From: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Subject: DOSTRAVEL Solomon Islands Public Announcement 06/11/99 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 20:30:42 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Reply-To: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2252 Path: world!bzs Sender: US Dept of State Travel Warnings Message-ID: <199906112031.PAA65536@piglet.cc.uic.edu> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Comments: To: dostravel@uic.edu Lines: 149 Solomon Islands - Public Announcement June 11, 1999 American citizens are advised to exercise caution while traveling on Guadalcanal. There have been acts of lawlessness and sporadic armed incidents since the beginning of the year. Despite indications that violence has largely been confined to rural areas and has not targeted American citizens, there are reports of unrest in settlements near the capital, Honiara. Some of these events stem from heightened ethnic tension on Guadalcanal. In view of these recent incidents in areas frequented by expatriates and in the principal urban center, American citizens in the Solomon Islands should take proper precautions to safeguard their welfare and security. There is no evidence at present that tensions on Guadalcanal extend to other provinces in the Solomon Islands. American citizens in the Solomon Islands are encouraged to obtain updated security and travel information for Guadalcanal from the United States Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. There is no U.S. Embassy or diplomatic post in the Solomon Islands. The Department of State also recommends that American citizens considering travel to the Solomon Islands review the information available in the State Department9s Consular Information Sheet, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs9 home page at http://travel.state.gov. All Americans resident or traveling in the Solomon Islands are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The Embassy is located on Douglas Street, adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, N.C.D. 121, Papua New Guinea. The Embassy9s telephone number is (675) 321-1455; fax (675) 321-1593. This Public Announcement supersedes the April 9, 1999, Public Announcement on the Solomon Islands to note the expansion of unrest to areas near the capital, Honiara. This Public Announcement expires on September 10, 1999. Solomon Islands - Consular Information Sheet December 22, 1998 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Solomon Islands form an archipelago in the southwest Pacific about 1,200 miles northeast of Australia. The capital is Honiara on Guadalcanal Island. The Solomon Islands are a parliamentary democracy within the British Commonwealth. Tourism facilities are limited, particularly outside Honiara. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport holders do not require visas to enter the Solomon Islands. Passports, onward/return tickets and proof of sufficient funds are required. Visitor permits are granted upon arrival at Henderson International Airport in Honiara. Visitors may enter any number of times, provided the total period in Solomon Islands does not exceed 90 days in a 12-month period. Persons arriving on yachts should call the nearest immigration office to complete arrival forms for issuance of visitors permits. Travelers who anticipate the possibility of transiting or visiting Australia are advised to obtain an electronic travel authority (ETA) for Australia before leaving the United States. The ETA is available at time of ticket purchase through travel agents and airlines. For more information about entry requirements, travelers may contact the Solomon Islands Mission to the United Nations at 800 Second Avenue 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017-4709; tel. (212) 599-6192. CRIME INFORMATION: Major crimes against travelers are not common, though petty crimes against property frequently occur in Honiara. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or from the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Consular Affairs homepage at http://travel.state.gov. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. MEDICAL FACILITIES: Hospitals and pharmacies in the Solomon Islands are limited to population centers and missions. The nearest reliable medical facilities are in Australia or New Zealand. Medical conditions arising as a result of diving accidents may require medical evacuation to Australia or New Zealand. The incidence of malaria is high. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payments for health services. The Medicare/Medicaid Program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that, in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, has proven to be useful. OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Helpful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure 3Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad2 available via the Consular Affairs homepage at http://travel.state.gov and the autofax service at (202) 647-3000. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention9s international travelers hotline at 1- 877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), via the CDC autofax service at 1-888-CDC- FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC homepage on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service at present, nor economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and the Solomon Islands, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Solomon Islands9 Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of the Solomon Islands9 air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet homepage at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: In the Solomon Islands, vehicular traffic moves on the left. Paved roads are found only around Honiara, located on Guadalcanal Island. These paved roads are two lanes, not well marked, poorly lit at night, and have many potholes. The remaining roads in the Solomon Islands are made of coral or gravel, or are dirt tracks. Travelers must take care when driving off main roads to avoid trespassing on communal land. REGISTRATION/ EMBASSY LOCATION: There is no U.S. Embassy or diplomatic post in the Solomon Islands. Assistance for U.S. citizens is provided by the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, which is located on Douglas Street, adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. Please use this address for courier service deliveries. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, N.C.D. 121, Papua New Guinea; tel. (675) 321-1455; fax (675) 321-1593. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and to obtain updated information on travel and security from the Embassy. There is a volunteer American warden located in Honiara who has general information and forms (such as passport application forms). She may be contacted at B.J.S. Agencies Limited in Honiara, tel. (677) 22-393; fax (677)21-027. This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 11, 1996 to revise the sections about Entry Requirements and Medical Facilities, to add a new section on Aviation Safety Oversight, and to correct the phone number for the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.