Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean Ozone Officers 1 st 3 rd March 2011 Antigua Barbuda Logistic Information Overview of Historic Nelsons Dockyard Frigate Bird Sanctuary 1
1. Workshop Date and Venue The workshop will take place from 1 st 3 rd March, 2011, at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa Bolans Village, St. Mary s, Antigua Antigua - Barbuda Telephone: +268-462-0061 www.jollybeachresort.com 2. Organizers of the Meeting: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/ROLAC) Ministry of Finance & the Economy 3. Hotel Information: Nestled on the islands best white-sand beach amidst 40 acres of lush gardens, Antigua's Jolly Beach Resort & Spa is an exceptional Caribbean Experience, featuring friendly Antiguan hospitality, excellent all-inclusive value and convenient amenities. Please notice that UNEP and the Ministry of Finance and the Economy are doing our best effort to make this event a Green Meeting. A Green Meeting ensures that all aspects of the event including its location, food services, transportation and the procurement of goods and services are approached with a pollution prevention perspective in mind, in order to reduce its overall environmental impact. In this sense, there are some tips to take into consideration: This meeting will be almost paperless (a very minimum of printing pages). We will produce paper documents only when absolutely necessary. 2
We encourage the participants to bring their laptops in order to download presentations or working files from UNEP/ROLAC website. We are kindly requesting to all the participants to bring their own pens and paper. Turn off lights and equipment when not in use. We will be utilizing a multi-use machine: Printer/scanner and copier in one. In your room, reuse linen and towel as much as you can. Drinking water will not be supplied in small bottles in the conference room. For further information, please go to: http://itc.iclei.org/index.php?id=766 4. Information of ANTIGUA Antigua and Barbuda, the heart of the Caribbean, is strategically located midway along the chain of islands, referred to as the Leeward Islands which make up the larger grouping in the Northern end of the Lesser Antilles. Covering 108 square miles, Antigua, long with its dependencies of Barbuda, 68 square miles and the uninhabited rocky islet of Redonda, cover a total area of 170 square miles. Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands. Antigua is flat with gently rolling hills. The southern part of the country is characterized by lush green vegetation; along the south west coast lies the country s highest Peak, Mount Obama, renamed in honour of the election to office of the first US black President. The coast line is dotted with numerous bays, inlets and small harbours, which have provided shelter for naval and other vessels throughout the country s history. Antigua boast some of the best white sand beaches in the world, 365, one for every day of the year while Barbuda has the most lovely pink sand beaches. The country s flora and fauna have been among the interesting attractions to visitors. In addition to the historic sights that permeate the country s landscape and the opportunities for bird watching and scuba diving. Antigua and Barbuda is an English speaking country (although a local dialect is used) with a population dominated by indigenous black although the population has been largely diversified over the years to include other nationalities. The country gained its political independence from Britain on November 1, 1981. Previously, an economy based on agriculture, today s economy is dominated by tourism and its related services and the financial sector, although a number of other sectors, including industrial, agriculture and agro processing complete the economic activity. 5. Weather and Climate in ANTIGUA Temperatures generally range between 73 to 85 degrees. Annual rainfall is about 45 inches. The rainy season is from September to November. The North East Trade winds which blow across the country make the conditions cool and comfortable. 3
6. General Information All participants having confirmed their participation will have their booking as part of UNEP group. In the case of participants funded by UNEP, rooms have been previously booked and paid. Furthermore, all the meals with their corresponding taxes will be covered by UNEP. For self-funded participants, please contact Lizbeth Cheng: lizbeth.cheng@unep.org in order to include the participant s name in the self-funded rooming list. Please remember to provide the flight itinerary for exact time of arrival. 7. Travel documents Visitors must carry valid passports. Visas are not required where the visitor is a citizen of the USA, UK, or certain Commonwealth countries. Otherwise, please contact the nearest Antigua Barbuda mission or with the nearest British Embassy or Consulate. No mandatory medical certificates are required either. There is a departure tax of EC $50.00 or US $20.00 for CARICOM Nationals who carry CARICOM passports. Non CARICOM Citizens pay EC $70.00 or US$ 28.00 8. Airfare and Daily Subsistence Allowance : Participants funded by UNEP will receive in advance their itinerary and key to pick up their electronic ticket. With the purpose to deliver the corresponding lump sum for daily subsistence allowance according to the United Nations regulations, it is necessary for participants to submit to UNEP staff member the following documentation: Copy of the passport (including copy of the participant s photo page) Copy of arriving flight boarding pass. For participants whose flight itineraries have stopovers, UNEP will include an allowance, according to the UN rules. Please note that such participants will be responsible to make own stopover accommodations. 9. Tax In all travel tickets funded by UNEP, airport taxes from country of origin have been paid. 10. Medical Requirements Meeting participants shall travel in good health conditions or carry with them their regular medications. In case of medical emergency, the participant must have an international health insurance or defray their expenditures. 11. Currency Exchange The currency exchange rate is USD $1.00 (Dollar) = EC 2.67 (Eastern Caribbean Dollar). US currency can be exchanged at the Hotel Reception Desk although the rate may vary from that offered by the banks. There is also a local bank branch within walking distance across from the hotel. 4
Banking hours are from Monday - Thursday from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm and on Fridays from 8:00 am 4:00 pm. Credit cards can be used in most shops (except small convenience shops) and hotels in Antigua. US currency is widely accepted. 12. Airport-Hotel Transportation All the participants will be responsible to go directly to the hotel. Funded participants will have this expense included in their DSA payment. The cost of the taxi fare from the V.C. Bird International Airport to the Jolly Beach Resort & Spa is EC$64.00 or US$24.00 for 1-4 persons with four pieces of luggage. For more than four persons, there is an additional charge of EC$16.00 or US$6.00 per person. Once you exit the customs Area on arrival, please go to the outside area of the North of the Terminal Building to the Official Taxi Dispatchers Stand where you will be assisted in getting an authorized taxi. 13. Security in Antigua Antigua is safe but extra precaution is always advised. Participants are encouraged to exercise all the usual precautionary measures when out of your hotel and venue. Avoid walking alone at nights and keep in lighted areas. Should you decide to leave the hotel premises, please ensure that you take only Taxis clearly marked, or you can arrange for a taxi from the hotel to pick you up. Do not carry around large amounts of cash and other valuables on your person, especially when you re travelling outside of the hotel premises Contact Information: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/ROLAC) Ms Artie Dubrie artie.dubrie@unep.org Tel: (507) 305-3161 Mrs. Lizbeth M. Cheng (Logistics Affairs) lizbeth.cheng@unep.org Tel: (507) 305-3163 National Ozone Unit, Trade, Industry & Commerce Division, Ministry of Finance & the Economy Ms. Charmaine Hackett National Ozone Officer Tel: 268-562-1609 Fax: 268-462-1625 Email:charm37@hotmail.com odsunit@candw.ag 5
THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES DO NOT REQUIRE VISA TO ENTER TO ANTIGUA BAHAMAS BARBADOS BELIZE CANADA DENMARK DOMINICA EUROPEAN UNION GUYANA GRENADA JAMAICA TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ST. KITTS & NEVIS ST. LUCIA ST. VINCENT & GRENADINES SURINAME UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES REQUIRE VISA TO ENTER ANTIGUA COLOMBIA HAITI PANAMA 6