COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO GILMORE SMITH AND KALISZ TO

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000664

SIPDIS

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OTRA SC XL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO GILMORE SMITH AND KALISZ TO
TRAVEL TO SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

REF: 231336Z MAY 07


1. Embassy Bridgetown warmly welcomes and grants country clearance
to LCDR Felton L. Gilmore, USCG; LCDR Roger Smith, USCG and LT
Thomas Kalisz, USCG for travel to Saint Kitts and Nevis June 17 -
21, 2007. The purpose of this mission is to have port security
discussions with Government officials and port facility officials of
Saint Kitts and Nevis IAW sections 70108-70110 of the U.S Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002.


2. Travelers will be staying at the Marriott Saint Kitts Hotel,
Frigate Bay for the duration of visit, tel. 1-869-466-1200. Embassy
points of contact are CDR P. Kofi Aboagye, Chief, Military Liaison
Office, 1-246-227-4339 or cell 1-246-230-2705; Major Curtis
Schmucker, Deputy Chief, Military Liaison Office, tel.
1-246-227-4166 or cell. 1-246-230-2712 and Major Rachelle Harris,
Operations & Exercises Officer, tel. 1-246-227-4123 or cell.
1-246-230-2725.


3. The exchange rate is approximately $2.70 xcd (Eastern Caribbean)
dollars for $1.00 U.S. dollar. U.S. currency, traveler's checks, and
credit cards are routinely and widely accepted here.


4. Entry requirements: A valid U.S. passport is required to enter
Saint Kitts and Nevis. No visa is required if your stay is under
six months, including those travelers arriving with diplomatic or
official passports. For further information, travelers may contact
the Embassy of Barbados, 2144 Wyoming Avenue N.W., Washington D.C.
20008, tel. 1-202-939-9200.

5. Departure tax for Saint Kitts and Nevis is $30.00 ECC (Eastern
Caribbean Currency) or $12.00 USD.


6. Restrictions: The laws of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St.
Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis prohibit
non-military personnel from wearing any articles of camouflage
clothing. Immigration officers in these countries randomly check
visitor's baggage on arrival at the airport; if items of restriction
are found, you will be asked to surrender them to the officers.



7. 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 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.

OURISMAN