US embassy cable - 04SANTODOMINGO1848

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001848 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO FAA OFFICE MIAMI FL FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FAA EMPLOYEE 
 
REF: DTG 111437Z MAR 04 
 
1. U.S.Embassy Santo Domingo welcomes and grants country 
clearance to Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector 
Samuel Perry to travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 
The purpose of the visit is to perform 14 CFR part 121 
enroute inspection, cargo and line station inspection for 
Arrow Air, Inc. from March 25 to March 29, 2004.  No U.S. 
Embassy assistance is requested. 
 
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2.  Travel Documents 
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All official visitors are encouraged to enter the Dominican 
Republic on valid passports, with valid visas.  If a visa 
cannot be obtained before entry into the Dominican Republic, 
a 30-day visa can be purchased for USD 10.00 in the airport 
terminal upon arrival. A USD 20.00 airport departure tax is 
charged to all non-residents leaving the country.  Many US 
carriers include this tax in the ticket price, so please 
consult your ticket. 
 
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3.  Monetary Exchange 
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Visitors are encouraged to bring sufficient cash in US 
Dollars, traveler,s checks or credit cards for cash advances. 
 Many merchants in the DR do not accept US currency in 
payment for goods and services.  Most commercial banks and 
hotels provide exchange services, with hotels offering 
slightly less favorable terms than banks.  Banco de Reservas, 
a Dominican commercial bank, offers check cashing and 
accommodation exchange services in the Embassy from 0900-1535 
during official workdays.  USG employees are permitted to 
cash personal checks and can elect to either receive US 
Dollars or Dominican Pesos.  US credit cards, especially Visa 
and Mastercard, are widely accepted in major cities and 
tourist areas. 
 
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4.  Medical Attention 
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In the event medical services from Embassy Health 
professionals are needed, visitors will be expected to 
provide a copy of their orders upon receipt of care.  In 
cases of emergency, please contact Post One at (809) 
221-2171, extension 4398 or (809) 731-4398. 
 
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5.  Cellular Phone Rental 
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Cell phone rental is available through Codetel, a local 
provider.  Rental costs may vary, but on average cost is USD 
$1 per day.  Outgoing calls are approximately USD .50 per 
minute for calls within the Dominican Republic and USD .50 
per minute, plus long distance charges, for international 
calls. 
 
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6.  Country Threat Assessment 
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A)  Terrorism:  The Dominican Republic (DR) is considered low 
threatpost for terrorism.  There are no indigenous terrorist 
groups operating in the DR.  However, transnational terrorism 
is a possibility due to a number of factors, some of which 
include porous borders, a culture of corruption, inept 
police, and the Dominican Republic's support for the war in 
Iraq.  These factors, and others, make the DR a potential 
target for transnational terrorism. 
B)  Crime:  The Dominican Republic is considered a high 
threat post for crime.  Street robberies, pick pocketing, 
credit card fraud, ATM fraud, burglaries, and theft from 
vehicles are all common crimes in the Dominican Republic. If 
you are the victim of a street robbery, do not resist. 
Statistically, everyone who resists robbery is injured. 
Those who cooperate with robbers i.e., give them some money, 
are always left unharmed.  To avoid credit card fraud, avoid 
excessive use of credit cards while in country.  Contact your 
card provider and advise them what charges you will be making 
while visiting the DR.  Keep a close watch over your credit 
card charges even weeks after leaving the Dominican Republic. 
  Fraudulent charges may not appear until well after you have 
returned to your place of origin. To avoid ATM fraud, use 
only ATMs that are located in major hotels, or collocated 
with banks.  Avoid using carro publicos, the least expensive 
type of taxi.  Many travelers have reported being pick 
pocketed in these vehicles.  Use established taxi services, 
or hotel taxis, which are considered safe. 
HERTELL