Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRIDGETOWN937
2006-05-31 21:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WACKOWSKI AND

Tags:  OTRA OREP AFIN SC XL 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0937/01 1512110
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 312110Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2601
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000937 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA OREP AFIN SC XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WACKOWSKI AND
BERTOSON FOR TRAVEL TO ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

REF: STATE 86634

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000937

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA OREP AFIN SC XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO WACKOWSKI AND
BERTOSON FOR TRAVEL TO ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

REF: STATE 86634


1. Embassy Bridgetown welcomes and grants clearance to
Stephen Wackowski, Professional Staff Member, Senate
Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (SCOM) for
travel to St. Kitts and Nevis June 14-21, 2006. Embassy
Bridgetown welcomes and grants clearance to Todd Bertoson,
Senator Ted Steven's Personal Staff, for travel to St. Kitts
and Nevis June 15-21, 2006. The travelers are observers on
the U.S. Delegation to the International Whaling Commission's
58th Annual Meeting.



2. Per reftel, Embassy understands assistance is requested
for a control officer, administrative point of contact,
accommodations, and transportation.

Control Officer:
Shannon E. Runyon, Political Officer, Embassy Bridgetown.
Ms. Runyon's contact information is as follows: email,
runyonse@state.gov; work telephone, 246/436-4950 x2224; fax,
246/431-0384; and cell phone, 246/823-1938. Note: When
calling Barbados or St. Kitts and Nevis from the U.S. the
caller only needs to place a "1" in front of the area code.
Do not dial "01" as the call will not go through. Ms. Runyon
will be at the St. Kitts Marriott from June 15 to June 22.

Administrative Contact:
Lauren M. Bradley, Office Management Specialist, Embassy
Bridgetown. Ms. Bradley's contact information is as follows:
email, bradleylm@state.gov; work telephone, 246/436-4950
x2228; fax, 246/431-0384; and cell phone, 246/823-3984.

Accommodations:

Because of demand generated by the International Whaling
Commission meeting, the Marriott is fully booked for the
night of June 20. Mr. Wackowski and Mr. Bertoson will stay
at the Marriott until June 20 and then move to the Bird Rock
Beach Resort located in Basseterre ten minutes from the
Marriott. Please see below for all hotel information. The
St. Kitts Marriott also requires a deposit to hold the room
for each guest. Post has used the fiscal data provided
reftel to cover the deposit. The advance deposit required is
two nights and tax deposit, for the first and last nights,
and must be provided to the hotel within seven days of the
booking date. The Bird Rock Beach Resort does not need a
deposit and has marked in the confirmation that the guests

will pay when they arrive.

Stephen Wackowski
St. Kitts Marriott
June 14-20
Confirmation number: 80893578
Telephone: 869/466-1200
Rate: 125.00 USD plus 19 percent tax per night

Bird Rock Beach Resort
June 20-21
Confirmation number: 7017
Telephone: 869/465-8914
Rate: 75.00 USD plus 19 percent tax per night

Todd Bertoson
St. Kitts Marriott
June 15-20
Confirmation number: 80894548
Telephone: 869/466-1200
Rate: 125.00 USD plus 19 percent tax per night

Bird Rock Beach Resort
June 20-21
Confirmation number: 7018
Telephone: 869/465-8914
Rate: 75.00 USD plus 19 percent tax per night

Transportation:
Embassy Bridgetown is a regional embassy located in Barbados.
As such, the Embassy does not have any vehicles to provide
transportation on St. Kitts and Nevis. Taxis are widely
available on the island. The approximate taxi cost from the
airport to the St. Kitts Marriott is 13 USD one way.


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, 246/436-4950 X2228,
or by fax at 246/431-0384.


4. Entry requirements: Mission policy is that all USG

travelers to the region be in possession of a valid passport.
There is a departure tax of 45 XCD (Eastern Caribbean)
dollars or 16.50 U.S. dollars.


5. The exchange rate in St. Kitts and Nevis is 2.70 XCD
(Eastern Caribbean) dollars for one U.S. dollar. U.S.
currency, travelers' 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
--------------

The Regional Security Office has been in contact with the
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis (GOSKN) regarding security
for the International Whaling Commission meeting. The most
recent information from GOSKN states that non-violent
protests will be occurring. No other information is
available at this time.

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.
KRAMER