US embassy cable - 04SANTODOMINGO4502

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004502 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ATTENTION: WHA/EX MARY MCBRIDE 
WHA/CAR KAREN JO MCISAAC 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, APER, ASEC 
SUBJECT: WHA SPRING 2005 INTERN PROGRAM 
 
REF:  A) SECSTATE 144850 
 
ANTO DOMINGO IS INTERESTING IN PARTICIPATING IN THE WHA SPRING 
2005 INTERN PROGRAM.  THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS PER REFTEL: 
 
1-NUMBER OF INTERNS REQUESTED: TWO INTERNS A) ECONOMIC INTERN B) 
CONSULAR INTERN 
2-LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: SPANISH MIN 2+ 2+ 
3-WHAT SECTION WILL THE INTERN WORK: A)ECOPOL , B) CONSULATE 
4-WHO WILL SUPERVISE THE INTERN: A)MICHAEL MEIGS, ECOPOL 
COUNSELOR (809) 731-4335, B) MARY B. MARSHALL, DEPUTY CONSUL 
GENERAL (809) 731-4336 
5-SPECIFIC DUTIES, PROJECTS INTERN WILL PERFORM: EMBASSY SANTO 
DOMINGO WANTS TO HAVE A UNIVERSITY INTERN FOR THE COMBINED 
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SECTION ANY TIME THAT ONE IS AVAILABLE IN 
UPCOMING SELECTIONS.  THIS REQUEST INCLUDES BOTH SPRING AND 
SUMMER OF 2005. A)THE ECOPOL INTERN WILL COVER DUTIES NORMALLY 
ASSIGNED TO A SECOND TOUR OFFICER, FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE 
ACTIVITIES OF A BUSY 7 PERSON ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SECTION IN A 
COUNTRY FRIENDLY TO THE UNITED STATES, SUBJECT TO ECONOMIC 
DIFFICULTIES AND INSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESSESS. PRODUCING WRITTEN 
MATERIAL, INCLUDING SUMMARIES OF CURRENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC 
TOPICS, MEMORANDA OF CONVERSATION, BIOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, BRIEFING 
MATERIAL FOR THE AMBASSADOR, AND IF THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, 
DRAFTS FOR TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
PARTICIPATION IN DEMARCHES TO DOMINICAN OFFICIALS IN VISITS OF 
USG OFFICIALS AND IN REPRESENTATIONAL EVENT.  DAILY REVIEW OF 
LOCAL NEWSPAPER, IDENTIFIACTION OF TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE USG. 
INVOLVEMENT PRODUCING MATERIAL FOR THE EMBASSY'S CLASSIFIED 
WEBSITE SERVING THE USG. AS WARRANTED, TRAVEL OUTSIDE SANTO 
DOMINGO FOR ORIENTATION AND INVESTIGATION.  A MEMORANDUM OF 
PERFORMANCE IS PREPARED AT THE END OF THE ASSIGNMENT. 
B) THE CONSULATE INTERN WOULD BE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY THE 
DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL OR BY A UNIT CHIEF.  WHILE THEY WOULD NOT 
BE DOING LINE CONSULAR WORK, THEY WOULD BE GIVEN RESEARCH 
PROJECTS COMMENSURATE WITH A FIRST - OR - SECOND- TOUR FOREIGN 
SERVICE OFFICER, WHICH INCLUDES PRODUCING MEMORANDA AND DRAFTING 
CABLES OR REPORTS TO THE DEPARTMENT; ATTENDING MEETINGS WITH 
DOMINICAN OFFICIALS AND OTHER CONSULAR CONTACTS; REVIEWING LOCAL 
NEWSPAPER AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA FOR TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE 
CONSULAR SECTION; AND AS ARRANGED, TRAVEL OUTSIDE SANTO DOMINGO 
FOR MEETINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS.  A MEMORANDUM OF PERFORMANCE 
WILL BE PREPARED AT THE END OF THE ASSIGNMENT. 
6- HOUSING: EMBASSY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT USG HOUSING WILL BE 
AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERN.  ONCE POSSIBLE DATES ARE KNOWN WE CAN 
SEEK TO IDENTIFY HOUSING THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE BETWEEN TENANTS OR 
HOUSE-SITTING OPPORTUNITIES; IF NECESSARY, WE CAN SEEK TO PUT AN 
INCOMING INTERN IN CONTACT WITH POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR SHORT-TERM 
RENTAL OF A SIMPLE FURNISHED ROOM OR APARTMENT. 
 7- VISA REQUIREMENTS: THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REQUIRES A VISA TO 
ENTER THE COUNTRY AND IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN VISAS 
BEFORE ARRIVAL. IF FOR SOME REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN A 
VISA PRIOR TO TRAVEL, A TOURIST VISA CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE 
AIRPORT IN SANTO DOMINGO. THE COST IS USD 20. 
8-INNOCULATIONS REQUIRED: NONE (RECOMMENDED HEPATITS A AND B) 
9-DEPOSITS REQUIRED:POST ENCOURAGES A DEPOSIT OF US$300 FOR 
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. 
10-SECURITY CLEARANCES: SECRET 
MARSHALL