COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FITZPATRICK AND

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000529

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AIDAC

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: EAID OTRA XL BB
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FITZPATRICK AND
HUNT TO TRAVEL TO BARBADOS

REF: PORT OF SPAIN 00354


1. Embassy Bridgetown warmly welcomes and grants
country clearance to Lisa Fitzpatrick, Director and
Deputy Director Ken Hunt, of CDC Global AIDS program to
travel to Barbados for the period March 27-29, 2006.


2. Embassy point of contact is Angela Davis, HIV/AIDS
Technical Specialist, phone: 1(246) 228-8070, fax:
1(246)228-8589.


3. The following general information pertains to
Transportation, security and health considerations in
the Eastern Caribbean:


4. Entry requirements: A valid U.S. passport is
required to enter Barbados. No visa is required if
your stay is under six months, including those
travelers arriving with diplomatic or official
passports. Fur further information, travelers may
contact the Embassy of Barbados, 2144 Wyoming Avenue
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-9200.


5. Departure tax for Barbados is BDS$25.00 or
US$19.00.


6. The following is general information pertaining to
security and health consideration throughout the
Eastern Caribbean:

Security
--------------
In the Eastern Caribbean, foot travel outside of
well-established tourist areas are 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 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 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, diphteria, 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.

KRAMER