From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Guyana Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 18:54:00 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1594 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199801221357_MC2-3045-8150@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 139 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Guyana ============================================================ Guyana - Consular Information Sheet January 28, 1997 Country Description: Guyana is a developing nation. Except for hotels in the capital city of Georgetown, tourist facilities are not fully developed. Entry Requirements: Valid passports are required for all U.S. citizens to enter Guyana. Dual nationals must have a U.S. passport to depart Guyana for the U.S. Unlike the situation in most of the Caribbean area, in Guyana a naturalization certificate or birth certificate does not fulfill immigration or boarding requirements for departure. On arrival, all visitors are granted a 30-day stay. Extensions of stay may be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs at 6 Brickdam, Georgetown. The extension must then be noted in the visitor's passport by the Central Immigration Office located on Camp Road, Georgetown. Travelers for other than tourism purposes should also check with the Ministry of Home Affairs for additional information about immigration requirements for work permits and extended stays. For other information, travelers may consult the Embassy of Guyana at 2490 Tracy Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; telephone (202) 265-6900 or the Guyana Consulate General in New York City. Medical Facilities: Medical care is available for minor medical problems. Emergency care and major medical care requiring a hospital stay are limited due to a lack of specialists, diagnostic aids, and poor sanitary conditions in most medical facilities. Travelers are advised to bring prescription medicine sufficient for their length of stay and should be aware that Guyana's humid climate may affect some medicines. Prescription medicine (mainly generic) has now become available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. In some instances, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has been useful, particularly when a medical evacuation is necessary. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559, Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Crimes against wealthy people and property have become commonplace. Foreigners, in particular, are viewed as wealthy targets of opportunity. Crimes of violence are primarily confined to Georgetown and the other more populated areas of Guyana. Most crimes occur in the major business and shopping districts of Georgetown, in and around the two major indoor/outdoor markets of Stabroek and Bourda, and in the vicinity of the Hotel Tower and Pegasus Hotel (formerly the Forte Crest Hotel), the two major hotels most frequented by tourists and other foreigners. The area adjacent to the seawall in Georgetown is usually deserted and therefore dangerous except early in the morning and in the late afternoon, when it is frequented by people walking or jogging. Burglary from vehicles is common, but is very low from rooms at the major hotels. Police are cooperative but largely ineffective. U.S. visitors who suffer criminal assaults are encouraged to contact the police as well as the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy Consular Section; after hours, contact the U.S. Embassy duty officer at telephone 02-77869 and leave a message for pager number 5682. In addition to money, thieves frequently steal U.S. passports and alien registration cards. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport in Guyana should be reported to the local police and to the U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizens should be prepared to present evidence of citizenship and identity, as well as a letter from Guyana Immigration showing the date of entry into the country and the U.S. passport number, as well as a police report. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad," which provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Both this pamphlet and "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America" are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Other Information: Many exotic birds are protected species. The Guyana Ministry of Agriculture will permit only those persons who have been legally residing in Guyana for more than a year to take an exotic bird out of the country when they leave. Those Americans who have legally resided in Guyana for more than a year and would like to take back any birds, including pets, listed in Appendices I, II, and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) must have a Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) import permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order for the bird or pet to be imported into the U.S. Please note that this is a U.S. regulation that applies regardless of CITES distinctions among the three appendices. U.S. residents and non-residents continue to arrive at U.S. ports of entry without WBCA permits and encounter difficulties. Individuals can obtain WBCA fact sheets and permit applications from the USFWS Office of Management Authority, Branch of Permits, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203; telephone (703) 358-2104; fax (703) 358-2281. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Criminal penalties for possession, use, and dealing in illegal drugs are strict, even for small amounts. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and high fines if convicted by the Guyana courts. Road Safety and Traffic Conditions: Road conditions throughout the country are poor. Mini-bus drivers who provide private transportation generally do not adhere to traffic rules and regulations. Civil Aviation Oversight: In January 1994, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed Guyana's Civil Aviation Authority as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for Guyanese carriers operating to and from the U.S. However, during its assessment, the FAA noted that Guyana's operations to destinations other than the U.S. are not provided a similar level of safety oversight. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at (800) 322-7873. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, located at 100 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana; telephone 02-54900/9. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. For emergencies after hours and on week-ends and holidays, U.S. citizens are requested to call 02-77869 and to leave a message for pager number 5682. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information on travel and security conditions within Guyana upon request when they register at the U.S. Embassy. No. 97-011 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 10, 1995, to update all sections except entry requirements and civil aviation oversight. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories