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St. Lucia - Consular Information Sheet
September 14, 1999
Country Description: St. Lucia is a developing island
nation. Tourist facilities are widely available.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: For stays up to six months, U.S.
citizens may enter St. Lucia without a passport, but must carry
an original document proving U.S. citizenship (U.S. passport,
Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship or certified
copy of a U.S. birth certificate), photo identification, and a
return or onward ticket. For further information concerning entry
requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of St. Lucia,
3216 New Mexico Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015; telephone
(202) 364-6792; or St. Lucia�s Permanent Mission to the UN in
New York. Internet: sluonestop.com.
CRIME INFORMATION: Petty street crime occurs. Valuables
left unattended on beaches are subject to theft. Because of overcrowded
conditions in prisons, numerous disturbances have occurred affecting
the safety of areas in the vicinity of the prisons. Tourists are
advised to stay on the main streets, which are patrolled, and
not to wander into alleys or away from central Castries. Use caution,
especially at night and while walking on the beach alone.
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 may refer to the Department of State's
pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad
for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. This publication
and others, such as Tips for Travelers
to the Caribbean, are 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.
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 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 United States for similar offenses. Persons violating
St. Lucia�s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested
or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in
illegal drugs in St. Lucia are strict and convicted offenders
can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care is limited. Serious
medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation
to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors
and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always
valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs
do not provide payment for medical services outside the United
States. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas
may face extreme difficulties. Check with your own insurance company
to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision
for medical evacuation. 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 State�s Bureau of Consular Affairs
brochure Medical Information for Americans
Traveling Abroad, 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 Prevention�s hotline for international
travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX
(1-888-232-3299), or via their Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign
country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ
significantly from those in the United States. The information
below concerning St. Lucia is provided for general reference only,
and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: poor
Vehicles travel on the left, and traffic approaches from the
right. Roads are narrow with steep inclines/declines throughout
the island, and there are few guardrails in areas that have precipitous
drop-offs from the road.
For specific information concerning St. Lucia driver's permits,
vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact
the St. Lucia National Tourist Organization offices in New York
at (212) 867-2950.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of St. Lucia�s
Civil Aviation Authority as Category 2 not in compliance with
international aviation safety standards for oversight of St. Lucia�s
air carrier operations. While consultations to correct the deficiencies
are ongoing, St. Lucia�s 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 (800) 322-7873, or visit
the FAA Internet home page at
http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/. The U.S. Department of Defense
(DOD) does not permit its personnel to use air carriers from Category
2 countries for official business except for flights originating
from or terminating in the U.S. For information regarding the
DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at
618-229-4801.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: St. Lucia is a hurricane-prone
area. General information about natural disaster preparedness
is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
CHILDREN�S ISSUES: For information on international
adoption of children, international parental child abduction,
and international child support enforcement issues, please refer
to our Internet site at
http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html, or telephone
(202) 736-7000.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATIONS: The U.S.
does not maintain an embassy in St. Lucia. U.S. citizens requiring
assistance can contact the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados;
telephone 1 (246) 436-4950. The Consular Section of the Embassy
is located in the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) building,
Cheapside, Bridgetown; telephone 1 (246) 431-0225. Hours of operation
are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except local and U.S.
holidays. U.S. citizens may register in the Consular Section of
the Embassy at Bridgetown and obtain updated information on travel
and security in St. Lucia and within the region.
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 14, 1998,
to update sections on entry requirements, crime information, criminal
penalties, medical information, traffic safety and road conditions,
children�s issues, and registration/Embassy and Consulate locations
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