Since Abaco Travelers have a tendency to be well traveled, especially to the Caribbean area, this page will carry U.S. State Department Travel Advisories issued for popular Caribbean and near-Caribbean vacation destinations. This page will be updated within 48 hours of the issuance of any relevant advisory.

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HAITI
Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:35:05 -0500
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Haiti

Country Description:
Haiti is one of the least developed countries in the Western Hemisphere. There are shortages of goods and services throughout the country. Tourism facilities in Port-au-Prince, the capital city, are adequate, but in most of Haiti, they are virtually non-existent.

Entry Requirements:
Haitian law requires a passport to enter. In practice, officials frequently waive this requirement, if travelers have other documentation, such as a birth certificate, indicating they are United States citizens. Due to fraud concerns, however, airlines do not board passengers for return to the U.S. unless they are in possession of a valid passport.

Medical Facilities:
Medical care in Port-au-Prince is limited and the level of community sanitation is low. Medical facilities outside the capital are almost always below U.S. standards. Life-threatening emergencies may require evacuation by air ambulance at the patient's expense. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers might wish to consider supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation. In mid-1996, the government of Haiti ordered Haitian-manufactured pharmaceuticals taken off shelves following the suspicious deaths of Haitian children from renal failure.

Crime:
Crime remains at a high level and may spike from time to time. Reports of murder, carjackings, armed robbery and break-ins contribute to security concerns. Though these crimes do not appear to be specifically aimed at foreigners, some U.S. citizens have been victims of criminal incidents. Some of these crimes have occurred in the environs of the airport in Port-au-Prince, and travelers should exercise caution when leaving the airport. Crimes involving vehicles along Route Nationale No. 1, in the port area, in Cite Soleil and along the airport road continue to be a problem. However, while these areas see the most crime in general, neighborhoods formerly considered safe have recently attracted criminal activity, as well.

U.S. citizens should exercise caution against crime, including keeping valuables well hidden, favoring private over public transportation, using alternating routes and keeping doors and windows in both homes and vehicles closed and locked. If an armed individual demands the surrender of a vehicle or other valuables, the U.S. Embassy recommends compliance without resistance. Crime victims are often frustrated by the lack of response and enforcement capabilities of the local police and judiciary.

The loss or theft of a U.S. passport overseas should be reported to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Lost or stolen U.S. birth certificates and or driver's licenses used as entry documents generally cannot be replaced outside the United States.

Areas of Instability:
Haiti continues to experience occasional civil unrest, including unofficial roadblocks in all regions of the country. There have been attacks on some government buildings by unidentified perpetrators. U.S. citizens have not been targeted in any of these attacks or in any demonstration-related incidents, but travelers are urged to use common sense in avoiding large crowds, which have been known to turn violent.

Drug Penalties:
U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Criminal penalties for possession, use and dealing in illegal drugs are strict. Those accused of drug-related crimes can expect lengthy legal proceedings, irregular application of Haitian law, and delayed due process. If convicted, offenders may face long jail sentences and substantial fines.

Traffic Safety Road Conditions:
Road conditions in Haiti are very poor. Paved roads in Port-au-Prince and major provincial capitals are littered with potholes and many have eroded badly. Most roads in the country are unpaved and unlit. Port-au-Prince traffic is congested most of the day as a result of the poor roads, the undisciplined driving, badly maintained vehicles, a plethora of street merchants, itinerant mechanics and pedestrians. Traffic laws are similar to those in the U.S., but they are not generally enforced. Travel at night on intercity highways should be avoided, particularly on Route Nationale No. 1, due to vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

Aviation Safety Oversight:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Haiti's civil aviation authority as Category 3 -- not in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Haiti's air carrier operations. Flights to the U.S. by Haiti's air carriers are not permitted unless they arrange to have the flights conducted by a carrier from a country meeting international safety standards.

On January 23, 1998, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation determined that Port-au-Prince International Airport, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, does not maintain and carry out effective security measures. All U.S. and foreign air carriers that service Port-au-Prince International Airport are required to provide a written notice to this effect to passengers purchasing a U.S.-to-Port-au-Prince ticket after the effective date of the Secretary of Transportation's order.