UNITED NATIONS

EP Distr. General

United Nations Environment Programme

UNEP (DEPI)/CAR 27 August 2012 Original: ENGLISH

IGM15 & COP12 SPAW STAC5 SPAW COP7 LBS COP1 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 22-27 October 2012

INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS (Quick Links: Ctrl+ click on icons or titles for direct link)

General information and venue

Access to the Dominican Republic

Hotel information

Opening and registration

Language, meeting documents, and greening of the meeting

Conference officials and services

Time zone, weather and health information

Electricity and Currency information

1. General information The United Nations Environment Programme Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit, Secretariat to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region with the generous support of the Government of the Dominican Republic will be hosting four Intergovernmental Meetings in October 2012 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as follows: SPAW STAC5 Fifth Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) to the SPAW Protocol, 22 October 2012. SPAW COP7 Seventh Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP) to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region, 23 October 2012. LBS COP1 First Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean (LBS) 24 October 2012. IGM15 & COP12 Fifteenth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Twelfth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, 25-27 October 2012. N.B. The agendas for these meetings can be found on the Caribbean Environment Programme Meeting page at http://cep.unep.org/meetings-events.

2. Venue All meetings will be held at the: Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana Cabeza de Toro, P. O. Box 68; Higuey, Dominican Republic Hotel Direct Lines: Tel: +809 552 6000 / +809 687 5747 Fax: + 809 468 2151 Reservations: Ms. Melani Mena Groups & Conventions Manager Tel:(809)285-4716 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dreamsresorts.com

3. Access to the Dominican Republic Visa Information (Please also refer to Annexes A - C) All tourists entering the Dominican Republic should purchase a Tourist Card except countries with which the Dominican Republic has previous agreements. Tourists exempted from the Tourist Card purchase are: •

Residents, Visa holders and Dominican nationals.

• Foreigners arriving from Argentina, Chili, South Korea, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Peru and Uruguay. • Diplomatic and Consular staff with assigned missions in the country, while they remain on duty. • Passengers using private, noncommercial aviation as long as the aircraft fulfills the following requirements: the trip must be for sport, leisure, executive, tourism and business purposes, and the aircraft must not weigh more than thirty thousand pounds (30,000) and have a maximum capacity of 12 passengers. • Haitian nationals having a card that validates their entry and exit of the country the same day. The use of this Card is fully explained under Art. 78 of the Migration Law .It also specifies that this card will only be valid in the Dominican province which borders the residence in Haiti of the holder .If not, a Tourist Card must be bought. Airport transfers Punta Cana is serviced by the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The hotel is located 15 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). Transport will be provided from the airport to the hotel and back on the return. 4. Hotel information Accommodation will be provided at the meeting venue (Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana). An all-inclusive package is offered for this meeting at a negotiated rate of USD128.00 (single occupancy) and USD89.00 (double) per night including all taxes and service charges for the Deluxe Tropical room. There is also the Preferred Club Deluxe Tropical room for USD147 (single) and USD113 (double). These rates

remain constant for any party attending the meetings, however to access these discounted rates ensure that you specify to the hotel that you are a participant of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Coordinating Unit’s Intergovernmental Meeting. Sponsored participants Accommodation and airfare will be prepaid by the host Government according to flight itineraries or negotiated dates with CAR/RCU. Non-sponsored participants All non-sponsored delegates and participants from CEP Member Governments, other UN organisations, and other governmental or non-governmental observers are expected to meet the full costs of their participation in the Meetings. Such additional delegates and observers are expected to make their own hotel arrangements at the host hotel and should contact the hotel directly at the information above referring to the UNEP meeting. You are advised to make your bookings as soon as possible using the negotiated all inclusive rate. Rooms will be assigned based on availability. N.B. The cut-off date for the hotel is September 19, 2012. After this date the Hotel will release all unreserved rooms and participants will receive rooms based on availability at the negotiated prices. There are no other hotels in close vicinity, so participants are encouraged to make their bookings as soon as possible.

5. Opening and Registration All meetings will start at 9:00 a.m. on their respective days. The meetings will be held daily until approximately 6:00 p.m. and until approximately 3:00 p.m. on the 27th October. For more information, please refer to the provisional annotated agenda, which is available on the Secretariat’s web site at http://cep.unep.org/meetings-events. All participants are requested to register and obtain meeting badges on the first day of their respective meeting – between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. - at the reception desk of the meeting. For identification and security reasons, all participants are requested to wear the meeting badge at all times during the meeting.

The Secretariat, in coordination with the Government of the Dominican Republic, will publish a list of participants to all the meetings on the CEP website.

6. Language Official language in the Dominican Republic The official language in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. English is understood in some parts of Punta Cana and the rest of the country. Working language of the meeting The meetings will have simultaneous interpretation in the three working languages of the United Nations- English, Spanish and French. Translation of all Working documents will be in all three languages. Information and Reference documents will vary in language.

7. Meeting documents and Greening of the Meeting All documents for the meeting are made available on the Secretariat’s website at http://cep.unep.org/meetings-events. The Secretariat of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region and the Government of the Dominican Republic want to create a setting that is true to the spirit of the Convention and meets the requirements of environmental protection in general. These meetings are organized with the aim of minimizing negative environmental impacts to the greatest extent possible. It seems hardly possible to imagine a meeting without paper documents and brochures, but it is a great help to the environment if participants only take, distribute or copy what is really of interest and will actually be read. Participants are also kindly asked to bring their copies of working and information documents that they will need during the meetings as no additional copies will be made available on site during the meeting. Display tables for promotional materials Display tables will be made available within the meeting venue for the display of promotional materials and publications. Spaces for these items will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

8. Conference officials The following persons will be responsible for servicing the meeting:

Mrs. Coral Fernandez

Ms. Lesma Levy

Travel and Daily Subsistence Allowance Arrangements Sponsored participants will receive their DSA on the first day of the meeting from the conference officials above. Kindly take passports, and boarding passes along with you to receive this DSA. For any other query related to travel and daily subsistence allowance (DSA), sponsored participants are invited to contact the designated conference officials indicated above.

9. Services Internet Wireless internet access is available at a charge. Business centre A business centre is available. 10. Weather and time zone information The standard time zone is GMT/UTC- 4 hours. The weather in October in the Dominican Republic is normally humid however occasional rain, which usually comes in the form of brief downpours, may offer some relief from the heat. Punta Cana has a tropical climate and you can generally expect daytime temperatures around mid 80's (Fahrenheit) and at nighttime around mid 70’s. (October estimates- 85°F (29°C) 75°F (23°C)) As the official hurricane season lasts from June 1st until November 30th, there may be threats to the island however the overall Punta Cana area is well protected and generally receives minor hits.

11. Health Requirements There is no particular need for participants to take specific health precautions such as vaccines. Persons with special conditions are advised to take their own medication. We also encourage persons to take insect repellents as the climate may attract mosquitos.

12. Electricity The Dominican Republic operates on Voltage: 110-120 Volts, 60 hertz. The following types of electrical outlets are used:

13. Currency The monetary unit is the Dominican Peso however the United States Dollar is also widely used and accepted. One United States dollar is equivalent to approximately 39.15 pesos as at 04 September 2012. Travelers may also obtain more current exchange rates from currency converter tools online. (Please note that rates are subject to variation.) Credit cards Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops.

14. DISCLAIMER The Secretariat and the Government of the Dominican Republic disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other loss that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation. In this context, it is strongly recommended that participants secure prior to departure international medical insurance for the period of participation and to endeavor to safeguard all personal belongings while attending meetings.

ANNEX A Countries exempted from the purchase of the Tourist Card

The following are exempted from the purchase of the Tourist Card: 

Dominican Republic Residents



Dominican Visa Holders



Dominican Nationals

Foreigners coming from the following countries: 

Argentina



Chili



South Korea



Ecuador



Israel



Japan



Peru



Uruguay

ANNEX B

Countries needing the Tourist Card

All nationals in the capacity of entering legally the European Union, the United States, Canada and Great Britain, are allowed to enter the Dominican Republic with the sole requirement of a Tourist Card, as well as citizens from the following countries: A Acrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom), Andorra, Anguilla (United Kingdom), Antigua and Bermuda, Netherlands Antilles (Holland Antilles), Aruba, Australia, Austria. B Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belice, Bermudas, Bolivia, Botswana , Brasil, Brunei, Bulgaria. C Canada, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Coco Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, D Denmark, Dominica. E El Salvador, Estonia. F Fiji, Finland, France. G Germany, Gibraltar (United Kingdom), Greece, Grenada, Greenland (Denmark), Greenland (Norway), Guadeloupe (France), Guam (United States), Guatemala, Guyenne, French Guiana (France). H Hawaii (United States), Hong Kong (Valid for holders of the Special passport of the Administrative Region of the People´s Republic of China), Honduras, Hungary. I Ireland, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), Cocos Islands and Christmas Island (Australia), Palau Island(United States), Samoa, American Samoa Island (United States), Iceland, Cayman Islands (United Kingdom), Cook Islands (New Zealand), Feroe Islands (Denmark), Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), North Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Norfolk Islands (Australia), Solomon Islands, Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom), Turks and Caicos Islands, Futuna and Wallis Islands (France), Tokelau Islands, Italy. J Jamaica. K Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait. L Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg.

Countries needing the Tourist Card M Macedonia, Macau (Valid for holders of the Special passport of the Administrative Region of Macao), Malaysia, Malta, Martinique (France), Maurice, Mayen (Norway), Mayotte (France), Micronesia, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat (United Kingdom). N Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niue (New Zealand), Norway, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, The Netherlands (Holland, Curacao and Saint Martin). P Panamá, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia (France), Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico (United States). Q Quatar. R Republic of South Africa, Reunion (France), Romania, Russia. S Scotland (United Kingdom), Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Helen (United Kingdom), Saint Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, St. John (United States), St. Croix (United States), St. Thomas (United States), Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Svalbard (Norway), Slovakia, Slovenia, Slovak Republic. T Thailand, Taiwan, Tokelau (New Zealand), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu. U Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain. V Vanuatu, Vatican City, The Holy City, Venezuela.

ANNEX C

Countries needing a Visa to enter the Dominican Republic

Tourists coming from the following countries need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic: A Abkhazia (Independent from Georgia), Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan. B Bangladesh, Benin, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bhutan. C Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba. D Djibouti. E Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia. G Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Southern Georgia (United Kingdom), Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, GuineaBissau. H Haiti. I India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast. J Jordan. K Kenya, Kirgizstan, Kosovo (Serbia), North Korea. L Laos, Lesotho, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya. M Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Moldavia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar. N Nagorno-Karabakh (independent in Azerbaijan), Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk, Northern Cyprus, New Guinea.

Countries needing a Visa to enter the Dominican Republic O Oman, South Ossetia (Independent in Georgia) P Pakistan, Palau, Palestine (Palestine National Authority), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom), Philippines. R Republic of Central Africa, Rwanda, Rumania, Republic of China. S Western Sahara, Samoa, American Samoa, Sao Tome and Prince, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), Senegal, Sierra Leone , Syria, Somalia, Somaliland (independent in Somalia), Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sudan, Saudi Arabia. T Tanzania, Tajikistan, East Timor, Togo, Transnistria (Independent in Moldavia), Tunisia, Turkmenistan. U Uganda, Uzbekistan. V Vietnam. Y Yemen, Djibouti. Z Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.