Travel updates for September 15, 2004 as issued by the Consular Affairs Section of Foreign Affairs Canada. Current Issues: An entry concerning Hurricane Ivan (natural disaster) was amended. Canadians should not travel to Grenada until further notice. Canadians in Grenada should leave. The airport has re-opened and commercial flights are available for those wishing to leave. Hurricane Ivan has caused severe damage in Grenada. Communications across the island are non-existant or sporadic. Power is out, and there has been extensive damage to infrastructure, including the tourist industry. The security situation is improving but remains volatile. Canadians should not travel to the Cayman Islands until further notice. Canadians the Cayman Islands should leave if they can do so safely. A curfew is in effect in the from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Jamaica is sorting out the effects of Hurricane Ivan. The country suffered substantial damage, particularly in the parishes of Claredon, Manchestor, St. Elizabeth, Hanover and St. James. Many areas remain unreachable due to impassable roads. Electricity, water and telecommunications services have been severely affected, but significant efforts are being devoted to restoring services. The two international airports, in Kingston and Montego Bay, are open. Tourists intent on travelling to Jamaica should check with their tour operator regarding conditions at the resorts. A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the north of the Gulf of Mexico. Canadians in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and northern Florida should monitor local news and weather report, and follow the advice of local authorities. For up-to-date information on Hurricane Ivan, please visit the Web site of the National Hurricane Center. Canadians resident in the affected areas should monitor local news and weather reports, and follow the advice of local authorities. We encourage Canadians who have disrupted their travel plans due to Hurricane Ivan to maintain contact with relatives in Canada who may have concerns for their safety. They should also check with the airline, their travel agent or tour operator, and plan accordingly. An entry concerning Global Security (security) was amended. Attacks in India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, and Turkey, demonstrate the continuing significant threat from terrorism globally. As these terrorist attacks show, the security situation in different countries or regions of a country can deteriorate rapidly without notice. There is a possibility of future attacks occurring anywhere without warning. Canadians should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, especially in commercial establishments and public places such as pedestrian promenades, shopping malls, open markets, and restaurants. Foreign Affairs Canada offers a registration service for Canadians who expect to be staying in a foreign country for three months or more. In addition, Canadians spending less than three months visiting areas with the potential for problems should also register. Please consult the Country Travel Reports for country-specific recommendations. Canadians can also register on-line. The following Travel Report(s) were updated: Afghanistan Cayman Islands Cuba Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago Country Travel Reports may be updated after 3 p.m. (EDT), so if you want to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information, please visit our Travel Updates page.
