COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO LISA ANDREWS FOR

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000953

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OIA/NPS STEPHEN A. MORRIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA TPHY SCUL SENV KSCA GJ XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO LISA ANDREWS FOR
TRAVEL TO GRENADA

REF: STATE 88550


1. Embassy Bridgetown welcomes and grants clearance to Lisa
Andrews, National Park Service, Outdoor/Educational
Specialist, Big Cypress National Preserve, for travel to
Grenada June 19 - July 1, 2006. Ms. Andrews will provide
technical assistance to the Grenada Park Flight Project on
behalf of the National Park Service and Park Flight Migratory
Bird Program.



2. Per reftel, Embassy understands assistance is not
required. The contact information for Ms. Andrews is Alan
Joseph, Chief Forestry Officer, Grenada Forestry and National
Parks Department, telephone 473/533-7766 and Willan Hamilton,
Education Officer Grenada Forestry and National Parks
Department, telephone 473/406-6739. Note: When calling
Grenada 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.


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 X2230,
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 50 xcd (Eastern Caribbean)
dollars or 20.00 U.S. dollars.


5. The exchange rate in Grenada 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, Embassy Bridgetown, has
declared the Grenada Grand Beach Hotel off limits for
official travel due to security issues. Please do not use
this hotel until further notice.

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