you are the victim of a street robbery, do not resist; those 
who resist are invariably injured, while those who cooperate 
(e.g., surrender their money) left unharmed.  To avoid credit 
card fraud, avoid credit card while in country to the extent 
possible.  Contact your card provider and advise them what 
charges you will be making while visiting the Dominican 
Republic.  Keep a close watch over your credit card charges 
even weeks after leaving the Dominican Republic.  Fraudulent 
charges may not appear until well after you have returned to 
your place of origin. To avoid ATM fraud, use only ATMs that 
are located in major hotels, or collocated with banks.  Avoid 
using "carros publicos", the least expensive type of taxi. 
Many travelers have reported being pick pocketed in these 
vehicles.  Use established taxi services, or hotel taxis, 
which are considered safe. 
BULLEN