IX.     Business Travel

A.  Business customs

For men, suit and tie is the normal business attire for non-Barbadians;
Barbadian men sometimes wear a "shirt-jack," which is akin to a
safari-type short-sleeved jacket with matching trousers.  For women, a
long- or short-sleeved suit, or a dress, is appropriate.  Business hours
are generally from 8:00 am - 4:30 PM.  Luncheon meetings are common,
but breakfast meetings are not.  Business appointments are generally
required, and punctuality in business affairs is appreciated.

B. TRAVEL ADVISORY AND VISAS

No travel advisories are in effect.  Visas are not necessary for U.S.
citizens carrying United States passports.  In fact, U.S. citizens
traveling direct from the U.S.A. to Barbados may be admitted without a
passport for a period not exceeding three (3) months, as long as they
present photo identification establishing their identity and nationality,
along with a valid return ticket.  However, U.S. citizens may find it
easier to re-enter the United States if they carry a valid passport.
Barbados collects a departure tax of Bds. $25.00 (U.S.$12.50).

C.  HOLIDAYS

New Year's Day (January 1)
Errol Barrow's Birthday (January 21)
Good Friday (variable)
Easter Monday (variable)
May Day (May 1)
Whit Monday (variable)
Kadooment Day (first Monday in August)
United Nations Day (first Monday in October)
Independence Day (last weekday of November)
Christmas Day (December 25)
Boxing Day (December 26)

D.  BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE

Airport:   Grantley Adams International.
           Runway:  L 6,200 feet x W 150 feet.
           Accommodates international, regional, and local
           traffic; passenger and freight service.

One US commercial airline flies to the US -- directly to San Juan, Miami,
and New York, and by connecting flights to the rest of the world --
daily.  Canadian and British airlines fly direct service to those countries,
and Caribbean-based air carriers provide frequent service to the rest of
the Caribbean and to Venezuela.

Language:  English.

Communications:

There is one local television station (government-owned Caribbean
Broadcasting Corporation) which, in addition to local programming, sells
satellite service which broadcasts four U.S. "cable" television channels.
There are two AM, and four FM radio stations, and two daily newspapers
(the Advocate and the Nation).  The Caribbean News Agency (CANA) is
based in Barbados.  Many U.S.-based courier and package delivery
services operate in Barbados, and the Barbados Post Office has an
express delivery service that guarantees delivery within 48 hours.
In-country, mail is delivered twice daily in Bridgetown and its suburbs,
and once daily in rural districts.  Local letter rates are $0.30 for
unsealed letters and $0.35 for sealed (closed) letters, and $0.90 for
letters to the United States.

Most business offices and hotels have facsimile machines; travelers can
generally use hotels' machines on a fee basis.  Barbados External
Telecommunications Ltd. (BET) has a service whereby that firm can
receive facsimile messages at no fee to the addressee, but the senders
pay to send faxes.  Incoming facsimile messages should have the
addressee's name clearly marked, and sent to the following fax number:
809-429-4854.  Senders are charged Bds. $5.00 for the first page plus
Bds. $2.00 for each additional page, plus any long-distance phone
charges.  Telephone calls and faxes are free within Barbados, while calls
and faxes to the US cost Bds. $3.00 per minute of transmission time.
Various secretarial service firms will also send facsimile messages for a
fee.

Making telephone calls to the US and to most parts of the world is
generally as easy as making calls within the US.  Tone service is usually
available.  Telephone operators accept most global (as opposed to US-
only) calling cards for billing -- AT&T, Global Sprint, Bell, Discover, Visa
and MasterCard are accepted.  MCI, US Sprint, and American Express are
not accepted by the long-distance telephone operators for billing.

Health:  The main hospital is the 600-bed Queen Elizabeth Hospital in
Bridgetown, and there are several well-equipped health clinics
distributed throughout the island.  The medical community includes
specialists trained in the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and
Europe.

Food:  Foods are safe to eat.  Specialties of the island include flying fish
(and many other types of fish) and Baxter Road chicken.  Fresh tropical
fruits and vegetables are readily available.  Fresh water around the
island is safe to drink.

Other:  Electricity is 110 volts/50 cycles