COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR GREEN TO TRAVEL TO BARBADOS

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 002250 SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ASEC OTRA AMGT EAID OVIP BB XL SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR GREEN TO TRAVEL TO BARBADOS REF: SECSTATE 199603 ¶1. Embassy Bridgetown grants country clearance to Robert Green, IRM/TSI/Employee, to provide computer logistics during office move, travel to Barbados on or about January 9-16, 2007. ¶2. Reservations are confirmed at the South Beach Resort and Vacation Club, Rockley at Accra, Christ Church - Tel: 246-435-8561 - confirmation no. 200701228. Embassy point of contact is USAID representative James Goggin, phone: 1(246) 228-8070, fax: 1(246)228-8589. Mr. Green will be met on arrival. ¶3. TDY personnel should bring fund cites or credit cards to cover the cost of incidental administrative charges, such as official international in-country long distance telephone calls. International calling cards are recommended. ¶4. The exchange rate is 2 Barbados dollars(BDS)for 1 U.S. dollar. You should bring enough U.S. dollar bills to pay the taxi. However, u.s. currency, traveler's checks and credit cards are routinely and widely accepted here. ¶5. Entry requirements: No visa is required of u.s. government personnel traveling on an official or diplomatic passport. Personnel planning to stay longer than 28 day must get either a visa or permission to stay for an extended period prior to the expiration of the initial 28 days. For further information, travelers may contact the Embassy of BARBADOS, 2144 WYOMING AVENUE, N.W., WASHINGTON D.c. 20008, telephone 1-202-939-9200. ¶8. The following general information pertains to transportation, security and health considerations in 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 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, 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. in the event of a critical medical emergency on any other eastern Caribbean island, it is advisable the traveler seek medical attention in either Bridgetown or Miami. OURISMAN