Comoros Sports
US Department Of State Post Report
It may be difficult for older children not fluent in French to transfer into the French system. American children find the French system more rigid, with more homework and less emphasis on sports and extracurricular activities. ... The rule of thumb on personal and household products is to bring what you know, trust, like, and would miss if you lacked it! Bring a supply of toiletries as prices here can be high and you will probably not find your preferred brand. The range of familiar cosmetics brands is very limited. Bring stationery supplies, gift wrapping paper and greeting cards (cards here are in French), small hardware items, kitchen utensils, flashlight, batteries, coat hangers, car-care needs, household linens, and gardening supplies Bring supplies for your favorite sports, such as tennis and golf balls, and snorkeling/diving gear. Crafts supplies, such as embroidery thread, yarn, patterns, and sewing notions should be brought if you will want them. Musical instruments (i.e. rental instruments for children), and the supplies for them, are not available here. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Bicycling is becoming more and more popular among the expatriate community. Sports enthusiasts should bring appropriate clothing and equipment. Several local sports shops have good selections but prices are high. ... Employees with diplomatic and official passports may cash personal, U.S. Government Treasury and travelers checks at the Embassy cashier. Third-party checks are not accepted. Several commercial banks offer banking and exchange facilities. Most major hotels, airlines, and some shops accept major credit cards. ... [Read More]
Seychelles (06/05)
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Int ... [Read More]
Africa
In December 2002, just 30 days before national elections, the ALVA Consortium led a similar program in Kenya. Working closely with Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya, ALVA crafted a program to strengthen political campaign management skills among 24 Kenyan women candidates. Six of the 24 won their initial primary elections, and three went on to win in the general elections. One of the participants has since been appointed by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to serve as the Assistant Minister of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
AISM moved into a 150-pupil new campus during the 1996-97 school year. A 10,000-volume elementary library and audio-visual collection have been developed. The completely networked technology center, with 16 workstations, introduced new computers in 2000-2001. Internet access supports student research projects. A fully equipped science lab was added in 1999 for hands-on science experiments. Sports facilities include a hard-court and swimming pool. ... A number of preschools are found in Maputo, as are informal playgroups within the Mission family. Away From PostLast Updated: 1/31/2002 6:00 PMAn away-from-post educational allowance covers the cost of boarding school tuition for grade 9 and above. Families may elect to send their child to boarding schools in other countries, in addition to the U.S. Recreation and Social Life SportsLast Updated: 1/31/2002 6:00 PM ... [Read More]
K) Africa and the Middle East
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The ADA sets Israeli drug policy, and works in the areas of prevention, education, public awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation. Many other entities take part in the fight against drug use, including youth movements, sports organizations, kibbutzim, and NGOs. The ADA budget was cut from approximately U.S. $9.5 million during 2000 to approximately U.S. $8 million for 2001, due to overall budget cuts in Israel. According to the ADA, there are 200,000-250,000 drug users in Israel. Of those, some 20,000-25,000 are heroin addicts. ADA officials remain concerned about increasing use of recreational drugs (primarily ecstasy) among the nation’s youth. The ADA launched a national public campaign against ecstasy during 2001. The ADA continues to focus its efforts toward youth generally considered high risk (new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, Israeli Arabs, and "detached" youths, i.e., dropouts). ADA programs for youths include p ... [Read More]
K) Africa and the Middle East
Demand Reduction. The Israeli Anti-Drug Authority sets Israeli drug policy and works in the areas of prevention, education, public awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation. Many other organizations take part in the fight against drug use, including youth movements, sports organizations, kibbutzim, and NGO’s. IADA officials remain concerned about increasing use of recreational drugs (primarily Ecstasy) among the nation’s youth. The IADA launched a national public campaign against Ecstasy during 2001. The IADA continues to focus its efforts toward youth generally considered high risk (new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, Israeli Arabs, and “detached” youths, i.e., dropouts). IADA programs for youths include peer counseling, sports and other recreational activities, and a new computer program currently being adopted for school use. These programs are designed to prevent delinquency, create “alternatives” for youths, and to teach “life skills,” as well as “the a ... [Read More]
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
The Internet has spawned "virtual" casinos and sports betting shops, claiming to have their physical locations in the Caribbean Basin (see the OFC chart). While the details of gambling in cyberspace are discussed elsewhere in this Report, it is instructive to note that with the exception of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, all Caribbean Basin OFCs that sell economic citizenship also sell virtual casino licenses. In the Pacific, only the offshore jurisdictions of Niue and the Cook Islands are known to sell these licenses. Wherever actually located, virtual casinos are extremely profitable for the governments that sell the licenses ($75,000 for a sports betting shop, $100,000 for a virtual casino licenses-a typical fee) and, quite possibly, that share in the operator's profits. As was reported in the 1999 INCSR, the Pacific jurisdictions were thought to have generated nearly $1.2 million dollars a month in these license fees, principally in the Cook Islands. Reports suggest that in 1999, ... [Read More]
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
For the past several years, as part of its offshore services, Dominica has offered economic citizenship, a program that enables individuals to acquire Dominican citizenship, a passport, and possibly a new name in exchange for a direct payment of US $50,000 or government bonds worth US $75,000. This process has been loosely regulated, and Government of Dominica (GOD) officials appear not to have maintained adequate control of the program. Between 1996 and 2000, the GOD issued approximately 500 economic citizenships. The program has come under fire as a means for individuals from the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC) and other foreign countries to become Dominican citizens and enter the United States via Canada without visas. One widely reported case involved a group of 11 PRC nationals who tried to enter Canada on Dominican passports after spending only one month in Dominica. Upon taking office in January 2000, Prime Minister (PM) Roosevelt Douglas suspended passport sales, but in April ... [Read More]
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