From: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Subject: DOSTRAVEL St. Vincent and the Grenadines 06/11/99 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 16:34:06 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Reply-To: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2253 Path: world!bzs Sender: US Dept of State Travel Warnings Message-ID: <199906141635.LAA83220@piglet.cc.uic.edu> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Comments: To: dostravel@uic.edu Lines: 133 St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Consular Information Sheet June 11, 1999 CONTRY DESCRIPTION: St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a developing island nation. Tourism facilities are available, but in some instances they are not highly developed. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: For stays up to six months, U.S. citizens may enter St. Vincent and The Grenadines without a passport. U.S. citizens must carry an original document proving U.S. citizenship (a U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship or a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate). Photo identification, a return/onward ticket and/or proof of sufficient funds are also required. For further information concerning entry requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, 3216 New Mexico Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016, telephone (202) 364-6730, or the consulates in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York. CRIME INFORMATION: Petty street crime occurs. From time to time, property has been stolen from yachts anchored in The Grenadines. Valuables left unattended on beaches are subject to theft. Persons interested in nature walks or hikes in the northern area of St. Vincent should contact local tour operators and guides before going into such isolated areas because of limited police presence. 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. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of State9s pamphlet, 3A Safe Trip Abroad,2 for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov. MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities are available, but may be limited outside urban areas. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the U.S. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State9s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure 3Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,2 available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000. OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention9s hotline for international travelers at (877) FYI-TRIP (394- 8747); fax: (888) CDC-FAXX 232-3299); or via their Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov. TRAFFIC SAFETY/ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning St. Vincent and The Grenadines is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Safety of Public Transportation: Fair to Poor. Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair to Poor. Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Frequently Poor. Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair to Poor. Vehicles travel on the left, and traffic approaches from the right. Roads are narrow, with steep inclines/declines throughout the island. Taxis and buses tend to be relatively safe, but the buses are often overcrowded. Vans are generally overcrowded and frequently travel at high rates of speed. Rural mountainous roads are the more dangerous areas for road travel. Night driving should be done with great caution and is discouraged in mountainous areas because the roads are not well marked, there are few, if any, guardrails, and the roads are often steep and winding. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of St. Vincent and The Grenadines9 civil aviation authority as Category 2 -- not in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of St. Vincent and The Grenadines9 air carrier operations. While consultations to correct the deficiencies are ongoing, St. Vincent and The Grenadines9 air carriers are permitted to conduct limited operations to the U.S. subject to heightened FAA surveillance. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet website 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. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country9s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the U.S. and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the U.S. for similar offenses. Persons violating St. Vincent and The Grenadines9 laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in St. Vincent and The Grenadines are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Y2K INFORMATION: U.S. citizens contemplating traveling or residing abroad in late 1999 or early 2000 should be aware of potential difficulties. They may wish to consider taking practical precautions against possible disruptions of services triggered by the Y2K computer phenomenon. Please monitor the home page of the Department of State for updates on Y2K issues. EMBASSY LOCATION/REGISTRATION: The U.S. does not maintain an embassy in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. American citizens requiring assistance may contact the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados; telephone (246) 436-4950; the Consular Section is located in the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) building, Cheapside, Bridgetown; telephone (246) 431- 0225. Americans are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the Embassy at Bridgetown and to obtain updated information on travel and security in St. Vincent and The Grenadines and within the area. ***** This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 16, 1997 to include additional St. Vincent and The Grenadines consulates, to update all sections and to include new sections on Medical Insurance, Other Health Information, Criminal Penalties, and Y2K Information.