Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRIDGETOWN2235
2006-12-22 18:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WESTFALL,

Tags:  OTRA EFIN AC XL 
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VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #2235 3561831
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221831Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3949
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 002235 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR IET/STEPHANIE E. FUGATE
STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA EFIN AC XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WESTFALL,
KOPIDLANSKY, VOSKUIL, FUGATE FOR TRAVEL TO ANTIGUA AND
BARBUDA

REF: 211016Z DEC 06

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 002235

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR IET/STEPHANIE E. FUGATE
STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA EFIN AC XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WESTFALL,
KOPIDLANSKY, VOSKUIL, FUGATE FOR TRAVEL TO ANTIGUA AND
BARBUDA

REF: 211016Z DEC 06


1. Embassy Bridgetown welcomes and grants clearance to
Treasury Tax Advisors Larry Westfall, James Kopidlansky,
Richard Voskuil and Treasury Program Officer Stephanie
Fugate, to travel to Antigua and Barbuda from February 4-9,
2007, for the purpose of providing CARICOM/COTA regional
management training for tax administrators.


2. Per reftel, no embassy assistance is requested. All
travelers will stay at the Jolly Beach Resort, telephone
268/462-0061.


3. Embassy Bridgetown requests an outbrief be provided to the
Political/Economic Section relating to activities while in
the region within 10 working days of completion of travel.
Please provide the outbrief by telephone, 246/227-4282, or by
fax at 246/227-4174.


4. 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. 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. 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