Risk Management Actual Practices - OAS
ANNEX 3: ASSESSMENTS OF RISK MANAGEMENT
ACTUAL PRACTICES
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Hazard maps prepared for drought, |Caribbean Conference of Churches |Inventory of critical facilities |Individuals in communities have | |
|(Communities and their |hurricanes, wind, flood, and |working with NODS to advance |undertaken and most important |valuable knowledge of protective | |
|organizations) |earthquake hazards. |mitigation in a pilot project in |assessed in detail. |value of environmental systems | |
| |Persons in community with |Crabb Hill |NODS working with Public Works to |and historical information of how| |
| |historical knowledge used to |Discussions with Antigua & Barbuda |assess remaining critical |they function during actual | |
| |supplement scientific studies to |Hotel Association to help |facilities and identify remedial |hazard events. | |
| |identify hazards and vulnerable |disseminate hazard information. |work needed. |Local knowledge communicated to | |
| |areas. |Vulnerable groups identified in |Damage history compiled for |national institutions via the | |
| |Crabb Hill, Grays Green and Liberta|Antigua and Barbuda. |critical facilities under PGDM. |District Disaster Committees and | |
| |communities trained to identify |Much existing housing and | |relationships with workers in key| |
| |hazard risks and how to deal with |development, including critical | |departments like Fisheries and | |
| |them at local level. Some community|facilities and infrastructure, | |Environment. | |
| |training also completed in Barbuda |already exists in vulnerable areas.| |Community groups trained to | |
| |Training in identification of |Inappropriate use of some emergency| |recognise legal extent of | |
| |hazards and dealing with them not |shelters due more to cultural | |Environment Division's | |
| |yet conducted in all communities. |traditions rather than lack of | |responsibilities. | |
| | |public information. | |Lack of formal training for | |
| | | | |community groups to identify and | |
| | | | |protect critical environmental | |
| | | | |systems. | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical |Hazard maps completed in 2001, also| |Inventories of critical facilities | | |
| | |available to Barbuda Council. | |completed in 2001 as part of | | |
| | | | |comprehensive hazard vulnerability | | |
| | | | |assessment done under the PGDM and | | |
| | | | |available to Barbuda Council. | | |
| | | | |Structural Vulnerability | | |
| | | | |assessments done for selected | | |
| | | | |government facilities in Antigua | | |
| | | | |and Barbuda under the PGDM. | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |District Disaster Committees in |Disaster committees in Antigua and | | | |
| |Antigua and Barbuda all provided |Barbuda identified vulnerable | | | |
| |with hazard maps for their areas. |groups. | | | |
| |Some training done in use of the | | | | |
| |maps. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Mitigation Council |Government agencies not yet |Hazard maps used in conducting |Inadequate monitoring of |Barbuda Council provided with |
|Sectoral Agencies | |established and chaired by Minister|prioritising mitigation measures. |Development Potential and Site |environmental quality. |hazard maps for Barbuda. |
| | |of Planning and Implementation. |NODS to meet with agencies to |Suitability analyses and to | |Development standards applicable |
| | | |achieve this and get them to budget|identify areas suitable for built | |to Barbuda. |
| | | |for these measures and submit to |development. | |NPDP provides guidance for |
| | | |Ministry of Finance and National |National Physical Development Plan | |location of development in |
| | | |Mitigation Council. |and St. John's Local Plan provide | |Barbuda. |
| | | | |policy guidance for steering | | |
| | | | |development away from hazard prone | | |
| | | | |areas. | | |
| | | | |Hazard vulnerability assessments | | |
| | | | |not incorporated into project | | |
| | | | |appraisal process. | | |
| |Technical |National Mitigation Technical |Agricultural Extension Officers |Repairs carried out on majority of | |Government agencies do not |
| | |Committee established. |assist farmers to identify |critical facilities (CF). | |maintain current inventories if |
| | |Hazard maps prepared by local and |practices that degrade the |Some CFs abandoned because of | |physical assets besides |
| | |foreign consultants. |environment and appropriate |severity of damage. | |buildings. |
| | |Development Control Authority (DCA)|mitigation measures. |Development standards prepared for | | |
| | |incorporated maps into GIS | |hazard resistant construction. | | |
| | |database. | |Standards widely disseminated via | | |
| | |Hazard mapping done largely by | |'Build Strong' pamphlet. | | |
| | |foreign consultants with limited | |Major sectoral agencies provided | | |
| | |opportunity for transfer of | |with hazard maps (Environment, | | |
| | |technical skills. | |Fisheries, Agriculture, DCA). | | |
| | |Technical officers with some hazard| |Public works will get when their | | |
| | |mapping skills in DCA but | |computers upgraded and Finance | | |
| | |professional staff not adequately | |requested only database. | | |
| | |trained to initiate and guide their| |Structural vulnerability | | |
| | |work. | |assessments done for selected | | |
| | | | |government facilities in Antigua | | |
| | | | |and Barbuda under PGDM. | | |
| | | | |Support for appropriate development| | |
| | | | |standards not widespread. | | |
| | | | |Many development projects bypass | | |
| | | | |the regulatory agencies and are not| | |
| | | | |subject to required scrutiny. | | |
|National Disaster Office |NODS prepared 'Build Strong' |NODS identified vulnerable |NODS maintains database of critical| | |
| |pamphlet and conducted workshops on|communities and prioritises areas |facilities and vulnerability | | |
| |Building Code for Inspectors, |for training. |assessments. Further analysis of | | |
| |contractors and builders. |Vulnerability reduction strategies |other important buildings and | | |
| |NODS made hazard maps available to |implemented in some vulnerable |structures continuing with | | |
| |major sectors of government, |communities. |assistance from PWD. | | |
| |according to their needs. | | | | |
| |NODS is in discussions with Hotel | | | | |
| |Association for their assistance in| | | | |
| |disseminating hazard information to| | | | |
| |their members. | | | | |
| |NODS using media and calypsonians | | | | |
| |to help promote public awareness. | | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |NODS attempting to establish | |Hazard implications and remedies |Some attempt to protect | |
| | |working relationship with new | |not compiled for sectors. |environmental systems by some | |
| | |leadership of Chamber of Commerce. | |Less than 10 percent of commercial |developers. | |
| | |Hotel Association assists in | |businesses carry business |EIAs carried out by some | |
| | |identifying facilities critical to | |interruption insurance. |developers (often reluctantly) | |
| | |economy. | | |when requested by the DCA or | |
| | |Important commercial sector in St. | | |Environment Division. | |
| | |John's as yet has no formal process| | | | |
| | |for identifying facilities and | | | | |
| | |services critical to economic | | | | |
| | |development and interventions to be| | | | |
| | |taken during and after a hazard | | | | |
| | |event. | | | | |
| |Members |Insurance companies request access | | |Many businesses less concerned | |
| | |to hazard maps, but for use in | | |with environmental issues than | |
| | |setting premiums according to | | |with financial bottom line. | |
| | |area's vulnerability. NODS resists.| | |EIAs often viewed as an | |
| | |Hazard maps not regularly used in | | |additional development cost that | |
| | |decision making. | | |developers should not have to | |
| | | | | |incur. | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |Examples of hazard resistant |Appropriate hazard resistant |Hazard and vulnerability | |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |construction by private sector and |construction techniques available to |reduction information | |available commercially. |
|organizations) |individual developers. |builders and are widely used. |incorporated into programmes | | |
| |Habitat for Humanity housing |NODS plans to train members of |at the State College, | | |
| |programmes incorporate building |District Disaster Committees as |Technical and Vocational | | |
| |techniques. |monitoring officers. |Training Centre and the Youth | | |
| |Individual builders sufficiently |Patterns of land ownership may be a |Skills programme. | | |
| |sensitised now to request |factor in causing people to build in |Hazard and vulnerability | | |
| |confirmation from NODS that |vulnerable areas despite knowledge of|reduction information not yet | | |
| |structural details proposed by their|vulnerability. |infused into curriculum of | | |
| |engineers meet Code requirements. | |primary and secondary schools.| | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | |Local disaster committees in | | |
| | | |Antigua and Barbuda have | | |
| | | |general disaster plans that | | |
| | | |emphasise preparedness and | | |
| | | |response. NODS now focusing on| | |
| | | |helping them to develop a | | |
| | | |mitigation component, | | |
| | | |especially mitigation measures| | |
| | | |that can be taken on by the | | |
| | | |communities. | | |
| | | |Community disaster plans lack | | |
| | | |mitigation component. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |New public buildings constructed in |Conformity with Building Code and |Infrastructure deficiencies |Policies developed for protection|Post disaster actions incorporate|
|Sectoral Agencies | |accordance with Building Code. |location criteria increasingly |identified in National |of environmental systems like |reduction measures. |
| | |Insufficient attention to location |important in granting development |Physical Development Plan and |reefs, mangrove, sand dunes and |Sources of finance available for |
| | |and vulnerability criteria in siting|approvals. |St. John's Plan. |beaches. |post disaster recovery from |
| | |infrastructure. |Building inspectors from DCA and PWD | |Attempts to use EIAs as tool for |regional institutions at lower |
| | | |trained in use and importance of | |decision making in projects with |interest rates and local sources |
| | | |Building Code and Standards and | |potential environmental impacts |such as Insurance Companies. |
| | | |location criteria. | |becoming more widespread. |Housing improvement loans |
| | | |Increased monitoring of development | |EIAs are not a legal requirement |available from some local |
| | | |in vulnerable areas by DCA | |for developers until draft new |financial companies and credit |
| | | |inspectors. | |planning legislation is approved.|unions provided there is a |
| | | |Rudimentary attempts made to | |Lack of proper environmental |mitigation component e.g. use of |
| | | |incorporate hazard maps and | |monitoring system in Barbuda. |hurricane straps. |
| | | |vulnerability assessments into site | | | |
| | | |suitability analyses during | | | |
| | | |preparation of the National Physical | | | |
| | | |Development Plan to identify areas | | | |
| | | |(un)suitable for built development. | | | |
| | | |Antigua and Barbuda Draft Natural | | | |
| | | |Hazard Mitigation Policy and Plan | | | |
| | | |prepared under PGDM in 2001. | | | |
| | | |Lack of approved National and Local | | | |
| | | |Physical Development Plans to provide| | | |
| | | |legal backing for locational | | | |
| | | |policies. | | | |
| | | |Inadequate legislative framework for | | | |
| | | |physical planning. Need to approve | | | |
| | | |and adopt Draft Physical Planning | | | |
| | | |Bill and EIA regulations. | | | |
| | | |The planning system does not now | | | |
| | | |cover Barbuda which as no development| | | |
| | | |control process. The council wants to| | | |
| | | |implement building standards but | | | |
| | | |lacks the institutional capacity to | | | |
| | | |do so. | | | |
| | | |The Building Inspector on the Barbuda| | | |
| | | |Council deals only with inspection of| | | |
| | | |public—not private—buildings. | | | |
| |Technical |Technical staff in major agencies |Some training conducted under PGDM to|Lack of dialogue between key | |Study of the effects of Hurricane|
| | |trained in use of Building Code and |provide staff with skills for proper |technical agencies in Antigua | |Luis on the Antigua Public |
| | |have ready access to Code. |enforcement of development standards.|and personnel on the ground in| |Utilities Authority conducted |
| | |Inadequate monitoring and |Insufficient training and budget for |Barbuda. | |under the CDMP. |
| | |interventions by DCA. |enforcement of development and | | | |
| | | |environmental standards in Antigua | | | |
| | | |and in Barbuda. | | | |
| National Disaster Office | | |Some technical expertise | |NODS reviews standards for |
| | | |available. | |post-disaster rehabilitation and |
| | | | | |new construction. |
|Business and |Leadership |Construction industry working with | |Many businesses do not deposit| | |
|Industry | |NODS to ensure quality control of | |copies of their disaster plans| | |
| | |imported building materials and to | |with NODS and question the | | |
| | |adopt better practices for storing | |authority of NODS to request | | |
| | |materials. | |them. | | |
| | | | |Disaster plans prepared by | | |
| | | | |hotels are at best hurricane | | |
| | | | |plans and not considered to be| | |
| | | | |adequate by NODS. | | |
| | | | |Businesses do not have | | |
| | | | |recovery plans. | | |
| |Members | |Appropriate building materials |Some businesses have disaster | | |
| | | |available for sale nationally. |plans. NODS has copies of | | |
| | | |Some construction related companies |approximately 9 plans from | | |
| | | |conduct public workshops to |private sector companies. | | |
| | | |demonstrate appropriate techniques. |Hotels that are members of the| | |
| | | |Individual insurance companies employ|Antigua Hotel and Tourism | | |
| | | |officers to inspect buildings to |Association have basic | | |
| | | |ensure conformity with Code/Standards|disaster plans based on the | | |
| | | |before insuring them. |CTO Hurricane Plan | | |
| | | |Some insurance companies use | | | |
| | | |checklist to encourage potential | | | |
| | | |clients to implement risk reduction | | | |
| | | |measures. Conformity to Code can | | | |
| | | |result in premium reductions of up to| | | |
| | | |40 percent. | | | |
| | | |Commercial businesses put aside funds| | | |
| | | |to finance recovery efforts and | | | |
| | | |repair damage. | | | |
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and Diversification |Risk Financing |
|Local |
|Civil Society |There is no formal alternative |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |mechanisms to insurance be it |homeowners. Homeowners and | | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |contingency credit or contingency|investors depend entirely on the | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |equity. |property insurance market, | | |credit facility. |
| |A few churches and non-formal |although some carriers cannot buy| | |Commercial properties, |
| |organizations (“hand”) operate a |adequate reinsurance. | | |particularly hotels that are part|
| |“loose” form of |Most properties in the middle and| | |of international chains, may be |
| |self-insurance/welfare for their |upper income groups are | | |using risk financing options that|
| |parishioners and partners through|comprehensively insured to actual| | |allow multi-year coverage that |
| |systematic savings.[1] |value as this forms part of the | | |would result in stabilizing |
| |Some other sectarian groups build|mortgage agreement. | | |premiums. |
| |up contingency funds for |Income loss by owners has | | | |
| |providential purposes. |resulted in about 50% | | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in housing |under-insurance of non-encumbered| | | |
| |or property development |property. [2] | | | |
| | |About 50% of properties in the | | | |
| | |lower income group are insured. | | | |
| | |[3] | | | |
| | |Moreover, apart from | | | |
| | |vulnerability to hurricanes | | | |
| | |(given the topography of the | | | |
| | |island), there are few | | | |
| | |hazard-prone areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance | | | |
| | |industry, there is no compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for private properties.| | | |
| | |Given the islands’ vulnerability | | | |
| | |to hurricanes and volcanic | | | |
| | |actions, there is need for | | | |
| | |compulsory insurance for | | | |
| | |properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |[There is no local government | | | | |
| | |body. All activities are | | | | |
| | |prosecuted by a national agency. | | | | |
| | |] | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|Government has no policy for |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual |is very inadequate. The office is|insuring public assets. |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |very poorly staffed, poorly |The public properties, which are |VC Bird International Airport |mitigation efforts. Most debt |
| | |probabilities |equipped and poorly staffed. |insured, are covered under the |Holberton Hospital |capital is sourced from |
| | |Fiscal difficulties do not allow |Staff lacks expertise in risk |specific loan conditions and |The Antigua Recreation Grounds |commercial lenders. |
| | |for such budgetary allocations. |management. |lease arrangements. |(ARG) |Additional contingent credit |
| | |NB: This remains a serious cause |Some aspects of planning, zoning |There is no public fund or |The Free Zone |facilities could include: |
| | |for concern given the |and hazard mapping (hazard |mechanism established to |Premiums are paid annually. |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |vulnerability of the islands to |mapping for flooding and |indemnify the poor or to provide |NB: All other public assets are |Facility |
| | |natural disasters. |landslides) are being done by the|incentive for undertaking |not insured. |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |Government will be expected to |Physical Planning Department. |mitigation measures. | |Facility |
| | |encourage tax incentives when the|However there are no hazard maps |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | |Catastrophe Pool is established |governing insurer’s levels of |feasibility of: | | |
| | |under The World Bank/CDB OECS and|catastrophe peril liabilities, no|(i) Investing in contingency | | |
| | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |functional linkage between the |credit and contingency equity to | | |
| | |Management and Insurance Reform |physical planning and the |increase liquidity for | | |
| | |Project. |insurance regulation. |rehabilitating damaged buildings,| | |
| | | |The insurance regulator needs to:|schools, hospitals, water | | |
| | | |(i) have the capacity to do |facilities, ports, roads bridges | | |
| | | |catastrophe premium pricing. |using credit and capital market | | |
| | | |(ii) educate with respect to |instruments. | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |(ii) Providing incentives for | | |
| | | |events and minimizing the |catastrophe risk coverage for | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |low-income groups particularly | | |
| | | | |those occupying areas prone to | | |
| | | | |landslide such as squatters. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |NODS promotes risk reduction |. | | |
| |towards the National Office of |through the national committees, | | | |
| |Disaster Services (NODS) only for|public education and awareness | | | |
| |operations. No emergency funds |programs mainly during the | | | |
| |are deployed for contingencies. |hurricane season. | | | |
| |NODS depends largely on inflows |NODS needs to: | | | |
| |from regional and international |(i) embark on a broad based | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |insurance, risk management and | | | |
| |disaster. |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| | |programme | | | |
| | |(ii) emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| | |maintenance and building | | | |
| | |standards and insurance coverage.| | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |The National Development |Some insurance companies, |Public autonomous enterprises |Tourism: There is no risk | |
|Financial | |Foundation is involved in safer |including State Insurance Company|under the management of the |transfer mechanism or self- | |
| | |housing training and a revolving |(the major property insurance |central government such as Water |insurance for locally owned | |
| | |loan fund for home retrofit. |carrier) and ANJO (United) |and Electricity are not |properties. | |
| | | |provide incentives to homeowners,|adequately insured because of |Joint purchase of insurance | |
| | | |such as lower premium rates for |financial difficulties. |coverage is an imperative (given | |
| | | |risk reduction, and does some |Statutory bodies such as the Port|the similar exposure) to lower | |
| | | |risk assessment and management |Authority building, Antigua |cost through increased portfolio.| |
| | | |checks. |Public Utilities Authority (APUA)| | |
| | | | |and the Social Security Building | | |
| | | | |are insured by State Insurance to| | |
| | | | |their actual value. | | |
| | | | |Pooling method would most be | | |
| | | | |appropriate for these | | |
| | | | |enterprises. These are to be | | |
| | | | |covered under The World Bank/CDB | | |
| | | | |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe | | |
| | | | |Risk Management and Insurance | | |
| | | | |Reform Project. | | |
| |Members |Leadership should be provided by |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | |private enterprises that are |are insured to actual value | | | |
| | |leaders in financial management |because the terms and conditions | | | |
| | |particularly the insurance |of the debt capital require | | | |
| | |companies - in this case, State |building standards are strictly | | | |
| | |Insurance Company. |adhered to at all stages of the | | | |
| | | |construction. | | | |
| | | |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | | |are insured against all perils | | | |
| | | |and are built in accordance with | | | |
| | | |building standards. [4] | | | |
| | | |In most cases, commercial | | | |
| | | |properties are insured to their | | | |
| | | |actual value to meet the | | | |
| | | |conditionalities of the overdraft| | | |
| | | |facilities. | | | |
| | | |Some coverage is taken for | | | |
| | | |business interruption, as the | | | |
| | | |business sector has depended very| | | |
| | | |heavily upon inflows of insurance| | | |
| | | |claim payments for | | | |
| | | |rehabilitation. | | | |
| | | |Private firms do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
| | | |There is need for more forward | | | |
| | | |planning by the private sector. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant's first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mr. Robert Josiah, Acting General Manager, Sate Insurance, Antigua and Barbuda.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Population groups are aware of |Communities are aware of their | |Public awareness of |Communities aware of vulnerable |
|(Communities and their |local hazards. |vulnerabilities. | |vulnerability. |groups and facilities. |
|organizations) |Community groups have access to |Built development exists in | |Uncontrolled grazing by stray | |
| |hazard maps at the office of the |vulnerable coastal and hillside | |animals causes some environmental| |
| |Department of Disaster Management |locations. | |degradation. | |
| |(DDM). | | | | |
| |Hard copies of hazard maps not yet | | | | |
| |made available to the public. | | | | |
| |Hazard risk assessment not done at | | | | |
| |community level. | | | | |
|Local Government | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |10 Zonal Committees throughout the |Committees assist DDM to |Committees assist in evaluating | |Zonal Committees can access |
| |BVI. Had formal training in hazard |disseminate information to |adequacy of shelters and ensuring | |digital copies of hazard maps at |
| |awareness and findings of 1997 |communities. |they are well maintained. | |office of DDM. |
| |Hazard and Risk Assessment Study. | | | | |
| |Hard copies of hazard maps not yet | | | | |
| |made available. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Emergency Advisory Council|Government agencies have identified| |Some policies exist to protect |Risk maps available for prevalent|
|Sectoral Agencies | |set up in 1980s, chaired by the |vulnerable groups. | |environment. |hazards including storm surge, |
| | |Director of Public Works. Includes |Human Vulnerability Assessment | |Private sector marinas assist in |floods, liquefaction, landslides |
| | |a Mitigation and Damage Assessment |on-going in collaboration with | |protecting mangrove. |and high velocity winds. |
| | |Sub-Committee. |social sector agencies. | |School projects assist in | |
| | |Comprehensive Mitigation Planning | | |replanting mangrove. | |
| | |Framework prepared and submitted to| | |Damage to coral reefs and | |
| | |Executive Council for approval in | | |mangrove caused by coastal | |
| | |March 2002 after receiving comments| | |development and construction | |
| | |from technical agencies. | | |known to increase vulnerability | |
| | | | | |of coastal areas to storm surge. | |
| | | | | |Land reclamation along the coast | |
| | | | | |also causes damage and increases | |
| | | | | |vulnerability. | |
| | | | | |Erosion caused by hillside | |
| | | | | |development that removes | |
| | | | | |vegetation and increases water | |
| | | | | |runoff. Also lack of drainage | |
| | | | | |infrastructure along hillside | |
| | | | | |roads. | |
| |Technical |Hazard mapping carried out by | |Development standards revised to |Increased awareness after Hugo of|Government agencies maintain |
| | |foreign consultants but local | |reflect impacts observed after |the impact of environmental |inventories of their physical |
| | |capacity now exists in BVI to | |Hurricane Hugo. |degradation on vulnerability, |assets. |
| | |update/review maps. | | |especially due to development and|Health Departments maps location |
| | |Hazard maps available in digital | | |construction and reclamation in |of clinics and medical stockpiles|
| | |format and included in GIS | | |coastal areas. |using GIS. |
| | |database. | | | | |
| | |National GIS network shares hazard | | | | |
| | |mapping information with all | | | | |
| | |government departments. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |DDM advertised availability of | |1994 Shelter Survey conducted to |DDM recognizes and aggressively | |
| |Hazard and Risk Assessment Study | |assess location, capacity, age and |promotes awareness of impact of | |
| |and availability of maps so | |structural condition of emergency |environmental degradation in | |
| |interested persons/groups can | |shelters. Study now being reviewed |coastal areas on vulnerability. | |
| |access it at their office. | |and unsuitable buildings removed as| | |
| | | |shelters or relocated if too close | | |
| | | |to flood prone areas and repaired | | |
| | | |if necessary. | | |
| | | |DDM maintains inventory of critical| | |
| | | |facilities that was recently put on| | |
| | | |GIS. | | |
| | | |Location of shelters and | | |
| | | |telecommunication structures mapped| | |
| | | |on GIS. | | |
| | | |Hurricane guides produced with | | |
| | | |location of shelters and | | |
| | | |information on hurricane | | |
| | | |preparedness. | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Members of business community |Business leaders involved in Zonal | |Mangrove systems protected by | |
| | |included on disaster related |Disaster Committees though not | |private sector marinas and | |
| | |committees. |specifically targeted. | |boating community. | |
| | |Business sector not making use of |Hotel and Tourism Association | |EIAs used indecision making, | |
| | |available hazard information. |represented on Mitigation and other| |usually when requested by public | |
| | |Copies of hazard maps not |committees. | |agency. | |
| | |distributed but available in | | | | |
| | |digital format from DDM. | | | | |
| |Members | | |Businesses adopt safer building | | |
| | | | |techniques. | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |High level of consciousness among |Awareness sessions conducted to |BVI Community College recently| |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |residents of the importance of safe |sensitise public to preparation of |offering Associate Degree in | |easily available. Shutters and |
|organizations) |building practices and appropriate |Building regulations. |Disaster Management. Now in | |hurricane straps are exempt from |
| |techniques. |Course run at Community College |second semester. Community | |government taxes. |
| |New buildings built with hurricane |familiarizes engineering technicians |College has link with Arkansas| | |
| |shutters and straps. |with provisions in Building |Technical University programme| | |
| | |Regulations. |in Emergency Administration | | |
| | |Traditional development patterns |and Management. BVI signed | | |
| | |resulted in location of development |articulation agreement that | | |
| | |in vulnerable coastal and hillside |allows students to transfer to| | |
| | |areas. |Arkansas after completing the | | |
| | | |Associate degree at the | | |
| | | |Community College. | | |
| | | |Hazard and vulnerability | | |
| | | |information incorporated into | | |
| | | |curriculum of primary and | | |
| | | |secondary schools. | | |
| | | |Poverty related vulnerability | | |
| | | |to be assessed during the | | |
| | | |on-going Human Vulnerability | | |
| | | |Study. Low level of poverty in| | |
| | | |BVI so this is not seen as a | | |
| | | |major issue. | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | |Contingency sub-plans for | | |
| | | |Zonal Committees included in | | |
| | | |National Contingency Plan. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |New public buildings conform to |Building Regulations approved in |There is a National Disaster |Private marinas assist in |Post-disaster assessments (e.g. |
|Sectoral Agencies | |Building Regulations since they were|1999. Developed under 1995 Building |Plan that addresses all major |protecting mangroves. |post-Hugo Assessment) include |
| | |adopted. Regulations bind the Crown.|Ordinance. Regulations available for |hazards and includes recovery |School projects assist in |mitigation measures. |
| | |Government encourages use of |sale at cost of US $12. Based on OECS|measures. Plan now being |replanting mangroves. |Government funds made available |
| | |hurricane shutters and straps. |Model Building Code and CUBIC. |revised. |Marine shelters established and |for recovery and mitigation |
| | | |Regulations are used as basis for |All key sectors required to |managed by boating community. |measures. |
| | | |approvals by the Building Authority. |have contingency plans. These |They provide protected shelters | |
| | | |Trained building inspectorate at |are prepared with help from |in mangrove where boats can be | |
| | | |Building Authority to evaluate |DDM and are regularly updated.|moored during hurricanes. Largest| |
| | | |structural elements of development |Copies are lodged with DDM. |shelter can accommodate 5-600 | |
| | | |applications. |Tourist Board now preparing a |yachts. | |
| | | |Land-Use Plans prepared and approved |Tourism Sector Plan involving |Conservation and Fisheries | |
| | | |for Road Town and East End. Hazard |all major tourism properties. |Department help keep mangrove | |
| | | |information incorporated into Plans |Water and Sewerage Authority |areas clean and clear. | |
| | | |which are used as the basis for |conducting study of water and |US Coast Guards assisted with | |
| | | |making land-use decisions. |sewerage systems to identify |Environmental Sensitivity Mapping| |
| | | |Hazard information not well |and address deficiencies. |between 1998-2000. Maps produced | |
| | | |integrated into land-use planning |Comprehensive Disaster |in digital format and Atlas also | |
| | | |process. Much hazard information not |Management Strategy being |produced. | |
| | | |used in making land-use decisions. |prepared to coordinate |EIAs requested for major | |
| | | |National Physical Development Plan |activities of all agencies. |projects. | |
| | | |prepared but never approved by |National Integrated |Oil spill Contingency Plan | |
| | | |Executive Council. |Development Plan prepared in |prepared and response team in | |
| | | | |1998. One of its main goals |place. | |
| | | | |was to reduce the country’s |PWD has regular maintenance | |
| | | | |vulnerability to hazards. |programme for water courses and | |
| | | | |Formed basis for BVI’s |ghauts. Includes erection of | |
| | | | |Comprehensive Disaster |retaining walls to reducing | |
| | | | |Management Strategy and |flooding and removal of debris | |
| | | | |Mitigation Plan. |and garbage. | |
| | | | |Solid Waste Department empties|No physical Planning or | |
| | | | |garbage and secures |Environmental legislation | |
| | | | |receptacles when hurricane |mandates use of EIAs. | |
| | | | |warnings issued. |EIAs do not include specific | |
| | | | |Need for more training to make|hazard information. | |
| | | | |agencies aware of how they can|Environmental legislation to | |
| | | | |contribute to mitigation |protect natural systems is | |
| | | | |measures. |relatively weak. | |
| | | | |Need to provide agencies with |Need for legislation to allow for| |
| | | | |adequate resources to carry |imposition of fines for oil | |
| | | | |out mitigation activities. |spills. | |
| | | | |Need to get key agencies to | | |
| | | | |work together in a more | | |
| | | | |coordinated manner. | | |
| |Technical |Technical staff in relevant agencies|Some training carried out for |Mitigation Planning Framework |Some environmental protection |Post Hurricane Hugo damage |
| | |are familiar with and use Building |government departments to promote |addresses a mitigation |legislation exists. |assessment was conducted in 1993.|
| | |Regulations. |awareness of Building Regulations. |strategy and administration of| |Recommendations helped inform |
| | |Construction of sea defense |Physical Planning Department |the strategy for the public | |1997 Hazard Risk Assessment and |
| | |structures to protect coastline and |coordinates a quarterly Planning |and private sectors. | |current Mitigation Strategy. |
| | |coastal infrastructure from damage |Forum for senior government officials|Mitigation Action Plan | |Post-disaster Damage Assessments |
| | |during storm surge. |and Department Heads to discuss |included use of GIS for hazard| |coordinated by DDM. Physical |
| | |Retrofitting of emergency shelters |planning issues. These include risk |information management. | |assessments carried out by Public|
| | |carried out. |evaluations for development |Seismic monitoring stations | |Works and Physical Planning. |
| | | |applications and land-use plans and |established by Seismic Unit of| |Rapid assessments carried out by |
| | | |identify necessary planning controls.|UWI Trinidad in Tortola and | |sectoral agencies. |
| | | |Early Warning Systems implemented. |Virgin Gorda following spate | |BVI has low level of structural |
| | | |Monitoring systems in place to track |of earthquakes in October | |damage to buildings during |
| | | |weather before and during hurricanes.|2001. Fully operation al | |hurricanes. |
| | | |National Emergency Broadcast System |monitoring system established | |Government-in-Council established|
| | | |established to warn public of |in Anegada by University of | |a Disaster Fund with annual |
| | | |impending hazard events. System |Puerto Rico. | |allocations of approximately US |
| | | |regularly tested. | | |$1m to use in the event of a |
| | | |Inadequate staff in Development | | |disaster. |
| | | |Control Authority and Building | | | |
| | | |Authority to effectively monitor | | | |
| | | |development and enforce Building | | | |
| | | |regulations. | | | |
| | | |Need for additional training for | | | |
| | | |staff to increase effectiveness of | | | |
| | | |monitoring and enforcement | | | |
| | | |activities. | | | |
| National Disaster Office | |DDM promotes risk reduction |Core technical expertise | |DDM coordinates post-disaster |
| | |strategies through their Public |available to execute | |damage assessments. |
| | |Information and Education and |functions. | | |
| | |training and Research Officers. |DDM now finalizing Bio-Hazard | | |
| | |DDM also promotes use of appropriate |Plan. | | |
| | |building materials and identifies |DDM has budget head to provide| | |
| | |where they are available locally. |assistance to sectors to | | |
| | | |prepare and update contingency| | |
| | | |plans. | | |
| | | |DDM mandated to conduct annual| | |
| | | |full-scale national disaster | | |
| | | |simulation exercise. | | |
|Business and |Leadership | |Some Insurance Companies assist in |Tropical Shipping Company | | |
|Industry | | |promoting hazard awareness campaigns |sponsored recovery planning | | |
| | | |and vulnerability reduction measures.|workshops organized by DDM for| | |
| | | | |resorts. | | |
| | | | |Need to have private sector | | |
| | | | |recognize their role and | | |
| | | | |become more involved in | | |
| | | | |mitigation. | | |
| |Members |Local businesses manufacture |Appropriate building materials easily|Large hotels have disaster |Boating community assists in |Appropriate building materials |
| | |hurricane shutters for use locally |available for sale locally. |plans, including recovery |protecting mangrove. |easily available. |
| | |and for export to other Caribbean |Government offers tax exemptions on |measures, prepared with | | |
| | |islands. |hurricane shutters and straps to |support from the DDM and | | |
| | | |encourage their widespread use. |Caribbean Tourism Office. | | |
| | | | |Cable and Wireless now run all| | |
| | | | |telephone lines underground | | |
| | | | |throughout the BVI. | | |
budget self insurance
• Government has a disaster contingency fund into which ½% to 1% of revenue is deposited annually for use in the event of a disaster. The fund has been in existence for the past 3-4 years and currently stands at around US $600-700,000. The absence of major hazard events during the life of the fund has enabled it to accumulate a significant sum.
• Private sector businesses are not required by law to set aside contingency disaster funding. Some major companies do operate a form of self insurance (captive Insurance), which consists of a non-taxable fund into which money that would otherwise have been used to pay insurance premiums is deposited. The fund can only be used for disaster related expenses.
market insurance and reinsurance
• Government’s Insurance Officer estimates that 75-80% of residential and commercial properties are insured and most likely to actual rather than replacement value.
• NAGICO representative notes there are no statistics available, not even from the Supervisor of Insurance, to confirm the percentage of properties that are insured.
• Most people are very conscious of safe building techniques and buildings are strong. Most insure their buildings only if they have a mortgage and insurance coverage is required by the lending institution. Very often, once the mortgage is liquidated, property owners stop insuring the buildings.
• Due to the low incidence of hazard events affecting the BVI people are complacent and are willing to take the risk of not insuring their property
• Most commercial properties are insured since they rely on commercial bank funding and this is a requirement.
• Large number of high value assets owned by BVI residents, eg. yachts. High degree of insurance coverage for high value assts. Government an insurance companies encourage owners to insure.
• There are no programmes offering premium reductions for use of safe building techniques. NAGICO suggests this is because insurance premiums in the BVI—which has been affected by fewer hazard events—are already as much as 50% lower than those in the rest of the north-east Caribbean where the rates are high because of frequent hurricane exposure. Nevertheless, Insurance companies still encourage property owners to reduce their exposure to hazard events by using safe building techniques.
• The Insurance Regulatory office feels they have very little influence over the policies and programmes of Insurance Companies since most are branches with the head offices and parent companies registered outside the BVI
public asset coverage
• Government buildings (including schools) and vehicles are not usually insured. Some public infrastructure is insured (eg the air and sea ports). Reluctance to insure public buildings and infrastructure is due to the high cost of premiums. Governments estimates it saves money by just meeting its liabilities as they arise.
• There are no known programmes targeting lower income households as the per capita income in the BVI is relatively high and there are few ‘low income’ households.
risk pooling
• There are no known examples of risk pooling
DOMINICA
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society | |Office of Disaster Management (ODM)|Some vulnerability assessments | | |
|(Communities and their | |organises community meetings during|carried out for hurricanes, | | |
|organizations) | |times of volcanic activity. |especially to assess road network. | | |
| | |Relatively little housing and |Need to comprehensive | | |
| | |development in hazard prone areas. |identification of critical | | |
| | |Some development located in |facilities in vulnerable areas. | | |
| | |vulnerable areas. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |ODM and Ministry of Local |In 1998, with threat of volcanic | | | |
| |Government providing training in |activity in south of island, | | | |
| |risk identification. |meetings were held with 12 | | | |
| | |communities and special training | | | |
| | |sessions in 4 of these. | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Disaster Mitigation Committee set | | | | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |up under World Bank Project. | | | | |
| | |Chaired by PS Ministry of | | | | |
| | |Communication and Works. | | | | |
| |Technical |Landslide hazard map prepared in |Ministry of Communication & Works | | | |
| | |early 1980s. Trying to source funds|identifies structures and | | | |
| | |to update. |facilities vulnerable to hazards. | | | |
| | |Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad | | | | |
| | |did volcanic hazard map in | | | | |
| | |1999/2000. Report to be put on | | | | |
| | |website. | | | | |
| | |Physical Planning Division has well| | | | |
| | |developed GIS system which is used | | | | |
| | |to identify areas prone to slippage| | | | |
| | |and other hazards even without | | | | |
| | |detailed hazard maps. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |ODM planned workshops for business |ODM ensures persons in shelters | | | |
| |sector in May 2002 on Role of |well cared for during hazard | | | |
| |Private Sector in Emergency |events. | | | |
| |Management. | | | | |
| |Also scheduled workshop for May | | | | |
| |2002 with Dominica Hotel and | | | | |
| |Tourism Association on Hurricane | | | | |
| |Preparedness in Tourism Sector. | | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Business sector represented on | | | | |
| | |National Emergency Planning | | | | |
| | |Organisation. They have the | | | | |
| | |opportunity to express their | | | | |
| | |concerns. | | | | |
| | |Business sector not very active in | | | | |
| | |identifying hazard and risk issues.| | | | |
| |Members | | | | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society | |ODM providing training for rural home|Hazard information not |Lack of awareness of |Building materials available but |
|(Communities and their | |owners who mostly build wooden |incorporated into school |environmental issues at the |a little expensive. Some |
|organizations) | |buildings. |curricula. |community level. |companies may reduce prices after|
| | | | | |a hazard event. |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical |Councils build some storm drains and| | | | |
| | |roads. Central government funds some| | | | |
| | |maintenance activities. | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |Local Disaster Committees are | |GTZ project prepared model | | |
| |related to Local Government | |disaster plan. District | | |
| |Structure. | |Disaster Committees to develop| | |
| | | |Plans based on the model. | | |
| | | |Pilot project for 2 | | |
| | | |communities - Bellevue Chopin | | |
| | | |and Soufriere /Scottshead | | |
| | | |/Gallion. | | |
| | | |There are no district disaster| | |
| | | |plans. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning | |Most public buildings conform to |OECS Building Code customised for |Improper disposal of solid |Environmental protection policies|After Hurricane David most public|
|and Sectoral | |building code. |Dominica. In use, but not yet adopted|waste increase vulnerability |developed by Fisheries Division |buildings were built using |
|Agencies | |Shelters undergoing retrofitting |by government. |during hazard events. |and Environmental Coordinating |hurricane resistant techniques. |
| | |under World Bank project. |Revised Physical Planning legislation|Inadequate sanitation |Unit. | |
| | |Some private buildings may deviate |before Parliament. Will provide for |facilities in shelters. No |EIAs requested for major projects| |
| | |from approved plans. |adoption of Code under new Act. |purpose built shelters. |or those in vulnerable areas. | |
| | | |Code and in-house guidelines used to |Therefore do not have the |EIAs include hazard information. | |
| | | |evaluate applications. Land use |capacity to deal with waste. |Physical Planning Division brings| |
| | | |planners, with assistance from | |together relevant agencies to | |
| | | |Environment Division provide | |increase awareness of technical | |
| | | |technical inputs to evaluate | |staff about environmental issues | |
| | | |suitability of locations, given | |and to evaluate applications, to | |
| | | |knowledge of hazard vulnerability. | |help identify mitigation measures| |
| | | |No hazard-specific standards exist. | |to include in development | |
| | | |No clear policy guidelines to guide | |approvals. | |
| | | |development in south of island, which| |Environmental systems not well | |
| | | |is vulnerable to earth tremors. | |protected. | |
| | | | | |Environmental degradation due to | |
| | | | | |agricultural practices. | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical |Ministry of Communications and Works|Agencies adhere strictly to Code. | | | |
| | |built sea walls (eg between Rouseau |Physical Planning Division organises | | | |
| | |and Canefield and in Portsmouth.) |workshops for staff with input from | | | |
| | |Technical staff in relevant agencies|relevant agencies to sensitise them | | | |
| | |have copies of building code. |to environmental and hazard issues. | | | |
| | |Technical staff need to be more |Physical Planning organises training | | | |
| | |familiar with Code. |for their staff and staff of other | | | |
| | | |relevant agencies to familiarise them| | | |
| | | |with technical and legal aspects of | | | |
| | | |building code. | | | |
| | | |Workshops held with builders years | | | |
| | | |ago to increase awareness of safe | | | |
| | | |techniques and mitigation measures. | | | |
| | | |Additional training will be conducted| | | |
| | | |once the code is approved. | | | |
| | | |Private firms, with National | | | |
| | | |Development Foundation, hold | | | |
| | | |workshops for all stakeholders in | | | |
| | | |safe building practices. Annual | | | |
| | | |workshops held by Credit Unions for | | | |
| | | |prospective home owners. | | | |
| | | |National building code not formally | | | |
| | | |adopted by Government. | | | |
| | | |Physical Planning staff not well | | | |
| | | |trained in hazard issues. Also | | | |
| | | |inadequate numbers of staff to do | | | |
| | | |inspections. | | | |
| | | |Post of Chief Building Inspector at | | | |
| | | |Physical Planning has been vacant for| | | |
| | | |past 5 years. | | | |
| | | |Physical Planning staff not familiar | | | |
| | | |with legal aspects of Code. | | | |
| | | |Standards not consistent between | | | |
| | | |agencies—Physical Planning and | | | |
| | | |Environmental Health for instance. | | | |
| | | |Need to improve consistency and | | | |
| | | |standardise development standards. | | | |
| National Disaster Office |Under World Bank Project, Office of |National Emergency Management Act is |Evacuation plan in place for | |Community vulnerability |
| |Disaster Management building 21 |before Parliament. National |volcanic eruption. | |assessment and evacuation plan |
| |storm drains in 21 communities and |Consultation scheduled in March |ODM not well staffed. | |prepared in response to landslide|
| |targeting another 21 with local |before 2nd reading. | | |and landslide dam in Layou River.|
| |help. |USAID and OAS funded preparation of | | | |
| | |information leaflet to guide | | | |
| | |retrofitting of small buildings. Also| | | |
| | |used in community training with rural| | | |
| | |home owners. | | | |
| | |ODM uses media campaigns to promote | | | |
| | |use of mitigation measures. | | | |
|Business and |Leadership | |Banks impose loan ceiling for lending|ODM targets Hotel and Tourism | | |
|Industry | | |in south of island, which is known to|Association to cover all | | |
| | | |be vulnerable to earth tremors. |members. | | |
| | | |Insurance companies also reluctant to| | | |
| | | |insure properties in these areas. | | | |
| | | |These policies/practices serve as a | | | |
| | | |disincentive to people from building | | | |
| | | |in this vulnerable area. | | | |
| |Members | | |Some hotels have prepared | |Businesses have no recovery |
| | | | |simple Disaster Plans. ODM | |plans. |
| | | | |helping then to improve plans.| | |
| |Budget Self |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| |Insurance | | |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |There is no formal alternative |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |mechanisms to insurance be it |homeowners. Homeowners and investors| | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |contingency credit or |depend entirely on the property | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |contingency equity. |insurance market, although some | | |credit facility. |
| |Some churches and non-formal |carriers cannot buy adequate | | |Commercial properties do not use |
| |organizations (“Sou Sou”) |reinsurance. | | |risk-financing options that allow|
| |operate a “loose” form of |Most properties in the middle and | | |multi-year coverage that would |
| |self-insurance/welfare for |upper income groups are | | |result in stabilizing premiums. |
| |their parishioners and partners|comprehensively property insurance | | |NB: Most hotels are locally owned|
| |through systematic savings.[5] |to actual value as this forms part | | |and operated. |
| |Some other sectarian groups and|of the mortgage agreement. | | | |
| |credit unions build up |Income loss due to the persistent | | | |
| |contingency funds for |decline in the banana industry (the | | | |
| |providential purposes. |major employer in the economy) since| | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in |1995 has resulted in a significant | | | |
| |housing or property |level of under-insurance of | | | |
| |development. |non-encumbered property. | | | |
| | |A large percentage of the housing | | | |
| | |stock in the lower income group is | | | |
| | |not insured. And there is no | | | |
| | |self-insurance even if many | | | |
| | |households assume the liabilities. | | | |
| | |Moreover, in addition to the | | | |
| | |vulnerability to hurricanes, there | | | |
| | |are many hazard-prone areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance industry,| | | |
| | |there is no compulsory insurance for| | | |
| | |private properties. | | | |
| | |Given the island’s vulnerability to | | | |
| | |volcanic actions, and its frequent | | | |
| | |devastation by hurricanes, there is | | | |
| | |dire need for affordable compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |There are Local government | | | | |
| | |bodies in all villages, towns | | | | |
| | |and the City but all activities| | | | |
| | |are co-ordinated by a national | | | | |
| | |agency. | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function is|Government has no policy for |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual|inadequate. The office is poorly |insuring public assets. |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |staffed and poorly equipped. Staff |The public properties, which are |Government headquarters |mitigation efforts. Most debt |
| | |probabilities. |lacks expertise in risk management. |insured, are covered under the |Treasury Building |capital is sourced from |
| | |Serious fiscal difficulties do |Some aspects of planning, zoning and|specific loan conditions and |Post Office |commercial lenders. |
| | |not allow for such budgetary |hazard mapping (hazard mapping for |lease arrangement. |NB: All other public assets are |Additional contingent credit |
| | |allocations. NB: This remains a|flooding and landslides) are being |There is no public fund or |not insured. |facilities could include: |
| | |serious cause for concern given|done by the Physical Planning |mechanism established to | |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |the vulnerability of the |Department. However there are no |indemnify the poor or to provide | |Facility |
| | |islands to natural disasters |hazard maps governing insurer’s |incentives for undertaking | |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |particularly windstorms and |levels of catastrophe peril |mitigation measures. | |Facility |
| | |volcanic actions. |liabilities and no functional |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | |Government will be expected to |linkage between the physical |feasibility of | | |
| | |encourage tax incentives when |planning and the insurance |(i) Investing in contingency | | |
| | |the Catastrophe Pool is |regulation. |credit and contingency equity to | | |
| | |established under The World |The insurance regulator needs to: |increase liquidity for | | |
| | |Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados |(i) Have the capacity to do |rehabilitating damaged buildings,| | |
| | |Catastrophe Risk Management and|catastrophe premium pricing. |schools, hospitals, water | | |
| | |Insurance Reform Project. |(ii) Educate with respect to |facilities, ports, roads bridges | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |using credit and capital market | | |
| | | |events and minimizing the |instruments. | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |(ii) Providing incentives for | | |
| | | | |catastrophe risk coverage for | | |
| | | | |low-income groups particularly | | |
| | | | |those occupying areas prone to | | |
| | | | |landslide such as squatters. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |(i) DPO promotes risk reduction |. | | |
| |towards the Disaster |through the national committees, | | | |
| |Preparedness Office (DPO) only |public education and awareness | | | |
| |for operations. No emergency |programs mainly all year round but | | | |
| |funds are deployed for |is particularly active during the | | | |
| |contingencies because of fiscal|hurricane season. | | | |
| |difficulties. |(ii) Although its Focal Points are | | | |
| |However government has |very active, its activity is | | | |
| |EC$853,000 in a Fiscal Tranche |restricted because of limited funds.| | | |
| |at the Central Bank which is a | | | | |
| |contingency fund.[6] |DPO needs to: | | | |
| |DPO depends largely on inflows |(i) embark on a broad based | | | |
| |from regional and international|insurance, risk management and | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| |disaster. |programme | | | |
| | |(ii) emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| | |maintenance and building standards | | | |
| | |and insurance coverage | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |There is no society-wide |Some insurance companies provide |Public autonomous enterprises |Banana Industry: The Windward |Alternative risk financing for |
|Financial | |Advisory Council, but the focal|incentives to homeowners such as |under the management of the |Island Crop Insurance (WINCROP) |the business and industry would |
| | |points in the village, towns |lower premium rates for risk |central government such as Water |provides a measure of protection |involve: |
| | |and city councils are very |reduction and undertake some risk |and Electricity are not |for wind storm damage, but there |(i) Allocation of capital reserve|
| | |active in the awareness and |assessment and management checks. |adequately insured because of |is no risk transfer mechanism or |during the profitable years to be|
| | |education programmes with |However, the high deductible for |financial constraints. |self- insurance. There is very |used as collateral for debt |
| | |respect to disaster |catastrophe coverage makes the |Statutory bodies such as the |little reserving because the |financing for reconstruction |
| | |preparedness, disaster |premium prohibitive for some |Social Security Building are |industry is experiencing |effort. |
| | |mitigation and risk transfer. |households. |insured to their actual value. |financial difficulties. |(ii) Use of capital market |
| | |The National Development | |Pooling method would most be |Tourism: There is no risk |instruments to generate raise |
| | |Foundation has organized safer | |appropriate for these |transfer mechanism or self- |equity capital for the recovery |
| | |housing promotions and loan | |enterprises. These are to be |insurance for locally owned |effort |
| | |funding for retrofit. | |covered under The World Bank/CDB |properties. |(iii) Creation of a venture |
| | |The work of DPO must be further| |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe |Joint purchase of insurance |capital fund to supplement |
| | |broadened to include a | |Risk Management and Insurance |coverage is an imperative (given |recoveries for business |
| | |Technical Advisory Team to | |Reform Project. |the similar exposure) to lower |interruption insurance. |
| | |influence policy at the Cabinet| | |costs through increased | |
| | |Sub-Committee level. The | | |portfolio. | |
| | |members should be drawn from | | | | |
| | |NGOs, banking, insurance, | | | | |
| | |industry and engineering to | | | | |
| | |advise the Insurance Regulator | | | | |
| | |and to promote best practices. | | | | |
| |Members |Given the small size of the |Almost all company buildings are | | | |
| | |insurance sector, influential |insured to actual value because the | | | |
| | |private sector firms will have |terms and conditions of the debt | | | |
| | |to provide leadership. The |capital require building standards | | | |
| | |larger players in the economy |are strictly adhered to at all | | | |
| | |such as Roseau Credit Union |stages of the construction. | | | |
| | |would have to assume an active |Almost all company buildings are | | | |
| | |role. |insured against all perils and are | | | |
| | | |built in accordance with building | | | |
| | | |standards. | | | |
| | | |In most cases, commercial properties| | | |
| | | |are insured to their actual value to| | | |
| | | |meet the conditionalities of the | | | |
| | | |overdraft facilities. | | | |
| | | |Some companies purchase coverage for| | | |
| | | |business interruption, but the | | | |
| | | |business sector has depended very | | | |
| | | |heavily upon inflows on insurance | | | |
| | | |claims payments for rehabilitation. | | | |
| | | |Private firms do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
| | | |There is need for more forward | | | |
| | | |planning by the private sector. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant's first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mr. Nicholas Bruno, Acting Budget Director, Ministry of Finance, Roseau.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |The Dominican Disaster Mitigation |Most population groups are aware of|No comprehensive inventory of |The training of local groups to |In general, the government, |
|(Communities and their |Association (ADMD), has worked |at least part of their |important structures exists. |identify and protect |private and voluntary |
|organizations) |since 1995 with over 50 NGOs and |vulnerabilities and consider that |At the local level, vulnerability |environmental systems that |organizations understand that |
| |community groups in over 700 |poverty and other socio-economic |assessments have been conducted in |stabilize potential hazards or |settlements and facilities in |
| |communities to assist them in |problems are more important than |selected communities. In Santiago, |buffer hazard effects is included|flood prone areas and industrial |
| |identifying and mapping |flooding, contamination and other |for instance, a number of critical |in the proposed Natural Resources|areas are highly vulnerable, |
| |vulnerabilities and local hazards. |hazards. |facilities in Santiago have been |and Environmental legislation to |however lack of resources and/or |
| |The Peace Corps and NGOs[7] have |During Hurricane season it is |identified as hazardous structures |be submitted to Congress in early|political commitment impedes the |
| |sponsored community disaster |common for supermarkets, the |requiring a inspection and |2002. |development and implementation of|
| |preparedness training in at least |telephone company, CODETEL/VERIZON,|corrective/ mitigative measures to | |an action plan. |
| |200 high-risk communities, mostly |and the newspapers to distribute |assure their future functional | |Subsequent to hurricane Georges, |
| |in collaboration with the ADMD. |orientation information. The press |capacity.[9] | |comprehensive vulnerability |
| |After Hurricane Georges, the Civil |only runs seismic hazard |Given that an estimated 80% of | |reduction initiatives were |
| |Defense and Red Cross implemented |information when a major earthquake|construction is informal, a | |undertaken in Haina, the |
| |awareness campaigns, giving over |happens abroad or if a tremor is |significant percentage of this | |country’s most important port and|
| |2,000 presentations to more than |felt in the country. However, the |takes place in high-risk areas | |industrial area, and in Tamayo, |
| |50,000 Dominicans nationwide. [8] |ADMD and Sociedad Dominicana de |without interference on behalf of | |Vicente Noble and Jaquimeyes, an |
| |Many of the community-based efforts|Sismología e Ingeniería Sísmica |the authorities due to lack of | |area devastated by flooding;[10] |
| |are short-term pilot projects, |(SODOSISMICA) regularly circulate |political commitment. Nor are the | |and assistance was provided to 81|
| |which do not provide long term |information to hundreds of |communities well-organized enough | |communities in the development of|
| |follow-up necessary for lasting |international and national |to prevent further settlement in | |community emergency plans and |
| |impact on vulnerability reduction. |organizations. |hazard-prone areas. | |committees.[11] |
|Local Government |Policy | |The Civil Defense has identified, |Formal physical development (approx| |Risk maps are not available at a |
| | | |evaluated and marked a small number|20%) requires a construction permit| |scale useful for local |
| | | |of buildings as shelters in the |from Public Works, a land use | |government. |
| | | |event of a hurricane or earthquake,|permit from the Municipal | | |
| | | |and during hurricane season |authorities and completion of | | |
| | | |published information in the press |several related processes, | | |
| | | |about the location of the shelters.|including increasing environmental | | |
| | | | |controls, which often do not | | |
| | | | |reflect awareness of natural or | | |
| | | | |other hazards. | | |
| | | | |Most development (estimated at 80%)| | |
| | | | |not subject to formal development | | |
| | | | |controls. | | |
| | | | |Environmental controls often do not| | |
| | | | |reflect awareness of natural or | | |
| | | | |other hazards. | | |
| |Technical |Flood levels, soil conditions, |International development agencies |Selected NGOs and community groups | |Both risk and hazard maps were |
| | |erosion and slope failure, and |and organizations have compiled |include mitigation measures in | |developed for La Zurza, El |
| | |structural weaknesses in housing |damage-related information and are |repaired and newly built homes.[14]| |Capotillo and Simón Bolívar in |
| | |detailed in three high-risk |active promoters of safer |Physical vulnerability information | |Santo Domingo. |
| | |communities in Santo Domingo: La |construction techniques in the |not available for the great | | |
| | |Zurza, El Capotillo and Simón |Dominican Republic.[13] |majority of structures. | | |
| | |Bolívar.[12] |Vulnerability information not |Studies of hazard-related damages | | |
| | |To the extent that the community |available for most of the country. |are not typically conducted. A | | |
| | |can see and/or is aware of the |Where available, it has typically |system should be put in place for | | |
| | |presence of a specific structure |been collected as part of an |diagnostic studies of damage from | | |
| | |(lifeline or otherwise) communities|externally funded project. |natural hazards | | |
| | |can locate and identify the local |A system should be put in place for| | | |
| | |hazard. |diagnostic studies of damage from | | | |
| | |Information on problems with |natural hazards. | | | |
| | |critical facilities not readily | | | | |
| | |available from the responsible | | | | |
| | |authorities. | | | | |
| | |Hazard maps not available for most | | | | |
| | |communities. Critical facility | | | | |
| | |information is not available in any| | | | |
| | |formal or comprehensive format. | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |Existing and active local disaster |Organized and active local disaster|Development projects often not | | |
| |committees have only the hazard |committees have identified the |designed to accommodate extra, | | |
| |maps they prepared for use and |highest risk areas, which have been|hazard-related forces.[16] | | |
| |reference. Generally the digital |included in their evacuation plans.| | | |
| |maps remain in offices such as the |Special attention is paid in these | | | |
| |Military Cartographic Institute and|plans to children, the elderly and | | | |
| |the Ministry of Mines and are not |disabled. | | | |
| |in a scale as to be useful to | | | | |
| |specific communities. | | | | |
| |Maps of storm-related hazards[15] | | | | |
| |made available to hotel, free zone | | | | |
| |and other industrial and private | | | | |
| |organizations. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |The Civil Defense has a proposed |In general, the government, private|Assessments for project appraisals |Natural Resources and the | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |legislative package in Congress on |and voluntary organizations |focus on industrial, environmental,|Environment Legislation currently| |
| | |Disaster Prevention and Mitigation,|understand that settlements and |economic and political concerns. |in process. Under this | |
| | |which establishes and structures a |facilities in flood prone areas and|Natural hazards are generally not |legislation, national development| |
| | |National Disaster Mitigation |industrial areas are highly |considered. |policies and plans will be | |
| | |program. |vulnerable, however lack of | |established to protect natural | |
| | |Significant new private and public |resources and/or political | |systems that contribute to hazard| |
| | |sector buildings should be required|commitment impedes the development | |stabilization or mitigation. | |
| | |to install meteorological and |and implementation of an action | | | |
| | |seismic instruments, to be |plan. | | | |
| | |maintained by educational | | | | |
| | |institutions. | | | | |
| |Technical |Digital orthophotography integrated|The Civil Defense has a proposed |The existing official wind and |The Ministry of the Environment |Critical facility information is |
| | |into the National Planning Office, |legislative package in Congress on |seismic codes for construction |and the National Institute of |not available in any formal or |
| | |the Mining Ministry and other |Disaster Prevention and Mitigation,|provide inadequate standards for |Hydrological Resources monitor |comprehensive format. |
| | |related government dependencies |which establishes and promotes |structures to withstand prevalent |environmental degradation. |As-built drawings and |
| | |with resulting information |hazard vulnerability |natural hazards and are currently | |specifications should be placed |
| | |available at scales of 1: 250,000; |self-assessment techniques and |being upgraded to improve | |in public archives. This should |
| | |1:50,000, and 1:5,000. [17] |prioritizes vulnerability reduction|performance. | |be a requirement for the issuing |
| | |Adequate maps of rain hazards |measures, based on socio-economic |Mechanisms for regular update and | |of occupancy certificates, |
| | |exist. Maps of wind hazards |impact and environmental |maintenance of the building | |including for Government |
| | |available but requires further |priorities. |standards and codes needs to be | |facilities. |
| | |attention and available seismic | |developed. | | |
| | |hazard maps are inadequate. The | |Enforced compliance with the | | |
| | |integration of hazard information | |building standards has been | | |
| | |into a national GIS database has | |proposed and approved[18] but has | | |
| | |barely begun. | |yet to be assigned an operating | | |
| | |National hazard maps, showing | |budget by the President. | | |
| | |critical facilities, should be | |Most government agencies maintain | | |
| | |published in national newspapers at| |some type of documentation | | |
| | |regular intervals. | |regarding the physical assets in | | |
| | |Networks of measuring stations for | |inventory. | | |
| | |rainfall, wind speed , barometric | |Standards currently exist for | | |
| | |pressure and seismic strong motions| |building materials, but they | | |
| | |should be established and | |require updating and better | | |
| | |maintained. | |enforcement. | | |
|National Disaster Office |The National Disaster Office has |The Civil Defense has identified |The Civil Defense has solicited |The Ministry of Education and the| |
| |proposed a legislative package to |highly vulnerable population groups|resources to inventory and conduct |National Institute of | |
| |promote the use of hazard |and is seeking government resources|a vulnerability audit of all |Hydrological Resources conduct | |
| |information for development and |to implement plans to reduce |critical facilities. |courses for primary school | |
| |investment decisions across all |vulnerability in these groups. | |students regarding the importance| |
| |sectors of government and the | | |of safe water. | |
| |economy. | | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Since 1998/99 leaders of each |Leaders such as CODETEL and the |Generally corporations, franchises,|Under Law 6400, the Ministry of | |
| | |sector in Santiago have developed |National Insurance Company support |chains and companies with |the Environment requires projects| |
| | |jointly a Strategic Development |national activities, including |international contracts are |to comply with specific standards| |
| | |Plan for the City of Santiago de |provision of support to the Civil |required to comply with |to obtain a building permit and | |
| | |los Caballeros to identify and |Defense. |international design and building |an operating license. However, | |
| | |prioritize strategic growth, | |as well as safety and environmental|there is little enforcement and | |
| | |service and other measures, taking | |standards in keeping with programs |generally this is not done. | |
| | |into consideration active traces of| |such as ISO9000 and ISO14000. |All hotels and industries are | |
| | |the Septentrional Fault, areas | |CODETEL[19] assesses suitability of|required to monitor environmental| |
| | |prone to landslides, and flooding. | |new project sites, considering soil|degradation. | |
| | |The businesses, industries and | |conditions and other risk factors. | | |
| | |local government in Haina agreed | |The oil refinery, REFIDOMSA, is a | | |
| | |upon, authorized and marked a | |leader in industrial safety and | | |
| | |hazardous materials safety route. | |advised the Dominican Authorities | | |
| | |Many large companies, corporations,| |(Marines) in development of | | |
| | |franchises and chains use hazard | |Contingency Plans. | | |
| | |maps in compliance with | |Due to lack of awareness of the | | |
| | |international safety guidelines | |local seismic code, some engineers | | |
| | |such as ISO9000 and ISO14000. | |and companies modify and apply | | |
| | |The Oil Refinery, REFIDOMSA, has | |American, Japanese, and other | | |
| | |supported the development, | |seismic resistant building codes. | | |
| | |distribution and use of hazard | | | | |
| | |maps. | | | | |
| |Members |Large employers are usually | |Both REFIDOMSA and CODETEL conduct | | |
| | |required by their headquarters to | |regular vulnerability audits of | | |
| | |conduct regular structural | |their facilities and support | | |
| | |assessments of facilities and | |networks, the former as a | | |
| | |implement suggested corrective | |requirement by SHELL, the latter as| | |
| | |and/or preventive measures. | |a requirement for the insurance | | |
| | |The oil refinery, REFIDOMSA, | |policy. | | |
| | |regularly uses hazard maps in | | | | |
| | |decision making to prevent oil | | | | |
| | |spills and other incidents. | | | | |
| | |Technical groups such as | | | | |
| | |SODOSISMICA, GE2 and others provide| | | | |
| | |structural assessments of | | | | |
| | |facilities. | | | | |
References
The information generated is the product of:
1. The consultant’s (Christine M. Herridge) first hand knowledge of the NGOs, Civil Defense and Private Sector vulnerability identification and reduction activities as Coordinator of the Asociación Dominicana de Mitigación de Desastres (ADMD) in the Dominican Republic.
2. Discussions with key sources of information regarding insurance, the environment, the building code, Public Works, the National Planning Office, hotels, free zones, and the IADB programming including:
Ing. Simón Mahfoud, Technical Vice President, Compañía Nacional de Seguros
Ing. Evelio Martínez, 2nd Vice-President of Engineering, Compañía Nacional de Seguros (SEGNA)
Ing. Máximo Viñas, General Advisor in Health, Industrial Safety and the Environment, REFIDOMSA (the Dominican Oil Refinery, affiliate of SHELL)
Ing. Américo Julio Peña, Environmental Advisor to the Senate of the Dominican Republic
Ing. Héctor O’Reilly, President of SODOSISMICA, Technical Advisor to Public Works
Mr. Ivan Reynoso, Executive Director of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production
Mr. José Almonte, Director of Industrial Safety and Quality, CODETEL/VERIZON
Mrs. Paula Dimitri, Executive Director of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association
Ing. José Alarcón, Coordinator of the Risk Management and Zoning Component of the Technical Secretariat to the Presidency’s Disaster Prevention Sub-Program
Mrs. María Rodríguez, Head of the Environmental Planning Department of the National Planning Office
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |Consejo Inter-Institucional para la |There is no control over informal |The Ministry of Education has |Significant strides have been |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |Coordinación de Programas de |housing in hazard prone areas, which |developed texts for various |taken towards the development and|are generally available, but |
|organizations) |Viviendas (CII-VIVIENDAS) has |is often quite dense. |subjects to include hazard and|implementation of mechanisms and |often without proper installation|
| |developed and distributes a series |Communities often question the |vulnerability reduction |knowledge to identify |instructions. |
| |of “Self-built construction guides.”|standards of new construction and |information in the school |environmental degradation. |Recent post-disaster |
| |Mitigation measures designed to |refurbishment projects, but often |curricula. | |reconstruction projects have |
| |address one hazard (e.g. flooding) |with little effect. |NGOs[20] address the | |required implementation of |
| |rarely address the full range of | |relationship between poverty | |mitigation measures with |
| |hazards (e.g. flooding and hurricane| |and vulnerability in | |appropriate methods and |
| |impacts). | |development projects. | |materials.[21] |
| |Community residents that have | | | |No general standards or controls |
| |participated in the Cooperative | | | |are in place for post-disaster |
| |Housing Foundation’s (CHF) | | | |measures. |
| |supervised housing repair and | | | | |
| |construction programs are able to | | | | |
| |share safer techniques with | | | | |
| |neighbors. | | | | |
| |Demonstration homes should be | | | | |
| |constructed in communities | | | | |
| |illustrating good practices for | | | | |
| |small domestic houses (appr 70 m2) | | | | |
|Local Government |Policy |Much of the public infrastructure is|A building code exists, however, it | | |There are no local recovery plans|
| | |currently located within hazardous |is only available as a series of | | |in place. |
| | |areas. |separate provisions, lacks references| | |All building and facility |
| | | |to crucial auxiliary documents (such | | |failures should be studied for |
| | | |as the wind and seismic codes) and | | |causes. Failure reports should me|
| | | |remains largely unenforced. Few | | |a mandatory part of the approvals|
| | | |training courses exist and public | | |process where reconstruction or |
| | | |information is deficient. | | |major repairs are planned. |
| | | |A system of effective enforcement of | | | |
| | | |standards needs to be designed and | | | |
| | | |enforced. | | | |
| |Technical | |Flood level markers were recently | | | |
| | | |installed along the Yaque del Sur | | | |
| | | |River as part of an early warning | | | |
| | | |system for the communities of Tamayo,| | | |
| | | |Vicente Noble and Jaquimeyes. | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | |Over 700 communities (a |Many local committees include | |
| | | |minority nationwide) have |representatives of environmental | |
| | | |received assistance with the |groups. | |
| | | |establishment of community |Through their members, the | |
| | | |emergency committees; received|ADMD-sponsored disaster | |
| | | |training in community disaster|committees have formed links with| |
| | | |preparedness, first aid, |local authorities, reported key | |
| | | |evacuation routes and security|statistical community-based | |
| | | |brigades; and received a |information and have met with | |
| | | |donation of tools and |Civil Defense, Red Cross and | |
| | | |emergency equipment. |other Provincial authorities. | |
| | | |The majority of high-risk | | |
| | | |communities still have not | | |
| | | |received orientation, | | |
| | | |assistance or equipment. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |All new public buildings are to |The building code is the basis for |Many significant deficiencies |The Ministry of the Environment |Few recovery plans have been |
|Sectoral Agencies | |conform to existing standards. The |development approval however there is|exist in the energy, |has environmental management and |developed. |
| | |appropriateness of the standards is |little enforcement. Currently both |transportation, health, |protection policies and programs |Financing for immediate recovery |
| | |not generally satisfactory. |the wind and seismic codes are being |education, water and other key|which include protection for |is channeled through the |
| | |Only an estimated 30% of new |upgraded.[22] |sectors,[24] most of which are|natural systems that stabilize |Technical Secretariat to the |
| | |buildings obtain the construction |The National Planning Office recently|government dependencies |hazardous areas. Many remain |Presidency but has not developed |
| | |permit and an estimated 99% begin |received a set of maps[23] to assist |subject to the lack of |unenforced due to lack of |the capacity to provide a Damage |
| | |construction before the designs are |with land use plans, however little |resources and political |political commitment. |Assessment and Needs Analysis for|
| | |approved by Public Works. |information is available regarding |commitment to achieve |Environmental impact assessments |each government dependency. |
| | |All public buildings should be |soil composition. |improvements. |do not include natural hazard | |
| | |subject to an independent review, |A trained building inspectorate has | |considerations. | |
| | |including those designed by |been proposed and the approval was | |Agriculture and forestry | |
| | |engineers and architects. |signed by the President in 2001, | |practices often degrade | |
| | | |creating the National Office of | |protective natural systems due to| |
| | | |Seismic Evaluation for Buildings and | |obsolete techniques and lack of | |
| | | |Infrastructure. This office has not | |enforcement of controls by the | |
| | | |yet been presented or assigned a | |authorities, such as Law 123 | |
| | | |budget. | |(extraction of aggregate | |
| | | |The designs of important facilities | |materials from river beds.) | |
| | | |are reviewed but there is no control | | | |
| | | |over the building process unless the | | | |
| | | |proprietor or financier contracts | | | |
| | | |this service. | | | |
| | | |The mechanism for checking must be | | | |
| | | |changed. | | | |
| | | |Standards have been developed for | | | |
| | | |about half of the standard building | | | |
| | | |materials. There is, however, little | | | |
| | | |control of quality standards for | | | |
| | | |building materials. | | | |
| |Technical |Technical staff in most agencies is |Public Works does not have adequate | | | |
| | |generally familiar with and use the |human, financial or material | | | |
| | |existing building code. |resources to develop or enforce | | | |
| | | |development standards. The Ministry | | | |
| | | |of the Environment does have the | | | |
| | | |resources but is recently established| | | |
| | | |and not yet able to fulfill its | | | |
| | | |charter due to lack of political | | | |
| | | |commitment. | | | |
| | | |Technical staff should be employed on| | | |
| | | |the basis (in part) on successful | | | |
| | | |completion of formal exams related to| | | |
| | | |their specific functions. Regular | | | |
| | | |re-certification should be required. | | | |
| National Disaster Office | |The Civil Defense proposes to play a |The political leaders have not| |Standards for post-disaster |
| | |key role in the authorization of all |been integrated into the | |rehabilitation and new |
| | |construction but does not have the |system and the public believes| |construction reviewed, at times, |
| | |resources or authority to do so. |that little has been done. | |for adequacy. Rehabilitation |
| | | |The Civil Defense does not | |efforts are donor driven |
| | | |have resources to hire | |according to imposed criterion |
| | | |technical experts and must | |often ignoring communities' |
| | | |rely on donations of technical| |development priorities. |
| | | |assistance. | |Communities and organizations |
| | | | | |should receive guidance in |
| | | | | |structuring external assistance |
| | | | | |to include mitigation. |
|Business and |Leadership |Businesses conduct training in |Generally corporations, chains and |Generally corporations, chains|The proposed legislation on | |
|Industry | |safety and other topics with the |franchises implement international |and franchises have a |Natural Resources and the | |
| | |understanding that the employees |safety and other standards to reduce |contingency plan and brigades |Environment will require leaders | |
| | |will practice safety techniques at |the vulnerability of non-structural |made up of employees |and organizations to adopt and | |
| | |home and in the community. |elements. |representing the various |promote the use of international | |
| | |Businesses such as the Reserve Bank,|The ADMD continues to emphasize the |shifts and departments, |standards that reduce the | |
| | |CODETEL, and others have sponsored |importance of a fire prevention, |however this is done |potential impact of disasters and| |
| | |presentations on the DR’s natural |detection and control capacity along |internally, not in |accidents on the environment. | |
| | |hazards and disaster mitigation |with other preventative measures. |collaboration with national or|Many corporations, chains and | |
| | |nationwide for their employees, in | |local plans. CODETEL and |franchises already comply with | |
| | |addition to distributing printed | |REFIDOMSA collaborate with the|international guidelines such as | |
| | |materials and providing training in | |Civil Defense and related |ISO9000 and ISO14000. | |
| | |fire prevention and control. | |authorities due to the | | |
| | | | |importance of their services | | |
| | | | |to the country. | | |
| |Members |Technical organizations such as |Appropriate building materials are |Business and Industry |The Ministry of the Environment |Just-in-time setup and |
| | |SODOSISMICA, GE2 and Dominican Union|available for sale. |Association and its members |provides limited training |availability of shipping |
| | |for Engineers and Architects (CODIA)|Information on non-structural |developed an Emergency Plan |regarding reduction of |containers has more impact on |
| | |can be consulted for structural |mitigation measures is available. |for the Haina area, in |environmental impacts. In |inventory levels than |
| | |retrofit and other services, |Approximately 50% of companies will |coordination with local |addition, universities offer |considerations related to |
| | |technical assistance. |consult their insurer regarding |authorities and includes the |Environment masters programs. |hurricane season. REFIDOMSA, |
| | |Generally corporations, chains and |design specifications to include fire|Emergency Plan prepared by the|[25] |CODETEL, and Hotels, however do |
| | |franchises require the use of |prevention measures and other |local community emergency |INTEC has a limited program to |adjust inventory in preparation |
| | |specific standards by designers and |elements before construction to |committees. |promote training and research to |for hurricane season. |
| | |contractors, and conduct regular |reduce insurance premiums for fire |Both REFIDOMSA and CODETEL |reduce environmental impact. |Most corporations, chains and |
| | |inspections and require retrofitting|coverage. |report having tested disaster | |franchises strive to reduce |
| | |and modifications to comply with | |plans developed based on local| |downtime to a minimum through the|
| | |company-wide standards. | |hazard information, which | |design and implementation of |
| | |Appropriate building materials are | |include preparation | |contingency plans. |
| | |available. | |recommendations for employees’| |Often, corporations, chains and |
| | | | |homes and families. | |franchises will import |
| | | | |REFIDOMSA is assisting the | |appropriate building materials |
| | | | |Dominican Marine Corps with | |and technicians from |
| | | | |the development of its | |headquarters, if not available |
| | | | |disaster plan and assisted | |locally. |
| | | | |with dissemination of | | |
| | | | |information on controls for | | |
| | | | |toxic and hazardous material | | |
| | | | |spills and contamination. | | |
References
The information generated is the product of:
3. The consultant’s (Christine M. Herridge) first hand knowledge of the NGOs, Civil Defense and Private Sector vulnerability identification and reduction activities as Coordinator of the Asociación Dominicana de Mitigación de Desastres (ADMD) in the Dominican Republic.
4. Discussions with key sources of information regarding insurance, the environment, the building code, Public Works, the National Planning Office, hotels, free zones, and the IADB programming including:
Ing. Simón Mahfoud, Technical Vice President, Compañía Nacional de Seguros
Ing. Evelio Martínez, 2nd Vice-President of Engineering, Compañía Nacional de Seguros (SEGNA)
Ing. Máximo Viñas, General Advisor in Health, Industrial Safety and the Environment, REFIDOMSA (the Dominican Oil Refinery, affiliate of SHELL)
Ing. Américo Julio Peña, Environmental Advisor to the Senate of the Dominican Republic
Ing. Héctor O’Reilly, President of SODOSISMICA, Technical Advisor to Public Works
Mr. Ivan Reynoso, Executive Director of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production
Mr. José Almonte, Director of Industrial Safety and Quality, CODETEL/VERIZON
Mrs. Paula Dimitri, Executive Director of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association
Ing. José Alarcón, Coordinator of the Risk Management and Zoning Component of the Technical Secretariat to the Presidency’s Disaster Prevention Sub-Program
Mrs. María Rodríguez, Head of the Environmental Planning Department of the National Planning Office
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| | | | |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |Many church and community |Few residential and commercial | | | |
|(Communities and their organizations) |organizations with international |properties are insured, and those| | | |
| |headquarters channel resources to|that are insured are frequently | | | |
| |local chapters in response to |not insured to actual value, to | | | |
| |damage reports and requests made |save on premiums. Often the level| | | |
| |by local offices. |of insurance is related to the | | | |
| | |outstanding loan principal. | | | |
| | |Generally loan recipients are | | | |
| | |required to pay an additional fee| | | |
| | |to cover life insurance, however | | | |
| | |a policy to cover damage from | | | |
| | |hurricanes or earthquakes is not | | | |
| | |required or promoted. | | | |
| | |There should be public education | | | |
| | |programs about insurance. | | | |
|Local government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |The Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|The insurers and the IADB are |Public assets are generally not | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingent disaster funding in |is adequately empowered and |promoting insurance for public |insured, however there are | |
| | |its annual budget, but there is a|funded, with trained staff for |properties, which is still not |instances of 5 to 6 private | |
| | |bill before Congress that would |controlling insurers’ fiscal |required. There is a legislative |insurers pooling together to | |
| | |enable this practice. |health and catastrophe peril |proposal in the House of |cover a large public entities | |
| | |The Government does not offer tax|liabilities. |Representatives which would |assets, such as in the case of | |
| | |incentives to finance the |The insurance regulator does not |require that 0.5% of the National|the Central Bank. The assets that| |
| | |creation of private catastrophe |oversee the implementation of |Budget be reserved to insure |are insured are generally insured| |
| | |reserves. Government should |hazard maps governing insurers’ |public works. |separately. | |
| | |exempt from taxable income such |levels of catastrophe peril |Government dependency | | |
| | |certifiable reserves for future |liabilities, but reinsurers do |administrators are free to decide| | |
| | |damaging events. |use hazard maps in this way. |from whom to obtain insurance for| | |
| | |The Government often has |5% of after-tax earnings is |property and do not pool together| | |
| | |difficulty complying with the |contributed to a Catastrophe Loss|to obtain better rates nor are | | |
| | |counterpart requirements to gain |Trust Fund. |they required to insure via the | | |
| | |access to loans offered by the |The insurers are currently |government-held insurance | | |
| | |IADB and World Bank. |classified by size and premiums |company. | | |
| | | |collected/sales volume. Work |There is no public funding | | |
| | | |underway with M Best Co to |mechanism to indemnify the poor. | | |
| | | |prepare new rating system. | | | |
| |Technical |Government projects should be | | | | |
| | |independently reviewed at the | | | | |
| | |design stage, with the aim of | | | | |
| | |eliminating need for hurricane | | | | |
| | |insurance. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |The Civil Defense has submitted a|The Civil Defense does not | | | |
| |legislative package that would |promote risk reduction for | | | |
| |assure a budget for emergency |insurability purposes. | | | |
| |response. | | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Representatives of private |Through their Risk Inspection |Public autonomous enterprises do |Many corporations, chains and |Other than financing the amount |
| | |insurance companies participate |Departments, insurance companies |not generally insure their |franchises have a worldwide |of the premium due, no other |
| | |on an Advisory Board to the |provide technical assistance to |assets. |policy that covers assets and |mechanisms exist. |
| | |Insurance Superintendent, which |clients, making recommendation | |activities in the country. | |
| | |meets regularly and works on |and evaluating their compliance. | |Individual hotel chains will | |
| | |topics such as policies, |If the client does not comply the| |often pool coverage. | |
| | |coverage, coverage modifications,|company will cancel the policy. | | | |
| | |and insurance legislation. |Corporations, chains and | | | |
| | | |franchises generally are required| | | |
| | | |to have up-to-date coverage. | | | |
| |Members |Generally, companies do not |Often private commercial | | | |
| | |maintain savings for |properties are not insured to | | | |
| | |self-insurance purposes. However,|actual value, but to the amount | | | |
| | |both REFIDOMSA and CODETEL |remaining on the loan principal. | | | |
| | |reported that special contingency|An estimated 20% of private | | | |
| | |funds are part of an available |companies, which are generally, | | | |
| | |emergency budget. |corporations, chains and | | | |
| | |Companies using cutting edge |franchises, have business | | | |
| | |technology are concerned about |interruption insurance. | | | |
| | |the turn around time on insurance| | | | |
| | |policy claims and how this can | | | | |
| | |affect recovery plans and losses | | | | |
| | |in market share to better | | | | |
| | |prepared competitors. | | | | |
References
The information generated is the product of:
5. The consultant’s (Christine M. Herridge) first hand knowledge of the NGOs, Civil Defense and Private Sector vulnerability identification and reduction activities as Coordinator of the Asociación Dominicana de Mitigación de Desastres (ADMD) in the Dominican Republic.
6. Discussions with key sources of information regarding insurance, the environment, the building code, Public Works, the National Planning Office, hotels, free zones, and the IADB programming including:
Ing. Simón Mahfoud, Technical Vice President, Compañía Nacional de Seguros
Ing. Evelio Martínez, 2nd Vice-President of Engineering, Compañía Nacional de Seguros (SEGNA)
Ing. Máximo Viñas, General Advisor in Health, Industrial Safety and the Environment, REFIDOMSA (the Dominican Oil Refinery, affiliate of SHELL)
Ing. Américo Julio Peña, Environmental Advisor to the Senate of the Dominican Republic
Ing. Héctor O’Reilly, President of SODOSISMICA, Technical Advisor to Public Works
Mr. Ivan Reynoso, Executive Director of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production
Mr. José Almonte, Director of Industrial Safety and Quality, CODETEL/VERIZON
Mrs. Paula Dimitri, Executive Director of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association
Ing. José Alarcón, Coordinator of the Risk Management and Zoning Component of the Technical Secretariat to the Presidency’s Disaster Prevention Sub-Program
Mrs. María Rodríguez, Head of the Environmental Planning Department of the National Planning Office
GRENADA
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Population groups aware of some |Some population groups aware of | |Forestry conducts some training | |
|(Communities and their |hazards from local and historical |their vulnerability. | |sessions to identify and protect | |
|organizations) |knowledge of areas. |Agency for Rural Transformation | |environmental systems via Grenada| |
| |1988 OAS study identified some |conducting training sessions for | |Community Organisation and | |
| |vulnerable areas. |some communities. NERO assists. | |Grenada's Agency for Rural | |
| |Need for training in hazard |NERO feels the need to work more | |Transformation. | |
| |identification. |closely with groups in communities | | | |
| | |to identify their vulnerability. | | | |
| | |Some development located in | | | |
| | |hazard-prone areas. The extent of | | | |
| | |the problem cannot be confirmed | | | |
| | |without hazard and vulnerability | | | |
| | |maps. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | |Some committees have identified | | | |
| | |vulnerable groups in their areas. | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Mitigation Council | |Some vulnerability issues addressed|There is no umbrella | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |established in 1999 under World | |in EIA request. |environmental legislation and no | |
| | |Bank Project. | | |single environmental agency. | |
| | | | | |Therefore, there is no | |
| | | | | |comprehensive approach to dealing| |
| | | | | |with issues. | |
| |Technical |Seismic Unit in Trinidad providing | |No vulnerability assessments |Causes of environmental | |
| | |maps to identify areas vulnerable | |carried out except for shelters. |degradation identified. In Grand | |
| | |to impact of Kick 'em Jenny | |Shelters not assessed for |Anse, increase in number and | |
| | |(tsunamis) and Mt. Catherine | |locational vulnerability and some |frequency of flooding and | |
| | |volcanoes. | |located in areas vulnerable to |landslides from heavy rain due to| |
| | | | |landslides and floods. |development practices on | |
| | | | | |hillsides and lack of drainage | |
| | | | | |outfalls to the sea. | |
| | | | | |Serious environmental degradation| |
| | | | | |in Carriacou due to uncontrolled | |
| | | | | |grazing. | |
| | | | | |Improper solid waste disposal in | |
| | | | | |St. Georges blocks rivers and | |
| | | | | |contributes to flooding. Sanitary| |
| | | | | |landfill constructed in 2000/2001| |
| | | | | |damaged by landslide in 2001 and | |
| | | | | |now unusable. | |
| | | | | |No capacity for water quality | |
| | | | | |testing and monitoring. | |
|National Disaster Office | | |Vulnerability assessments of |NERO promotes awareness of links | |
|(Established in 1996) | | |shelters under CDMP.[26] |between hazards and the | |
| | | |CPACC climate change project[27] |environment. | |
| | | |produced list of critical |No disaster management | |
| | | |facilities along the coast. |legislation in place. | |
| | | |No inventory of critical facilities| | |
| | | |except shelters. | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders | | | | | |
| |Members | | | | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |People not sufficiently aware of |National Development Foundation | | |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |safe building techniques and there |organising training for builders in | | |not easily available; eg |
|organizations) |are very few skilled builders. |use of building code. | | |hurricane straps not sold locally|
| | | | | |even though retrofitting |
| | | | | |encouraged. |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |No hazard maps available. |Need for people with appropriate | | | |
| | |skills and training to understand | | | |
| | |mitigation issues. | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Existing planning legislation does |Prior to preparation of Building | |EIAs requested although planning | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |not bind the Crown and some public |Code, Physical Planning Unit used | |legislation doesn't specifically | |
| | |buildings do not pass through |Regulations under existing | |mandate it. | |
| | |planning system to ensure conformity|legislation and Development Standards| |Revised planning legislation | |
| | |with Code/standards/guidelines. |prepared in-house to guide | |includes provision for EIA and | |
| | | |development and construction. | |will go before Parliament in | |
| | | |Historical information also used to | |early 2002. | |
| | | |assess applications. | |Some protection for environmental| |
| | | |OAS/CDMP provided support to develop | |systems eg via National Forestry | |
| | | |Building Code in 2000. Implemented | |Policy (1999) and Marine Parks | |
| | | |for one year on a trial basis. | |Unit of Fisheries Division. | |
| | | |Building Review Committee collating | |EIA process not fully | |
| | | |comments to amend Code. | |institutionalised at this time. | |
| | | |Revised planning legislation going | |Shortage of resource persons in | |
| | | |before Parliament in early 2002, | |Physical Planning Unit to | |
| | | |which provides for Building Code and | |evaluate EIAs. | |
| | | |National Physical Development Plan to| | | |
| | | |be adopted under the Act. | | | |
| | | |1999 Physical Environmental | | | |
| | | |Management Plan for Carriacou and | | | |
| | | |Petit Martinique include some hazard | | | |
| | | |information using historical data and| | | |
| | | |local knowledge of hazard events. | | | |
| | | |National Physical Development Plan | | | |
| | | |prepared and recently accepted by | | | |
| | | |Cabinet. | | | |
| | | |Building Code does not deal with | | | |
| | | |locational issues or how to identify | | | |
| | | |and avoid vulnerable locations. | | | |
| |Technical |No local capacity to develop hazard |Some trained building inspectors to | | | |
| | |maps. |enforce and monitor implementation of| | | |
| | | |building code. | | | |
| | | |Insufficient staff at Physical | | | |
| | | |Planning for monitoring and | | | |
| | | |enforcement. | | | |
| | | |National Disaster Coordinator feels | | | |
| | | |there is insufficient capacity to | | | |
| | | |evaluate development locations, | | | |
| | | |particularly the soil conditions. | | | |
| | | |Leads to houses built in clay soils | | | |
| | | |and cracking. | | | |
| National Disaster Office | |NERO working with business community | |Some sensitivity at the national | |
| | |to increase their awareness. | |level to the relationship between| |
| | | | |environmental issues and natural | |
| | | | |hazards. NERO represented on most| |
| | | | |environmental initiatives. | |
| | | | |NERO working on draft | |
| | | | |environmental legislation based | |
| | | | |on CDERA model. | |
|Business and |Leadership | | |In 2001 NERO initiated Private| | |
|Industry | | | |Sector Disaster Management | | |
| | | | |Committee. Now being | | |
| | | | |structured. | | |
| | | | |Large companies like Cable and| | |
| | | | |Wireless have disaster | | |
| | | | |management plans. | | |
| | | | |Smaller companies asking NERO | | |
| | | | |for assistance to prepare | | |
| | | | |Plans after NERO worked to | | |
| | | | |increase their awareness. | | |
| |Members | |Insurance industry not very | |NERO is working with hotel and | |
| | | |responsive since Grenada has not | |tourism industry to understand | |
| | | |faced a major hazard in decades. | |environmental issues and their | |
| | | |No premium reductions offered for | |relationship to natural hazards. | |
| | | |development including mitigation | | | |
| | | |measures or retrofitting. | | | |
| | | |Grenada Development Bank started | | | |
| | | |project with CDB assistance in 1998/9| | | |
| | | |to offer loans for retrofitting | | | |
| | | |homes. | | | |
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and Diversification |Risk Financing |
|Local |
|Civil Society |NGOs are not involved in risk |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |transfer. |homeowners. Homeowners and | | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |There are no alternatives to |investors depend entirely on the | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |insurance be it contingency |property insurance market, | | |credit facility. |
| |credit or contingency equity. The|although some carriers cannot buy| | |Commercial properties, |
| |clientele is not that |adequate reinsurance. [28] | | |particularly, hotels that are |
| |sophisticated or knowledgeable. |Most properties in the middle and| | |part of international chains, may|
| |A few churches operate a “loose” |upper income groups are | | |be using risk financing options |
| |form of self-insurance for their |comprehensively property | | |that allow multi-year coverage |
| |parishioners through informal |insurance to actual value as this| | |that would result in stabilizing |
| |welfare schemes |forms part of the mortgage | | |premiums. |
| |Some churches build up |agreement. | | | |
| |contingency funds for |About 75% of properties in the | | | |
| |providential purposes. |lower income group are insured | | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in housing |because premium rates are | | | |
| |or property development. |relatively low in the market. | | | |
| | |Some properties are uninsurable | | | |
| | |due to building standards, type | | | |
| | |of material used and | | | |
| | |vulnerability – low-lying areas, | | | |
| | |on precipitous areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance | | | |
| | |industry, there is no compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for private properties.| | | |
| | |Given Grenada’s vulnerability to | | | |
| | |volcanic actions, there is need | | | |
| | |for compulsory insurance for | | | |
| | |properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |[There is no local government | | | | |
| | |body. All activities are | | | | |
| | |prosecuted by a national agency.]| | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|Government has no policy for |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual |is inadequate. The office is |insuring public assets. Only |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |poorly staffed but is equipped |vehicles are insured. |Government Headquarters |mitigation efforts. |
| | |probabilities. |with a fair amount of technical |The public properties, which are |The Financial Complex |Additional contingent credit |
| | |A contingency fund was set up in |skill. Skills in risk management |insured, are covered under the |The ministerial Complex |facilities could include: |
| | |1999 but no transfer is being |however are limited. |specific loan conditions and |The National Stadium |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |made. |Some aspects of planning, zoning |lease arrangement. |NB: All other public assets are |Facility |
| | |NB: The absence of deliberate |and hazard mapping (hazard |There is no public fund or |not insured. |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |risk transfer policy may be due |mapping for flooding and |mechanism established to | |Facility |
| | |to the fact that the country has |landslides) are being done by the|indemnify the poor or to provide | | |
| | |not had a major disaster (fire, |Physical Planning Department. |incentive for undertaking | | |
| | |volcanic or windstorm) since the |However there are no hazard maps |mitigation measures. | | |
| | |passage of Hurricane Janet in |governing insurer’s levels of |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | |1955. |catastrophe peril liabilities, no|feasibility of | | |
| | |Government will be expected to |functional linkage between the |(i) Investing in contingency | | |
| | |encourage tax incentives when the|physical planning and the |credit and contingency equity to | | |
| | |Catastrophe Pool is established |insurance regulation, and very |increase liquidity for | | |
| | |under The World Bank/CDB OECS and|little enforcement. |rehabilitating damaged buildings,| | |
| | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |The insurance regulator needs to:|schools, hospitals, water | | |
| | |Management and Insurance Reform |(i) have the capacity to do |facilities, ports, roads bridges | | |
| | |Project. |catastrophe premium pricing. |using credit and capital market | | |
| | | |(ii) educate with respect to |instruments. | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |(ii) Providing incentives for | | |
| | | |events and minimizing the |catastrophe risk coverage for | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |low-income groups particularly | | |
| | | | |those occupying areas prone to | | |
| | | | |landslide such as squatters. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |NERO promotes risk reduction |. | | |
| |towards the National Emergency |through the national committees, | | | |
| |Relief Organization (NERO) only |public education and awareness | | | |
| |for operations. No emergency |programs mainly during the | | | |
| |funds are deployed for |hurricane season. | | | |
| |contingencies. |NERO needs to: | | | |
| |Government has EC$1.9 millions in|(i) To embark on a broad based | | | |
| |a Fiscal Tranche at the Central |insurance, risk management and | | | |
| |Bank, which is a contingency |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| |fund.[29] |programme | | | |
| |NERO depends largely on inflows |(ii) To emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| |from regional and international |maintenance and building | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |standards and insurance coverage | | | |
| |disaster. | | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |There is no society-wide Advisory|Insurance companies do not |Public autonomous enterprises |Nutmeg: There is a certain |Alternative risk financing for |
|Financial | |Council. |provide incentives to homeowners |under the management of the |measure of risk transfer |the business and industry would |
| | | |such as lower premium rates for |central government such as Water |mechanism or self- insurance. |involve: |
| | | |risk reduction not for risk |and Electricity are not |This is associated with the |(i) Allocation of capital reserve|
| | | |assessment and management checks.|adequately insured because of |capitalization of the |during the profitable years to be|
| | | | |expectations in the insurance |Cooperative, which manages the |used as collateral for debt |
| | | | |market. |production, and marketing of the |financing for reconstruction |
| | | | |Statutory bodies such as the port|export crop. |effort. |
| | | | |are insured to actual value. |Reserving is however never |(ii) Use of capital market |
| | | | |Pooling method would most be |sufficient to bail out the |instruments to generate raise |
| | | | |appropriate for these |industry in difficult periods. |equity capital for the recovery |
| | | | |enterprises. These are to be |Tourism: There is no risk |effort |
| | | | |covered under The World Bank/CDB |transfer mechanism or self- |(iii) Creation of a venture |
| | | | |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe |insurance for locally owned |capital fund to supplement |
| | | | |Risk Management and Insurance |properties. |recoveries from business |
| | | | |Reform Project. |Joint purchase of insurance |interruption insurance. |
| | | | | |coverage is an imperative (given | |
| | | | | |the similar exposure) to lower | |
| | | | | |cost through increased portfolio.| |
| |Members |Leadership should be provided by |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | |the private enterprises that are |are insured to actual value | | | |
| | |leaders in financial management |because the terms and conditions | | | |
| | |particularly the insurance |of the debt capital require | | | |
| | |sector. |building standards are strictly | | | |
| | | |adhered to at all stages of the | | | |
| | | |construction.[30] | | | |
| | | |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | | |are insured against all perils | | | |
| | | |and are built in accordance with | | | |
| | | |building standards | | | |
| | | |In most cases, commercial | | | |
| | | |properties are insured to their | | | |
| | | |actual value to meet the | | | |
| | | |conditionalities of the overdraft| | | |
| | | |facilities. | | | |
| | | |No coverage is taken for business| | | |
| | | |interruption, given the low | | | |
| | | |incidence of disaster since 1955.| | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | |Private firms do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
| | | |There is need for more forward | | | |
| | | |planning by the private sector. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant's first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mr. Dennis Clarke, Director of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning, St George’s, Grenada.
• David Phillip, Managing Director, NALGICO, St George’s, Grenada.
JAMAICA
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Communities have basic information |Communities aware of vulnerability.|Vulnerability assessments based on | | |
|(Communities and their |about hazard vulnerability and |Informal identification of |first hand knowledge of community | | |
|organizations) |considerable historical information|vulnerable sub-groups (eg via |members. | | |
| |about hazard prone areas. |churches knowledge of elderly and |Rio Minho landslide map includes | | |
| |Some community groups trained in |disabled.) |location of critical facilities. | | |
| |use of hazard maps (eg Portland.) |No formal identification of | | | |
| |Maps have guidelines for |vulnerable sub-groups. | | | |
| |interpretation and use. | | | | |
| |Population groups aware of hazards.| | | | |
| |UWI working on atlas of small | | | | |
| |communities, starting with Kingston| | | | |
| |and St. Andrew. Community groups to| | | | |
| |provide them with information | | | | |
| |useful for when building or buying | | | | |
| |homes. | | | | |
| |Generally, there is poor | | | | |
| |distribution of hazard maps and a | | | | |
| |need to translate technical | | | | |
| |information on maps into more | | | | |
| |useful format for use by community | | | | |
| |groups. | | | | |
| |Community training only done as | | | | |
| |part of individual projects and is | | | | |
| |not sustained or sufficiently | | | | |
| |widespread. | | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | |Disaster Coordinator maintains | | |
| | | | |database of shelters and remedial | | |
| | | | |action needed. | | |
| |Technical |Need hazard maps to cover all of | | | | |
| | |Portland and other parts of | | | | |
| | |country. | | | | |
| | |Maps need to be made more user | | | | |
| | |friendly by inserting missing | | | | |
| | |descriptions, altering level of | | | | |
| | |detail to reflect user groups. | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees (exist in |Few committees have copies of |Committees identify vulnerable |Assist ODPEM to maintain database | | |
|most but not all communities) |hazard maps. |groups. |of shelters. | | |
| |Some training in use of maps | | | | |
| |started in Portland. | | | | |
| |Poor distribution of maps to | | | | |
| |communities. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Mitigation Programme | |Critical facilities reviewed by | | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |headed by ODPEM. National | |Public Works. If located in | | |
| | |Mitigation Policy to be completed | |vulnerable areas, PWD uses | | |
| | |by end 2002 with assistance from | |structural measures and regular | | |
| | |CDB.[31] | |maintenance to mitigate potential | | |
| | |National Disaster Committee chaired| |impacts. | | |
| | |by Prime Minister, includes all | |Location of critical facilities in | | |
| | |government ministries and NGOs with| |hazard prone areas need to be | | |
| | |ODPEM serving as secretariat. | |reviewed. Many older buildings were| | |
| | | | |never subject to vulnerability | | |
| | | | |assessments. | | |
| |Technical |Available hazard mapping includes | |Ministry of Health has list of |NEPA has atlas identifying all | |
| | |Landslides for sections of | |critical health facilities and |ecosystems in the country. | |
| | |Portland, Rio Grande, Kingston | |Ministry of Works has list of roads|Indicators of environmental | |
| | |metropolitan area, St. Mary and | |and bridges. Any vulnerability |degradation developed. Some based| |
| | |Clarendon and Rio Minho (more | |assessments only rudimentary. |on UN trends and indicators. | |
| | |detailed maps exist for heavily | |Water Resources Authority maintains| | |
| | |populated areas); rudimentary | |functional database of sewage | | |
| | |earthquake; river flooding for | |plants which is geo-referenced and | | |
| | |areas historically prone to hazard | |includes photos. | | |
| | |(eg Rio Cobre); wind damage for | |Need to develop comprehensive | | |
| | |Kingston; storm surge for Kingston,| |vulnerability assessments of all | | |
| | |parts of St. Catherine and Montego | |critical facilities. | | |
| | |Bay. | | | | |
| | |Maps generated by many agencies, | | | | |
| | |including UWI Department of Geology| | | | |
| | |and Geography. | | | | |
| | |UWI produced Jamaica South Coast | | | | |
| | |Sustainable Development Strategy as| | | | |
| | |part of the Halcrow Geology and | | | | |
| | |Natural Hazard Report (1998). This | | | | |
| | |also covered earthquake, flood and | | | | |
| | |hurricane hazards in the area. | | | | |
| | |Major agencies such as Departments | | | | |
| | |of Mines and Geology, Water | | | | |
| | |Resources Authority, NEPA and ODPEM| | | | |
| | |have most of the hazard maps. | | | | |
| | |Water Resources Authority produce | | | | |
| | |flood plain maps and use to inform | | | | |
| | |their comments on development | | | | |
| | |applications. | | | | |
| | |NEPA and Forestry Divisions have | | | | |
| | |very good GIS capacity and | | | | |
| | |experienced staff. | | | | |
| | |UWI has prepared guidelines for use| | | | |
| | |of Kingston Landslide maps. | | | | |
| | |Available on UWI website to | | | | |
| | |increase accessibility. | | | | |
| | |Need for more hazard maps at | | | | |
| | |appropriate scales to support | | | | |
| | |decision making and evaluation of | | | | |
| | |development proposals. | | | | |
| | |More technical data needed to | | | | |
| | |support the vulnerability | | | | |
| | |assessment process. | | | | |
| | |Need to use hazard maps. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Hazard mapping started in early |ODPEM doing vulnerability |No comprehensive list of critical | | |
| |1990s. Previously used rudimentary |assessments for areas in Portland |facilities in one database. | | |
| |multi hazard maps based on |impacted by flooding and landslides| | | |
| |historical data. |in December 2001. Recommended | | | |
| |Hazard maps available for flooding.|rehabilitation strategies and some | | | |
| |ODPEM trying to develop GIS |relocation. | | | |
| |capability in-house. Acquired Arc | | | | |
| |Info and ArcView and some hardware.| | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Insurance Company of the West |Local bauxite companies get | | | |
| | |Indies has disaster wardens and |involved in local disaster | | | |
| | |provides training for them. UWI |initiatives. | | | |
| | |Department of Geology and Geography|Not formal members of local | | | |
| | |conducted workshop for them on |disaster committees. | | | |
| | |Understanding Natural Hazards and | | | | |
| | |Disasters in early 2002. | | | | |
| | |Institute of Engineers conducts | | | | |
| | |workshops to sensitise insurance | | | | |
| | |industry to risks. | | | | |
| |Members | | |Jamaica Light and Power Company | | |
| | | | |maintains GIS database of | | |
| | | | |facilities, including information | | |
| | | | |about each pole and has capacity to| | |
| | | | |relate this to location of hazard | | |
| | | | |prone areas. | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |Construction Resources Development |Use of community expertise is used to|ODPEM working to incorporate | |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |Centre (CRDC) Project in 1990s built|develop strategies, eg use of |disaster management measures | |easily available at reasonable |
|organizations) |houses and created video of critical|personal initiatives to reduce impact|into school curricula from | |cost. |
| |stages in the construction process |of flooding in Gordon Town. |primary level. | |Flood damage assessments in Rio |
| |to show assembly of timber houses. |Houses built on supports in rural |NEPA linked census data to | |Cobre community. |
| | |areas to reduce impact of flooding. |watersheds to identify | | |
| | |In Nightingale Grove (Portland), roof|households in poverty who live| | |
| | |level used as height of floor level |in vulnerable watersheds. | | |
| | |for new buildings depending on depth |Environmental issues | | |
| | |of floods. |integrated into school | | |
| | |Workshops organised by national and |curricula. Comprehensive | | |
| | |local groups, including Jamaica |Environmental Education | | |
| | |Institute of Engineers to sensitise |Project includes some disaster| | |
| | |people to National Building Code and |management. | | |
| | |how to use it. |NEPA now preparing classroom | | |
| | | |resource manuals. | | |
| | | |UWI conducts summer | | |
| | | |Certificate course in | | |
| | | |Geo-Hazards, MSc in | | |
| | | |Environmental Management and | | |
| | | |degree courses in Geography | | |
| | | |and Geology incorporate | | |
| | | |natural hazard management and | | |
| | | |GIS. | | |
| | | |Due to lack of funding, | | |
| | | |vulnerability reduction | | |
| | | |measures in flood- and | | |
| | | |landslide-prone communities | | |
| | | |lags far behind what is | | |
| | | |needed. | | |
| | | |More awareness of need for | | |
| | | |mitigation approach needed. | | |
| | | |People still stuck in response| | |
| | | |and recovery mode. | | |
| | | |Need for cultural change to | | |
| | | |improve perception of | | |
| | | |importance of disaster issues.| | |
| | | |NEPA would like to see ODPEM | | |
| | | |build on initiatives to | | |
| | | |include disaster management in| | |
| | | |school curricula and extend to| | |
| | | |teacher training institutions | | |
| | | |to complete infusion process. | | |
|Local Government |Policy | |Parish Council prepares mitigation |ODPEM requires Parish Councils|Parish Environmental Profile | |
| | | |programme with guidelines from ODPEM.|to prepare Parish Disaster |prepared for Portland in 2000. | |
| | | | |Plans and guides their | | |
| | | | |programmes. | | |
| | | | |Parish Disaster Committee is a| | |
| | | | |standing committee of the | | |
| | | | |local authority. Each chaired | | |
| | | | |by Parish Disaster Coordinator| | |
| | | | |who maintains links with | | |
| | | | |Regional Officers at ODPEM. | | |
| |Technical | |Applications for development approval| | | |
| | | |received by Director of Planning at | | | |
| | | |Parish Council (the local authority | | | |
| | | |is responsible for planning) and sent| | | |
| | | |to NEPA for review. | | | |
| | | |Undertake regular drain maintenance. | | | |
| | | |Produce leaflets on how to build | | | |
| | | |timber houses and small concrete | | | |
| | | |houses. | | | |
| | | |Local Authority Inspectors attend | | | |
| | | |training seminars conducted by | | | |
| | | |Institute of Engineers under | | | |
| | | |internationally funded projects. | | | |
| | | |Local Authority staffed by graduates | | | |
| | | |from UTECH with construction industry| | | |
| | | |training. | | | |
| | | |Flood markers and gauges in some | | | |
| | | |areas eg Rio Cobre, Yallas River, Rio| | | |
| | | |Minho and Rio Grande Valley. | | | |
| | | |Information use to create flood | | | |
| | | |hazard maps. | | | |
| | | |Flood Warning System in Rio Cobre and| | | |
| | | |Thred Park communities, where colour | | | |
| | | |coded gauges used and telemetric rain| | | |
| | | |gauges feed data to computers at | | | |
| | | |Water Resources Agency. Information | | | |
| | | |passed on to ODPEM. Flood Alert | | | |
| | | |system in Portland. | | | |
| | | |Lack of manpower in Parishes to do | | | |
| | | |adequate building inspection. | | | |
| | | |Professional Engineers Registration | | | |
| | | |Act requires engineers to be | | | |
| | | |registered to design large buildings.| | | |
| | | |Not well implemented. Doesn't include| | | |
| | | |small buildings. | | | |
| | | |Data derived from telemetric rain | | | |
| | | |gauges in Thompson Pen area but | | | |
| | | |information not available to | | | |
| | | |calibrate models. | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | |ODPEM's strategy is to develop| | |
| | | |consistent disaster management| | |
| | | |organisations at community | | |
| | | |level. | | |
| | | |Zonal committees exist and are| | |
| | | |most active in most vulnerable| | |
| | | |areas. Zonal chairperson links| | |
| | | |with Parish Disaster | | |
| | | |Coordinator and sits in on | | |
| | | |Parish Disaster Committee | | |
| | | |meetings. | | |
| | | |Parish Disaster Committees | | |
| | | |comprise members drawn from | | |
| | | |wide cross section of | | |
| | | |government agencies and NGOs. | | |
| | | |Organise evacuation programmes| | |
| | | |to reduce vulnerability of | | |
| | | |population. | | |
| | | |There is a lack of funding to | | |
| | | |undertake hazard mitigation | | |
| | | |programmes. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |New public buildings conform to |1983 Jamaica National Building Code | |EIAs required for projects and |Over 50 percent of government |
|Sectoral Agencies | |Jamaica National Building Code, |(based on CUBIC) published as a Green| |include request for hazard |agencies have disaster plans. |
| | |since they are designed by |Paper (ie endorsed by government but | |information. | |
| | |professional engineers who adhere to|not made law.) Code now being | |Jamaica's Environment 2001 - | |
| | |Code |revised. Also use CUBIC and | |Environmental Status and State of| |
| | | |California Codes. | |the Environment Report prepared | |
| | | |Committee set up to review 1983 | |in 2001. | |
| | | |Building Code has stalled due to | |National Environment and Planning| |
| | | |confusion over which agency should be| |Strategy to be prepared. Will | |
| | | |responsible. | |outline an approach to | |
| | | |Bureau of Standards developed | |mitigation. | |
| | | |standards for building materials. | |Need to further explore forest | |
| | | |70 percent of buildings not approved | |degradation and impact on | |
| | | |via formal planning system and most | |flooding and landslides. | |
| | | |not built by trained contractors. | |Degradation of environment due to| |
| | | |Development standards adequate to | |agricultural practices, coal and | |
| | | |guide development in vulnerable | |wood-fire burning and human | |
| | | |areas. | |settlements. | |
| | | |Hazard maps very generalised and | | | |
| | | |cannot be used for many site specific| | | |
| | | |development applications. | | | |
| | | |Hazard information needs to be fully | | | |
| | | |integrated into land use planning and| | | |
| | | |development process. | | | |
| |Technical |Widespread use of gabion baskets to |Monthly roundtable discussions held |On-going UWI project to build |NEPA uses Sustainable Watershed |Hurricane Housing Act empowers |
| | |strengthen river banks. |to evaluate development applications |awareness of landslides, |Management as a mitigation tool. |Ministry of Housing to develop |
| | |River training done in Portland to |informally including various agencies|empower people and develop a |Environmental policies developed |their own designs and housing |
| | |contain river in its natural course.|and ODPEM. |computer-based expert |to protect some ecosystems eg |projects after a hurricane. |
| | |More widespread than building sea |Slope stabilization with plants to |knowledge system. |Ridge to Reef Project, Watershed | |
| | |defences. |reduce soil erosion used to reduce |Flood Water Control Master |Management Project in Rio Grande | |
| | |Regular drain maintenance by |impact of landslides. |Plan being prepared in |and Great River watersheds and | |
| | |government. |Other appropriate mitigation measures|consultation with |Trees for Tomorrow Project in | |
| | |Retaining walls (not widespread) |suggested by ODPEM after site visits.|stakeholders. |Portland, Portland. | |
| | |used to reduce impact of landslides.|NEPA uses hazard maps to impose | |More work needed to | |
| | |Use of hurricane straps and |conditions in planning approvals. | |institutionalise environmental | |
| | |appropriate design to reduce impact |Some areas for which hazard maps | |protection policies for | |
| | |from wind damage. |exist are not a priority for | |ecosystems and to value them. | |
| | |Bureau of Standards has building |preparation of development plans. | |Jamaica's coral reefs very | |
| | |materials committee, which publishes|Some guidelines prepared by NEPA to | |degraded and need protection. | |
| | |standards for building materials. |guide development in vulnerable | | | |
| | |Qualified staff graduates from UWI |areas, such as St. Ann's. | | | |
| | |and/or UTECH. |Staff at many government agencies | | | |
| | |Certain housing agencies design and |such as ODPEM and NEPA trained in | | | |
| | |build housing without always passing|natural hazard issues as graduates of| | | |
| | |through local authority approval |UWI. | | | |
| | |system. |Need to develop building and | | | |
| | | |development standards based on hazard| | | |
| | | |and vulnerability information. | | | |
| | | |National Building Code only addresses| | | |
| | | |structures without emphasis on other | | | |
| | | |issues like flooding, vulnerable | | | |
| | | |locations or seismic hazards. | | | |
| | | |Efforts to produce a volume of the | | | |
| | | |building code dealing with small | | | |
| | | |buildings were not successful. Need | | | |
| | | |for guidelines for small buildings. | | | |
| | | |Code not very well publicised and | | | |
| | | |not all professionals have copy or | | | |
| | | |use it. | | | |
|National Disaster Office | |ODPEM has Mitigation Planning and |Variety of in-house technical | |ODPEM documents impacts of hazard|
| | |Research Unit which encourages use of|expertise available. | |events. |
| | |mitigation strategies in planning and|Use of awareness days such as | |2001 floods in Portland assessed |
| | |identifies appropriate mitigation |Earthquake Awareness Day | |to cause JA$2-3 billion in |
| | |techniques for use in vulnerable |(ODPEM) to sensitise public. | |damage. |
| | |areas. |Hosted nationwide 2001 schools| | |
| | |ODPEM/MPRU works with other agencies |competition (primary and | | |
| | |to develop mitigation strategies. |secondary) to prepare hazard | | |
| | |ODPEM works with umbrella agencies to|map for the community in which| | |
| | |assist them to develop disaster |school located, design posters| | |
| | |plans. |and build models to show how | | |
| | |ODPEM involved in development |community was affected by | | |
| | |review/approval process, especially |hazards and what mitigation | | |
| | |in areas known to be vulnerable, to |measures used. | | |
| | |integrate hazard information into | | | |
| | |process. | | | |
| | |ODPEM encourages use of reputable | | | |
| | |engineers and contractors who are | | | |
| | |familiar with and build according to | | | |
| | |Code. | | | |
|Business and |Leadership | |Work with Regional Disaster |Tourism Product Development | |Very few hotel disaster plans |
|Industry | | |Coordinators attached to ODPEM. |Committee requires hotels to | |submitted to or approved by |
| | | |Insurance industry has used |develop disaster plans to be | |ODPEM. |
| | | |information about risks and |certified for hotel operation.| | |
| | | |vulnerable areas to increase |Plans must be sent to ODPEM | | |
| | | |premiums. |for approval. | | |
| | | |Companies not offering premium |Red Cross initiated a project | | |
| | | |reductions for use of risk reduction |to encourage hotels to write | | |
| | | |measures or retrofitting techniques. |plans. Not very successful. | | |
| | | | |Sandals hotel has a hurricane | | |
| | | | |plan (not done on group/chain | | |
| | | | |basis). | | |
| | | | |Petroleum industry required to| | |
| | | | |have disaster plans. Also | | |
| | | | |prepare guidelines for haulers| | |
| | | | |and contractors as required by| | |
| | | | |their parent companies. | | |
| | | | |Ministry of Mines requires | | |
| | | | |companies to lodge a copy of | | |
| | | | |their plans with ODPEM. | | |
| | | | |Awareness and Preparedness for| | |
| | | | |Emergency at Local Level: | | |
| | | | |Programme provides for | | |
| | | | |evacuation of nearby | | |
| | | | |communities in event of | | |
| | | | |disaster. Developed following | | |
| | | | |incident in Bhopal. | | |
| | | | |No incentives offered by | | |
| | | | |insurance sector. | | |
| |Members |Grace Kennedy group assesses |Grace Kennedy Group has Group |Businesses participate in | |Grace Kennedy group has |
| | |vulnerability of buildings and |Disaster Preparedness Committee |training programmes. | |Contingency/Business Continuity |
| | |structures. Contract safety |comprising representatives from many |Communications media offer | |Plan. Companies can get workers |
| | |engineers to conduct regular audits |group companies and divisions. |concessionary rates for public| |and their families home safely or|
| | |of buildings and report to the |Conduct annual Group Disaster |information, awareness days | |to a safe place. Supplies |
| | |company and the Safety Council. |Preparedness Seminar. |and other projects. | |available for key personnel who |
| | |Reports included as agenda item of | |Cable and Wireless and Texaco | |man stations. |
| | |main GK Board meetings. Remedial | |sponsored simulation exercise | |Individual hotels have no formal |
| | |measure quickly implemented. | |for Portland Evacuation Plan. | |hurricane plans. |
| | | | |Grace Kennedy has Disaster | | |
| | | | |Manual, prepared with | | |
| | | | |assistance from ODPEM in | | |
| | | | |1990/1. Updated regularly as a| | |
| | | | |living document. Plan | | |
| | | | |identifies company resources | | |
| | | | |and information on families of| | |
| | | | |key staff. Frequently test for| | |
| | | | |state of readiness for each | | |
| | | | |company. | | |
| | | | |Grace Kennedy Group | | |
| | | | |participates in public | | |
| | | | |education programmes to | | |
| | | | |increase awareness of disaster| | |
| | | | |issues and retrofitting | | |
| | | | |techniques. | | |
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| | | | |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |One housing-related NGO offers |About 30-50% of houses in the | | |Traditional methods to finance |
|(Communities and their organizations) |some information about hurricane |formal sector are insured. Most | | |risks are under-utilized for a |
| |resistant improvements. |houses in the informal sector are| | |variety of reasons. The demand |
| |Due to financial and other |uninsured. Some commercial | | |for alternative methods is |
| |constraints, one housing-related |properties are insured. Many | | |therefore likely to be |
| |NGO, CR&DC, has virtually |small business enterprises do not| | |non-existent due to knowledge |
| |abandoned mission to provide |carry insurance against natural | | |gaps and the current stage of |
| |hurricane- resistant home |disasters. Per capita spending on| | |development of the market. |
| |improvement programmes to reduce |non-life insurance in 1997 was | | | |
| |vulnerability reduction and |estimated at US$76.[32] | | | |
| |attention to building standards. |Long-term savings to meet | | | |
| |Revolving loan financing was not |educational goals more widespread| | | |
| |available. |than is planning for natural | | | |
| |Churches and other community |disasters on a sustained | | | |
| |organizations do not appear to |basis.[33] | | | |
| |have vulnerability reduction as |Compulsory insurance against | | | |
| |part of their on-going |natural disasters for properties | | | |
| |programmes. |is not mandated by law. | | | |
| | |Catastrophe insurance penetration| | | |
| | |across all sectors estimated at | | | |
| | |below 50 percent. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |Risk management perceived to fall| | | | |
| | |exclusively within the ambit of | | | | |
| | |National Disaster Office [ODPEM] | | | | |
| | |and not at the institutional | | | | |
| | |level. | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Funds allocated in annual budget |New insurance regulatory |Policy on public asset coverage |Public insurable assets are |External financing sought ex-post|
|Sectoral Agencies | |for environmental planning and |authority, Financial Services |appears to be concerned largely |covered on an |event to address reconstruction |
| | |disaster management based on |Commission, is in early stage of |with procurement procedure |institution-by-institution basis |and restoration. |
| | |disaster plans. Budgetary |organization after 30-year old |compliance rather than with |with no attempt at pooling. |Financing mechanisms restricted |
| | |constraints preclude complete |Act repealed and replaced by |management of catastrophe risks. |Policy in relation to public |exclusively to ex-post disaster |
| | |provision. |Insurance Act 2001. Staff and |Central government assets |asset coverage seems to be |financing – no emphasis on |
| | |Actuarial assumptions do not |other resources are being |self-insured. |concerned exclusively with |pre-event financing. |
| | |apparently underlay funding |upgraded. New funding arrangement|Assets of public corporations |compliance with procurement | |
| | |provisions. |in place. |covered by private market. |guidelines than with mitigating | |
| | |Funding provisions are limited |The main focus of the insurance |Policy in relation to public |risks. | |
| | |due to budgetary constraints. |regulatory authority has tended |asset coverage seems to be | | |
| | |Risk management perceived to fall|to be in relation to the solvency|concerned exclusively with | | |
| | |exclusively within the ambit of |of players in the market place. |compliance with procurement | | |
| | |National Disaster Office [ODPEM] |The agency has developed no |guidelines than with mitigating | | |
| | |and not at the institutional |explicit policies to manage |risks. | | |
| | |level. |systemic risks posed by natural | | | |
| | |The creation of private |disasters, catastrophe-pricing | | | |
| | |catastrophe reserves by way of |policies or to ensure fair access| | | |
| | |tax incentives are not encouraged|to coverage. | | | |
| | |either to insurer s or other | | | | |
| | |enterprises. | | | | |
| |Technical |Persons occupying marginal lands | | | | |
| | |should be relocated. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Disaster office promotes the use |Promotes risk reduction, with the| | | |
| |of hazard information development|emphasis on saving lives. | | | |
| |and investment decisions. | | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |Insurers, lenders, Chamber of |Insurers do not promote schemes |Most autonomous enterprises | | |
|Financial | |Commerce and community leaders, |that provide incentives for risk |insured with private insurers. | | |
| | |most of whom belong to umbrella |reduction or implement creative | | | |
| | |organization, PSOJ, have not |plans to educate consumers about | | | |
| | |formed advisory council to |risks of natural disasters and | | | |
| | |Financial Services Commission, to|stimulate demand. Market for | | | |
| | |promote best practices for |insurance against natural | | | |
| | |catastrophe perils and |disasters very volatile. | | | |
| | |vulnerability reduction methods. | | | | |
| | |FSC board comprises ex-government| | | | |
| | |sector officials almost | | | | |
| | |exclusively. | | | | |
| |Members |Enterprises very dependent on |Some commercial properties are | | | |
| | |loan financing. |insured. Few business | | | |
| | | |interruption insurances are sold.| | | |
| | | |Private commercial properties | | | |
| | | |that are not subject to lending | | | |
| | | |agreements may not be insured or,| | | |
| | | |are only partially insured. There| | | |
| | | |is no legislation mandating | | | |
| | | |compulsory insurance except in | | | |
| | | |the case of motor vehicles. | | | |
| | | |Business interruption insurance | | | |
| | | |is not sold to private | | | |
| | | |enterprises as much as it should | | | |
| | | |due in part to ignorance about | | | |
| | | |the subject. | | | |
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |A suite of hazard maps prepared in |Community groups in St. Kitts and |Vulnerability studies done in 2001.|High levels of awareness of |No formal risk assessment carried|
|(Communities and their |2001 for St. Kitts and Nevis under |Nevis aware of some vulnerable |International Labour Organisation |environmental systems and their |out to identify vulnerable groups|
|organizations) |PGDM.[34] Planning Department |areas. Communities on volcanic |(ILO) consultant working on |importance but still not taken |and settlements. |
| |considering fee structure to charge|slopes less aware of potential |training programmes for |seriously. | |
| |for access to maps. |danger than those in coastal areas.|vulnerability assessments. |General public may not be aware | |
| |NEMA's public relations officer |Religious and service groups in St.|Information from vulnerability |of extent of damage to some | |
| |developing a public awareness |Kitts and in Nevis support NEMA in |assessments not being used much by |systems like coral reefs. | |
| |campaign, which will publicise |disseminating information and |NEMA. | | |
| |maps. |promoting public awareness via | | | |
| |Local groups in St. Kitts and Nevis|street banners and hurricane | | | |
| |have basic training to identify |preparedness messages. | | | |
| |hazards and vulnerable areas. |Red Cross discussing with NEMA the | | | |
| |Community groups not widely aware |possibility of establishing Nevis | | | |
| |of hazard mapping. |as a focal point for distributing | | | |
| |Hazard maps not yet provided to |relief supplies for the region. | | | |
| |communities |Significant amount of housing in | | | |
| | |vulnerable coastal areas and on | | | |
| | |lower slopes of hills. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy |n.a. | | | | |
| |Technical |n.a. | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |8 disaster districts in St. Kitts |No formal risk assessment conducted| |. | |
| |and 5 in Nevis. |but Committee members and | | | |
| |Committees host public workshops on|communities have much local and | | | |
| |topics including purpose of hazard |historical knowledge. | | | |
| |mapping. |No formal risk assessments | | | |
| |Promoting preparation of community |conducted. | | | |
| |disaster plans. | | | | |
| |Committees in Nevis have no direct | | | | |
| |interaction with the Disaster | | | | |
| |Coordinator at NEMA in St. Kitts. | | | | |
| |Hazard maps not yet distributed to | | | | |
| |disaster committees in St. Kitts or| | | | |
| |Nevis. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Disaster Mitigation | |Vulnerability assessment carried |Good environmental legislation to|NEMA encouraging government |
|Sectoral Agencies | |Council established. Chaired by | |out for new projects under 2000 |protect environmental systems. |agencies to inventory physical |
| | |Deputy Prime Minister. | |Planning Act. |Country Environmental Profile |assets, especially as part of |
| | |Hazard maps not distributed to | | |done in 1998. Identifies |post disaster assessment. |
| | |government agencies. | | |environmental systems, assesses |Inventories of physical assets |
| | | | | |them and deals with incidence of |not widely done. |
| | | | | |degradation and causes. | |
| | | | | |Department of Environment did | |
| | | | | |recent workshops with wide cross | |
| | | | | |section of stakeholders on land | |
| | | | | |degradation. | |
| | | | | |Environmental legislation not | |
| | | | | |adequately enforced due to lack | |
| | | | | |of political will and human | |
| | | | | |resources. | |
| |Technical |Consultant engaged at Physical | |Preliminary assessment of housing | | |
| | |Planning Department under PGDM to | |sector done in 1999/2000 by NEMA on| | |
| | |prepare hazard maps. | |advice of National Mitigation | | |
| | |Physical Planning Department | |Council. | | |
| | |preparing National Land Policy and | |Most assessments done in relation | | |
| | |intend to incorporate hazard maps. | |to coastal areas and rivers. | | |
| | |Physical Planning Department | | | | |
| | |produced maps for Agriculture | | | | |
| | |Department to show areas of soil | | | | |
| | |infertility and susceptibility to | | | | |
| | |erosion. | | | | |
| | |Hazard mapping not | | | | |
| | |institutionalised as maps prepared | | | | |
| | |by consultants. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Employs District Coordinator to | | | | |
| |coordinate community pre- and | | | | |
| |post-disaster activities. | | | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Sub-committees of National |Some involvement from business | | | |
| | |Mitigation Council (eg food |community/private sector in | | | |
| | |clearance and shelter management |disseminating information and | | | |
| | |committee) have representation from|relief supplies. | | | |
| | |business community and identify | | | | |
| | |issues of concern to them. | | | | |
| | |Links between business community | | | | |
| | |and Ministries of International | | | | |
| | |Trade and Commerce also facilitate | | | | |
| | |identification of issues and offers| | | | |
| | |of cooperation between business and| | | | |
| | |government. | | | | |
| |Members | | | | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society | |Some development located in |Clarence Fitzroy Bryant | |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their | |hazard-prone areas. |College to introduce part time| |available in St. Kitts and Nevis.|
|organizations) | | |course in disaster management.| | |
| | | |CDERA assistance sought to | | |
| | | |introduce hazard and | | |
| | | |vulnerability reduction | | |
| | | |information into schools. | | |
| | | |Duty free allowances on | | |
| | | |building materials to | | |
| | | |facilitate repair of hurricane| | |
| | | |damage used to accommodate low| | |
| | | |income groups. | | |
| | | |Hazard information not yet | | |
| | | |incorporated into school | | |
| | | |curricula in Nevis. Need for | | |
| | | |teachers to be trained to get | | |
| | | |disaster management issues | | |
| | | |into secondary school | | |
| | | |syllabus. | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | |Committees have no contingency|. | |
| | | |plans. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Since 1995, Government policy that |Development Control and Planning Act |Recognise link between solid |New Planning Act provides for |Government provides initial funds|
|Sectoral Agencies | |all its buildings have hurricane |passed in Parliament in 2000. |waste management and |EIAs for major projects. |for recovery efforts. Regional |
| | |resistant windows. |Building Code operationalised under |vulnerability. |Environmental systems well |institutions and governments also|
| | |After hurricane Georges, government |Act. It is a Federal Building Code |Information from vulnerability|protected by legislation and |assist. |
| | |built 400 starter homes at cost of |and covers Nevis. |assessments not being used |policies, in particular mangrove|NEMA trying to encourage |
| | |EC $27,000 for persons whose homes |Building Code and Building |much by NEMA. |and coral reefs. |establishment of contingency |
| | |were destroyed. |Regulations (St. Kitts and Nevis, | | |funds. |
| | |Government built several housing |2000) used as basis for approving | | |No national fund for financing |
| | |projects since 1995 with hurricane |development applications and is | | |recovery and no provision in |
| | |resistant techniques. |available for sale (EC$325). | | |budget estimates of ministries. |
| | |New hospital being rebuilt after |Physical Planning has also prepared | | | |
| | |hurricane Georges with complete |building guidelines and basic | | | |
| | |mitigation in mind. |development standards. | | | |
| | |World Bank funding construction of 3|Physical Planning Unit in Nevis also | | | |
| | |multi purpose shelters in St. Kitts |uses hazard maps to make some | | | |
| | |and 2 in Nevis. |decisions in coastal areas. | | | |
| | |Government policy requires all new |Workshop in Antigua under PGDM | | | |
| | |community centres and buildings to |provided training for Building | | | |
| | |be built with shelter use in mind. |Inspectors on use of Code. | | | |
| | |Hazard maps not distributed to |Workshop on multi-hazard building | | | |
| | |government agencies. |design held in St. Kitts for | | | |
| | | |architects and builders. | | | |
| | | |Physical Planning uses hazard maps | | | |
| | | |and tries to incorporate information | | | |
| | | |into land use policy. | | | |
| | | |Draft National Physical Plan under | | | |
| | | |review and being amended. | | | |
| | | |Some land use decisions, especially | | | |
| | | |for housing development still made on| | | |
| | | |basis of political constituencies | | | |
| | | |without incorporating land use or | | | |
| | | |hazard parameters. | | | |
| | | |In Nevis, development not | | | |
| | | |consistently directed away from | | | |
| | | |hazard prone areas. | | | |
| |Technical |In 2000 public awareness programme |Shortage of building inspectors to | | | |
| | |carried out with Chamber of Commerce|enforce code. | | | |
| | |and community groups and other | | | | |
| | |stakeholders to sensitise them to | | | | |
| | |Code. Used print media and | | | | |
| | |leaflets/flyers. | | | | |
| | |Many persons not familiar with Code.| | | | |
| | |Further public awareness needed. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |NEMA promoting use of hurricane |National Disaster Mitigation Plan |St. Kitts and Nevis Disaster | | |
| |shutters. |developed under PGDM. Now before |Plan exists. Company disaster | | |
| | |Cabinet. |and recovery plans are | | |
| | |NEMA developed video for hurricane |coordinated with it. | | |
| | |proofing homes and showing where and |Many technical staff have no | | |
| | |how to build. Video aired on TV. |formal training in disaster | | |
| | |NEMA preparing to host a train the |management but attended many | | |
| | |trainers workshop with disaster |short courses and acquired | | |
| | |committees. |considerable practical | | |
| | | |knowledge and experience. | | |
| | | |NEMA not adequately staffed | | |
| | | |with technical expertise. | | |
| | | |Technical staff not formally | | |
| | | |trained in disaster | | |
| | | |management. | | |
|Business and |Leadership |Insufficient awareness and |Business community developed strong |Some businesses have emergency| | |
|Industry | |involvement of business community in|links with Ministry of Trade and |contingency plans and hotels | | |
| | |hazard issues. |Commerce to cooperate in disaster |have disaster recovery plans. | | |
| | | |preparedness. |Four Seasons hotel in Nevis | | |
| | | |No premium reductions offered by |has a contingency plan. | | |
| | | |Insurance companies for use of |All hotels in Nevis asked to | | |
| | | |mitigation measures. |do emergency plans by NEMA. | | |
| | | | |When hurricanes approach, most| | |
| | | | |hotels evacuate guests and | | |
| | | | |close. | | |
| | | | |Hotel and Tourism Association | | |
| | | | |hold workshops to promote | | |
| | | | |development of hurricane | | |
| | | | |contingency plans in hotel | | |
| | | | |industry. | | |
| |Members | |Appropriate building materials | | | |
| | | |available for sale. | | | |
| |Budget |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| |Self Insurance | |Coverage |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |NGOs and other forms of social |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |capital (churches and community |homeowners. Homeowners and | | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |groups) are not involved in risk |investors depend entirely on the | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |transfer. Their capital base do |small and sometimes | | |credit facility. |
| |not allow for alternatives to |under-capitalized property | | |Commercial properties, |
| |insurance be it contingency |insurance market, which, in some | | |particularly, hotels that are |
| |credit or contingency equity. |cases, cannot buy adequate | | |part of international chains, may|
| |Moreover, the clientele is not |reinsurance, to provide insurance| | |be using risk financing options |
| |that sophisticated or |coverage. [35] | | |that allow multi-year coverage |
| |knowledgeable. |About 100% of properties in the | | |that would result in stabilizing |
| |Some NGOs, particularly churches,|middle and upper income groups | | |premiums. |
| |build up contingency funds for |are comprehensively insured to | | | |
| |providential purposes. |actual value. | | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in housing |About 90% of properties in the | | | |
| |or property development. |lower income group are not | | | |
| | |insured or are under-insured. | | | |
| | |Most properties are uninsurable | | | |
| | |due to building standards, type | | | |
| | |of material used and | | | |
| | |vulnerability – low-lying areas, | | | |
| | |on precipitous areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance | | | |
| | |industry, there is no compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for private properties.| | | |
| | |Given the vulnerability of the | | | |
| | |OECS sub-region to hurricane and | | | |
| | |volcanic actions, there is need | | | |
| | |for compulsory insurance and | | | |
| | |sub-regional catastrophe pool for| | | |
| | |private properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |[There is no local government | | | | |
| | |body. All activities are | | | | |
| | |prosecuted by national agencies.]| | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|Government has taken policy |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual |is inadequate. The office is |decision for insuring critical |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |poorly staffed, poorly equipped; |public properties to reduce |Government Headquarters |mitigation efforts. |
| | |probabilities but maintains a |has no staff member trained in |fiscal risk. Annual premiums are |Electricity Department |Additional contingent credit |
| | |contingency reserve, which is used|insurance and risk management. |estimated at EC$2 million.[36] |Water Authority |facilities could include: |
| | |for emergency purposes. |Some aspects of planning, zoning |This covers public buildings, |JNF France Hospital |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |Government would be expected to |and hazard mapping (hazard |schools, hospitals, police |Community Hospital s |Facility |
| | |encourage tax incentives when the |mapping for flooding and |stations, fire departments, |All Health Centres |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |Catastrophe Pool is established |landslides) are being done by the|defence force buildings, sporting|CFB Community College |Facility |
| | |under The World Bank/CDB OECS and |Physical Planning Department but |complex etc. |All Schools | |
| | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |there are no hazard maps |There is no public fund or |Treasury Building | |
| | |Management and Insurance Reform |governing insurer’s levels of |mechanism established to |The Public Library | |
| | |Project. |catastrophe peril liabilities. |indemnify the poor or to provide |Coast Guard Building | |
| | | |Furthermore there is no current |incentive for undertaking |Drug Squad Building | |
| | | |linkage between the Physical |mitigation measures. However |Police Training Complex | |
| | | |Planning Department and the |government provides incentives |Basseterre Police Station | |
| | | |Insurance Regulator. |for first homeowners in form of |Football Complex | |
| | | |The insurance regulator needs to:|tax breaks, and this has served |Net ball Complex | |
| | | |(i) Have the capacity to do |as incentives for building in | | |
| | | |catastrophe premium pricing. |accordance to building standards.| | |
| | | |(ii) Educate with respect to | | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |Properties owned by the statutory| | |
| | | |events and minimizing the |bodies are insured to actual | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |values. | | |
| | | | |Government middle and low-income | | |
| | | | |homes (part of the 1000 project) | | |
| | | | |are insured with local insurance | | |
| | | | |companies. | | |
| | | | |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | | | |feasibility of | | |
| | | | |(i) Establishing investing in | | |
| | | | |contingency credit and | | |
| | | | |contingency equity to increase | | |
| | | | |liquidity for rehabilitating | | |
| | | | |damaged buildings, schools, | | |
| | | | |hospitals, water facilities, | | |
| | | | |ports, roads bridges using credit| | |
| | | | |and capital market instruments. | | |
| | | | |(ii) Establishing an insurance | | |
| | | | |scheme for catastrophe risk | | |
| | | | |coverage for low-income groups | | |
| | | | |particularly those in vulnerable | | |
| | | | |areas – squatters and illegal | | |
| | | | |occupiers. | | |
| | | | |(iii) Upgrading slum projects | | |
| | | | |with the appropriate | | |
| | | | |infrastructure improvement, | | |
| | | | |retrofitting and, in some cases, | | |
| | | | |relocation. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |(i) NEMA promotes risk reduction | | | |
| |towards the National Emergency |through the national committees, | | | |
| |management Agency (NEMA) only for |public education and awareness | | | |
| |operations. No emergency funds are|programs, national training | | | |
| |deployed for contingencies. |programs, literature distribution| | | |
| |Government has EC$2.9 millions in |and media programs. | | | |
| |a Fiscal Tranche at the Central |NEMA needs to: | | | |
| |Bank, which is a contingency |(i) embark on a broad based | | | |
| |fund.[37] |insurance, risk management and | | | |
| |NEMA depends largely on inflows |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| |from regional and international |programme | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |(ii) emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| |disaster. |maintenance and building | | | |
| | |standards and insurance coverage | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |There is no Advisory Council drawn|Some Insurance companies provide |Public autonomous enterprises |Sugar: There is no risk transfer |Alternative risk financing for |
|Financial | |from the wider society or the |incentives to homeowners such as |under the management of the |mechanism or self- insurance. |the business and industry would |
| | |productive sector. |lower premium rates for risk |central government such as Water |The industry is a financial |involve: |
| | |The work of NEMA should be broaden|reduction not for risk assessment|and Electricity are not |burden and is in transition. |(i) Allocation of capital reserve|
| | |to include a Technical Advisory |and management checks. |adequately insured because of |Tourism: There is no risk |during the profitable years to be|
| | |Team drawn form NGOs, banking, | |small profit margins and |transfer mechanism or self- |used as collateral for debt |
| | |insurance, industry and | |government’s fiscal constraints |insurance for locally owned |financing for reconstruction |
| | |engineering to advise the | |but the government statutory |properties. |effort. |
| | |Insurance Regulator and to promote| |bodies are insured to actual |Joint purchase of insurance |(ii) Use of capital market |
| | |best practices. | |value. |coverage is an imperative (given |instruments to generate raise |
| | | | |Pooling method would most |the similar exposure) to lower |equity capital for the recovery |
| | | | |appropriate for these |cost through increased portfolio.|effort |
| | | | |enterprises. These are to be | |(iii) Creation of a venture |
| | | | |covered under The World Bank/CDB | |capital fund to supplement |
| | | | |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe | |recoveries from business |
| | | | |Risk Management and Insurance | |interruption insurance. |
| | | | |Reform Project. | | |
| |Members |Leadership should be provided by |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | |the private enterprises that are |are insured to actual value | | | |
| | |leaders in financial management; |because the terms and conditions | | | |
| | |have a history of adequate |of the debt capital require | | | |
| | |insurance coverage; adhere to |building standards are strictly | | | |
| | |building standards; and enjoy a |adhered to at all stages of the | | | |
| | |strong institutional advocacy and |construction.[38] | | | |
| | |goodwill. |About 100% of company buildings | | | |
| | | |are insured against all perils | | | |
| | | |and are built in accordance with | | | |
| | | |building standards | | | |
| | | |About 50% of private firms buy | | | |
| | | |business interruption insurance | | | |
| | | |but these do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |Insurance companies offer lower | | | |
| | | |rates where prescribed building | | | |
| | | |standards are applied in the | | | |
| | | |construction phase and for | | | |
| | | |retrofit investment. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant's first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mrs. Ruth Joseph, Insurance Regulator, Ministry of Finance, Basseterre, St Kitts
• Mr. Oliver Knight, Director of Planning, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, Basseterre, St Kitts
• Mr. Patrick Williams, Senior Physical Planning Officer, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, Basseterre, St Kitts
ST. LUCIA
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Under World Bank Project, Red Cross|National consultations held with |Ministry of Works assists some |Need for local groups to receive |Vulnerable groups and facilities |
|(Communities and their |works with local disaster |service and religious groups. |community groups to conduct |environmental training. |identified. |
|organizations) |committees to train communities to |Low level of participation in |assessments of physical structures.| | |
| |identify hazards. Completed in 7 |training to identify vulnerability.| | | |
| |communities with 6 remaining. |Due to topography of island, there | | | |
| |Lack of importance attached to |is much housing in hazard prone | | | |
| |earthquakes. |areas like hillsides, coastal areas| | | |
| | |and riverbanks. | | | |
| | |Much development located in hazard | | | |
| | |prone areas due to unplanned | | | |
| | |development and squatting which is | | | |
| | |still occurring. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | |Castries City Council took on some | | | |
| | | |disaster management functions for | | | |
| | | |Castries. Functions as a local | | | |
| | | |disaster committee for food | | | |
| | | |distribution. | | | |
| | | |City Council conducts annual | | | |
| | | |shelter assessments. | | | |
| | | |Invite public to nominate | | | |
| | | |structures to be used as shelters | | | |
| | | |and these are inspected by Ministry| | | |
| | | |of Works to determine suitability. | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |Hazard maps used to identify flood | |Committees assist in identifying | |Disaster committees not provided |
| |prone areas and inform committees. | |vulnerable structures. | |with copies of hazard maps. |
| |Committees also pass on local and | | | | |
| |historical information to NEMA. | | | | |
| |Committees do not have copies of | | | | |
| |hazard maps. Must access them at | | | | |
| |Physical Planning Department. | | | | |
| |Committee members not trained to | | | | |
| |interpret maps. | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Draft Mitigation Plan prepared but |Ministry of Community Development | |Environmental systems not well | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |not yet adopted. |cooperating with Women and | |protected. | |
| | |National Mitigation Council |Development Unit from UWI Barbados | | | |
| | |established in 2001 to oversee |on study of Women's Vulnerability | | | |
| | |vulnerability mapping component of |to Social and Natural Disasters in | | | |
| | |World Bank Project. Chaired by |6 communities in south-east. | | | |
| | |Minister of Works. |National consultations held. | | | |
| | |National Emergency Advisory Council|Vulnerable groups identified. | | | |
| | |set up. | | | | |
| |Technical |Landslide (1985) and debris (1995) | |Ministry of Works conducted | | |
| | |hazard maps prepared. Landslide map| |vulnerability exercise for | | |
| | |updated 1995. Coastal Hazard map | |government buildings. | | |
| | |(1980) includes volcano, flooding, | | | | |
| | |storm winds, landslides and | | | | |
| | |earthquake prone areas in coastal | | | | |
| | |zone. | | | | |
| | |Japanese funding available to | | | | |
| | |Ministry of Planning for flood map | | | | |
| | |World Bank Hazard Management | | | | |
| | |Project includes a mapping | | | | |
| | |component, which will review | | | | |
| | |earlier maps. Technical Working | | | | |
| | |Committee will guide how maps will | | | | |
| | |evolve. | | | | |
| | |Maps used by Physical Planning to | | | | |
| | |appraise development applications | | | | |
| | |and in strategic plan preparation. | | | | |
| | |Used by other departments to assist| | | | |
| | |in project planning and routine | | | | |
| | |work. | | | | |
| | |Physical Planning now trying to | | | | |
| | |produce maps more applicable to | | | | |
| | |local planning. | | | | |
| | |Most hazard mapping done by | | | | |
| | |external consultants, therefore | | | | |
| | |local expertise may be limited and | | | | |
| | |procedures not institutionalised. | | | | |
| | |Legends on maps need to be refined | | | | |
| | |to be more useful and to define | | | | |
| | |terms such as 'extreme, high and | | | | |
| | |moderate vulnerability'. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Has access to hazard maps. |NEMO involved in identifying |NEMO inspects some facilities as |NEMO tries to make link between | |
| |NEMO promotes development and use |vulnerable groups. |part of hurricane preparedness |environmental degradation and | |
| |of hazard information across all |NEMO organises awareness and |programme. |vulnerability and increase | |
| |sectors. |vulnerability reduction programmes |Vulnerability assessments of |awareness across all sectors. | |
| | |for some vulnerable groups. |structures conducted by Ministry of| | |
| | | |Works but not forwarded to NEMO. | | |
| | | |NEMO should have list and | | |
| | | |participate in regular updates. | | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |During the last 3 years, the | | | | |
| | |Ministry of Tourism with NEMA and | | | | |
| | |Fire Services held 1 day training | | | | |
| | |sessions to sensitise small | | | | |
| | |property owners to hazards. Low | | | | |
| | |attendance. | | | | |
| | |Businesses do not have copies of | | | | |
| | |hazard maps. | | | | |
| |Members | | | | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society |Ministry of Works assists some | |NEMO in talks with community | |Appropriate building materials |
|(Communities and their |community groups to carry out | |college and adult education | |available. |
|organizations) |remedial work on buildings that were| |programme to introduce hazard | |Communities participate in some |
| |assessed to be in need of repair. | |information. | |damage assessment. |
| |NEMO collaborating with the Poverty | |CDERA offered modular | | |
| |Reduction Fund (Ministry of Social | |community-based disaster | | |
| |Transformation) to carry out | |course to community college | | |
| |infrastructure work on self help | |and adult education programme.| | |
| |basis in vulnerable communities. | |NEMO gives talks to schools | | |
| |Need for displays of appropriate | |when invited. | | |
| |building techniques. | |Need more structure approach | | |
| | | |with Ministry of Education to | | |
| | | |incorporate hazard information| | |
| | | |into curricula. | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees |NEMO bringing together committees | |Committees have a type of | | |
| |with Poverty Reduction Fund to get | |'Contingency Plan', which | | |
| |advice on preparing project | |identifies community resources| | |
| |proposals for funding works. | |and their owners and | | |
| | | |vulnerable groups. Plan | | |
| | | |revised annually. | | |
| | | |No community mitigation plans | | |
| | | |in place. | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Public buildings conform to |1988 Manual for Developers used to |OECS Solid Waste project |Sustainable Development Committee|National response Plan previously|
|Sectoral Agencies | |standards. |identify criteria for location of |identified deficiencies in |comprises NEMA, Solid Waste, |prepared and adopted. Now under |
| | |Infrastructure and other built |development to avoid hazard-prone |waste disposal that increase |Agriculture Lands and Fisheries; |review. |
| | |development located in hazard prone |areas. |vulnerability. |and National Conservation |Some government incentives |
| | |areas. |Manual available to public and | |Council. |offered for post disaster |
| | | |familiar to developers and | |EIAs requested under previous |recovery efforts. |
| | | |contractors. | |planning legislation but are now |Post disaster measures tied to |
| | | |Also use CUBIC to guide construction.| |a requirement under new Act. |donor agencies and usually for |
| | | |Training at Sir Arthur Lewis | |High degree of compliance from |capital works such as building |
| | | |Community College includes | |developers for EIA. |sea walls, strengthening |
| | | |construction management, building | |EIAs reviewed by many agencies |retaining walls and rebuilding |
| | | |construction and architectural | |who may also be involved in |structures. |
| | | |studies. | |preparing TOR for EIA. | |
| | | |Meteorological Office preparing to | |Agencies responsible for | |
| | | |set up an Early Warning System. | |protecting environmental systems | |
| | | |Building Code already drafted but not| |included in review of development| |
| | | |yet adopted. | |proposals and identify potential | |
| | | |Need workshops to sensitise | |impacts and mitigation measures | |
| | | |government, public and construction | |needed. | |
| | | |sector on requirements of code. | |EIAs circulated for comment on | |
| | | |Hurricane Mitigation techniques not | |sectoral basis. Comprehensive EIA| |
| | | |well detailed in existing standards. | |not sent to individual | |
| | | |New building code addresses this | |agencies/sectors. | |
| | | |deficiency. | |NEMO Act #13 of 2000 and Disaster| |
| | | |Existing Manual for Developers | |Emergency Response Act require | |
| | | |focuses on land use criteria and | |EIAs be copied to NEMO. EIAs not | |
| | | |layouts. It is not | |circulated to NEMO. | |
| | | |construction-oriented. | |No hazard assessment required as | |
| | | |No flood markers erected. | |part of project appraisal. | |
| | | | | |Some legislation to protect | |
| | | | | |environmental systems not | |
| | | | | |adequately enforced due to lack | |
| | | | | |of resources and suitably | |
| | | | | |qualified staff. | |
| | | | | |There is no Department of the | |
| | | | | |Environment and no umbrella | |
| | | | | |environmental legislation. | |
| | | | | |Agriculture and forestry | |
| | | | | |practices, built development and | |
| | | | | |squatting contribute to | |
| | | | | |environmental degradation. | |
| |Technical |Staff familiar with development |World Bank Project includes training |Business Continuity Plans | |Ministries of Works, Tourism and |
| | |standards. |of shelter managers, reinforcing |prepared by Prison, Port | |Agriculture do damage |
| | | |channel of river near Hewanorra to |Authority, Hospital and | |assessments. Combined report (if |
| | | |reduce flooding. |Ministry of Works. | |individual reports received |
| | | |Lack of inspectors and resources for | | |within 48 hours) submitted to |
| | | |monitoring. | | |Chairman of National Damage |
| | | | | | |Assessment Committee. Cultural |
| | | | | | |sector recently included. |
| | | | | | |Need to include churches in |
| | | | | | |preparing assessments for |
| | | | | | |includion in National Damage |
| | | | | | |Assessment Report. |
|National Disaster Office |NEMO arranges funds for repair of |NEMO produces "Be Safe" leaflets | | |Matrix of hazard events that |
| |some private buildings used as |advising persons of actions to take | | |occurred in St. Lucia, includes |
| |shelters. |in event of hazard. Some information | | |event, number of people dead and |
| | |also reproduced from NEMA in | | |cost of damage. |
| | |Trinidad. | | |Post Disaster Damage Assessment |
| | |Funding from German government via | | |Team includes private sector |
| | |OECS to produce flyers. | | |engineers and quantity surveyors.|
| | |NEMO has good working relationship | | | |
| | |with media and carries out much | | | |
| | |public awareness and education work. | | | |
|Business and |Leadership | | |Cable and Wireless has | | |
|Industry | | | |Business Continuity Planner | | |
| | | | |and Standard Operating | | |
| | | | |Procedures, which are | | |
| | | | |regularly updated and reviewed| | |
| | | | |by NEMA. | | |
| | | | |Business Continuity Plans | | |
| | | | |being finalised for tourism | | |
| | | | |sector with contributions from| | |
| | | | |heritage tourism sub-sector | | |
| | | | |and their property owners. | | |
| | | | |Caribbean Tourism Organisation| | |
| | | | |has hurricane plan, which | | |
| | | | |advises hotels of actions to | | |
| | | | |take during a hazard event. | | |
| | | | |LUCELEC has hurricane plan. | | |
| | | | |Businesses not identifying | | |
| | | | |what actions they need to take| | |
| | | | |to ensure their corporate | | |
| | | | |sustainability in event of a | | |
| | | | |hazard event. | | |
| | | | |Hotel and tourism sector not | | |
| | | | |advised on what to do in event| | |
| | | | |of hazard other than a | | |
| | | | |hurricane. | | |
| |Members | |NEMWIL and British American Insurance| | |Bank of St. Lucia has a recovery |
| | | |companies offer premium reductions if| | |plan that commits them to be |
| | | |houses incorporate disaster reduction| | |ready to conduct business within |
| | | |measures. | | |6 hours of an all clear signal |
| | | |Insurance companies reluctant to | | |from NEMO after a hazard event. |
| | | |insure wooden buildings. | | |Many businesses only doing |
| | | | | | |regular building maintenance |
| | | | | | |work, sandbagging during |
| | | | | | |hurricanes. |
| | | | | | |Appropriate building materials |
| | | | | | |available. |
| | | | | | |Businesses not conducting |
| | | | | | |structural assessments of their |
| | | | | | |buildings. |
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| | | | |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |NGOs are not involved in risk |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |transfer. |homeowners. Homeowners and | | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |There is no alternatives to |investors depend entirely on the | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |insurance be it contingency |property insurance market, which,| | |credit facility. |
| |credit or contingency equity. |although some carriers cannot buy| | |Commercial properties, |
| |Friendly Societies operate a |adequate reinsurance. | | |particularly, hotels that are |
| |“loose” form of self-insurance |Most properties in the middle and| | |part of international chains, may|
| |for their parishioners through |upper income groups are | | |be using risk financing options |
| |informal welfare schemes. |comprehensively insured to actual| | |that allow multi-year coverage |
| |Some churches build up |value as this forms part of the | | |that would result in stabilizing |
| |contingency funds for |mortgage agreement. | | |premiums. |
| |providential purposes. |A significant percentage of | | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in housing |properties in the lower income | | | |
| |or property development. |group are under-insured or are | | | |
| | |not insured because of the high | | | |
| | |deductible on catastrophe | | | |
| | |insurance, high premium rates and| | | |
| | |the relatively long period | | | |
| | |without a major catastrophe. | | | |
| | |Many of the properties in the | | | |
| | |lower income group are | | | |
| | |uninsurable due to building | | | |
| | |standards, type of material used | | | |
| | |and vulnerability – low-lying | | | |
| | |areas, on precipitous areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance | | | |
| | |industry, there is no compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for private properties.| | | |
| | |Given St Lucia’s vulnerability to| | | |
| | |hurricane and volcanic actions, | | | |
| | |there is a critical need for | | | |
| | |compulsory insurance for | | | |
| | |properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |[There is no local government | | | | |
| | |body. All activities are | | | | |
| | |prosecuted by a national agency. | | | | |
| | |] | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|Government has no policy for |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual |is relatively developed but |insuring public assets. Only |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |inadequate for the demands of the|certain assets are insured. |Government Headquarters |mitigation efforts. |
| | |probabilities. |market. |The public properties, which are |The Parliament Building |Additional contingent credit |
| | |However a Contingency Fund EC$1.6|The office is fairly staffed and |insured, are covered under the |The Graham Louisy Administration |facilities could include: |
| | |million and a Capital Contingency|equipped but the staff has |specific loan conditions and |Building |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |Fund of EC$ 1.1 million are |limited technical skill in risk |lease arrangement. |The National Cricket Ground |Facility |
| | |available as part of the risk |management. |EC$500,000 are allocated annually|NB: All other public assets are |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |transfers policy.[39] |Some aspects of planning, zoning |for premium payments. [40] |not insured. |Facility |
| | |Government will be expected to |and hazard mapping (hazard |There is no public fund or | | |
| | |encourage tax incentives when the|mapping for flooding and |mechanism established to | | |
| | |Catastrophe Pool is established |landslides) are being done by the|indemnify the poor or to provide | | |
| | |under The World Bank/CDB OECS and|Physical Planning Department. |incentive for undertaking | | |
| | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |However there are no hazard maps |mitigation measures. | | |
| | |Management and Insurance Reform |governing insurer’s levels of |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | |Project. |catastrophe peril liabilities, no|feasibility of | | |
| | | |functional linkage between the |(i) Investing in contingency | | |
| | | |physical planning and the |credit and contingency equity to | | |
| | | |insurance regulation, and very |increase liquidity for | | |
| | | |little enforcement. |rehabilitating damaged buildings,| | |
| | | |The insurance regulator needs to:|schools, hospitals, water | | |
| | | |(i) Have the capacity to do |facilities, ports, roads bridges | | |
| | | |catastrophe premium pricing. |using credit and capital market | | |
| | | |(ii) Educate with respect to |instruments. | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |(ii) Providing incentives for | | |
| | | |events and; minimizing the |catastrophe risk coverage for | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |low-income groups particularly | | |
| | | | |those occupying areas prone to | | |
| | | | |landslide such as squatters. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |NEMO promotes risk reduction | | | |
| |towards the National Emergency |through the national committees, | | | |
| |Management Office (NEMO) only for|public education and awareness | | | |
| |operations. No emergency funds |programs throughout the year but | | | |
| |are deployed for contingencies. |is more active during the | | | |
| |NEMO depends largely on inflows |hurricane season. | | | |
| |from regional and international |NEMO needs to: | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |(i) embark on a broad based | | | |
| |disaster. |insurance, risk management and | | | |
| | |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| | |programme | | | |
| | |(ii) emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| | |maintenance and building | | | |
| | |standards and insurance coverage | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |There is no society-wide Advisory|Some insurance companies provide |Public autonomous enterprises |Banana Industry: The Windward |Alternative risk financing for |
|Financial | |Council but local Focal Points |incentives (to homeowners) such |under the management of the |Island Crop Insurance (WINCROP) |the business and industry would |
| | |are very active in education and |as lower premium rates for risk |central government such as Water |provides a measure of protection |involve: |
| | |awareness programmes. |reduction not for risk assessment|and Electricity are insured to |for windstorm damage, but there |(i) Allocation of capital reserve|
| | |The work of NEMO must be broaden |and management checks. |actual value. |is no risk transfer mechanism or |during the profitable years to be|
| | |to include a Technical Advisory | |All statutory bodies such as the |self- insurance. Reserving is |used as collateral for debt |
| | |Team drawn form NGOs, banking, | |port are insured to actual value.|however never sufficient to bail |financing for reconstruction |
| | |insurance, industry and | | |out the industry in difficult |effort. |
| | |engineering to advise the | |Pooling method would most be |periods. |(ii) Use of capital market |
| | |Insurance Regulator and to | |appropriate for these |Tourism: There is no risk |instruments to generate raise |
| | |promote best practices. | |enterprises. These are to be |transfer mechanism or self- |equity capital for the recovery |
| | |The National Development | |covered under The World Bank/CDB |insurance for locally owned |effort |
| | |Foundation has organized safer | |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe |properties. |(iii) Creation of a venture |
| | |building training, a home | |Risk Management and Insurance |Joint purchase of insurance |capital fund to supplement |
| | |retrofit loan program and a group| |Reform Project. |coverage is an imperative (given |recoveries from business |
| | |insurance program for lower | | |the similar exposure) to lower |interruption insurance. |
| | |income homeowners. | | |cost through increased portfolio.| |
| |Members |The insurance companies should |All company buildings built from | | | |
| | |provide the leadership, as they |loan funds are insured to actual | | | |
| | |are the private enterprises that |value because the terms and | | | |
| | |are the leaders in risk |conditions of the debt capital | | | |
| | |management initiatives. |require that building standards | | | |
| | | |are strictly adhered to at all | | | |
| | | |stages of the construction. | | | |
| | | |All those company buildings are | | | |
| | | |insured against all perils and | | | |
| | | |are built in accordance with | | | |
| | | |building standards | | | |
| | | |In most cases, commercial | | | |
| | | |properties are insured to their | | | |
| | | |actual value to meet the | | | |
| | | |conditionalities of the loans and| | | |
| | | |overdraft facilities. | | | |
| | | |Some commercial properties are | | | |
| | | |insured against business | | | |
| | | |interruption. | | | |
| | | |Private firms do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
| | | |There is need for more forward | | | |
| | | |planning by the private sector. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant's first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mrs. Judith Joe, Supervisor of Insurance, Ministry and Planning, Castries.
• Mr. Reginald Darius, Director of Finance, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Castries.
• Mr. Phillip Dalsou, Comptroller of Budget, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Castries.
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|Civil Society |Some population groups aware of |Population groups in some areas |No comprehensive structural | | |
|(Communities and their |local hazards based on historical |aware of their vulnerability, eg in|vulnerability assessments carried | | |
|organizations) |events. |areas affected by 1979 volcanic |out. | | |
| |Need to increase awareness of |eruption. | | | |
| |flooding and landslides. |Scheduled 1-week programme in May | | | |
| | |2002 to increase awareness in areas| | | |
| | |vulnerable to volcanic activity. | | | |
| | |National Emergency Organisation | | | |
| | |seeking assistance from CDERA to | | | |
| | |train communities in areas prone to| | | |
| | |coastal flooding to assess their | | | |
| | |vulnerability. | | | |
| | |Need to increase awareness among | | | |
| | |populations in areas vulnerable to | | | |
| | |landslides and flooding. | | | |
| | |Due to topography of island there | | | |
| | |is some development in hazard-prone| | | |
| | |areas. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | |Disseminate information about |Assess condition of shelters as | | |
| | |vulnerability to villages, |part of hurricane preparedness | | |
| | |appropriate preparedness measures |programme. | | |
| | |and response activities. Assisted | | | |
| | |by health groups, which are part of| | | |
| | |committee. | | | |
| | |Maintain list of shelters. | | | |
| | |Committees identify vulnerable | | | |
| | |groups. | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |National Mitigation Council to be | | | | |
|Sectoral Agencies | |established in 2002. | | | | |
| |Technical |Central Planning Division has GIS |Vulnerability reduction measures |Some utility companies (eg VINLEC | | |
| | |capacity and prepares rudimentary,|carried out on shelters by Ministry |and central Water and Sewerage | | |
| | |generalised hazard maps. |of Transport and Works. |Authority) keep list of critical | | |
| | |No mapping of areas vulnerable to | |facilities which may be vulnerable | | |
| | |landslides, such as Marriaqua | |to hurricanes. | | |
| | |Valley. | | | | |
| | |No mapping of storm surge from | | | | |
| | |hurricanes. | | | | |
|National Disaster Office | | | |No link established between | |
| | | | |hazards and environmental | |
| | | | |management. NEO focuses on | |
| | | | |Response and Preparedness. | |
|Business and Industry |Leaders |Insurance industry not very | | | | |
| | |responsive to hazard issues. | | | | |
| |Members | | |Cable and Wireless has list of | | |
| | | | |critical facilities which may be | | |
| | | | |vulnerable to hurricanes. | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|Civil Society | |Populations in areas vulnerable to | | | |
|(Communities and their | |floods and landslides not very aware | | | |
|organizations) | |of their vulnerability. | | | |
|Local Government |Policy | | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | |Outside the hurricane season, |Health groups on some local | | |
| | |committees disseminate some |disaster committees have | | |
| | |information about mitigation measures|contingency plans. | | |
| | |and retrofitting techniques. | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy | |Planning Regulations include |Utility companies, health |Ministry of Health and | |
|Sectoral Agencies | | |development standards, which are used|sector and airport have |Environment has policies and | |
| | | |as the basis for approving |disaster plans and recovery |legislation to protect mangrove, | |
| | | |development applications. |plans. |beaches and marine life. | |
| | | |Draft Building Code now in | |EIAs requested as part of | |
| | | |preparation, in collaboration with | |development approval process but | |
| | | |stakeholders such as architects, | |on ad hoc basis. EIAs not | |
| | | |engineers and builders. | |institutionalsied and not | |
| | | |Some zoning work on-going at Physical| |provided for in existing | |
| | | |Planning Division to guide | |legislation. Hazard information | |
| | | |development away from hazard-prone | |not a standard part of EIA | |
| | | |areas or articulate standards for | |request. | |
| | | |development. | |Environmental systems not well | |
| | | |Draft National Physical Development | |protected by policies or | |
| | | |Plan was prepared and submitted to | |legislation. | |
| | | |Cabinet. | |No links made between | |
| | | |Draft National Physical Development | |environmental degradation and | |
| | | |Plan not yet approved or adopted. | |natural hazards. | |
| |Technical | |Flood Mitigation project funded by | | | |
| | | |Japanese about to be implemented in | | | |
| | | |Marriaqua Valley. Will include flood | | | |
| | | |maps. | | | |
| | | |Mitigation measures taken by | | | |
| | | |utilities to protect their critical | | | |
| | | |facilities and take action to restore| | | |
| | | |them to service if affected by hazard| | | |
| | | |event. | | | |
| | | |Major agencies represented on | | | |
| | | |National Advisory Council, which is | | | |
| | | |the highest decision making body for | | | |
| | | |disaster management in St. Vincent. | | | |
| | | |Central Planning Division not | | | |
| | | |adequately staffed with Inspectors to| | | |
| | | |monitor development and enforce | | | |
| | | |regulations. Also not well staffed | | | |
| | | |with planners to prepare land use | | | |
| | | |policies to guide location of | | | |
| | | |development. | | | |
| National Disaster Office | |NEO conducts public awareness | | | |
| | |campaigns at start of hurricane | | | |
| | |season to disseminate information | | | |
| | |about mitigation and retrofitting | | | |
| | |techniques. | | | |
|Business and |Leadership | | |Caribbean Tourism Association | | |
|Industry | | | |recently prepared a Hurricane | | |
| | | | |Preparedness Manual for | | |
| | | | |hotels. All hotels have copies| | |
| | | | |and are expected to use it. | | |
| |Members | | |Carenage Bay Hotel has | | |
| | | | |disaster plan. | | |
| |Budget Self Insurance |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset Coverage |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| | | | |Diversification | |
|Local |
|Civil Society |NGOs are not involved in risk |There is no group insurance for | | |There is no risk financing |
|(Communities and their organizations) |transfer. |homeowners. Homeowners and | | |mechanism that allows losses to |
| |There are no alternatives to |investors depend entirely on the | | |be paid off in the future through|
| |insurance, either contingency |property insurance market. | | |credit facility. |
| |credit or contingency equity. |Most properties in the middle and| | |Commercial properties, |
| |A few churches operate a “loose” |upper income groups are | | |particularly, hotels that are |
| |form of self-insurance for their |comprehensively property | | |part of international chains, may|
| |parishioners through informal |insurance to actual value as full| | |be using risk financing options |
| |welfare schemes |insurance coverage forms part of | | |that allow multi-year coverage |
| |Some churches build up |the mortgage agreement. | | |that would result in stabilizing |
| |contingency funds for |A significant percentage of the | | |premiums. |
| |providential purposes through the|housing stock in the lower income| | | |
| |establishment of “Friendly |group is under-insured or has no | | | |
| |Societies.” |insurance coverage as result of | | | |
| |NGOs are not involved in housing |income loss, poor education, and | | | |
| |or property development. |a general disposition to make no | | | |
| | |provisions for insurance of | | | |
| | |property.[41] | | | |
| | |Some properties are uninsurable | | | |
| | |due to building standards, type | | | |
| | |of material used and | | | |
| | |vulnerability – low-lying areas, | | | |
| | |on precipitous areas. | | | |
| | |Unlike the motor insurance | | | |
| | |industry, there is no compulsory | | | |
| | |insurance for private properties.| | | |
| | |Given the islands’ vulnerability | | | |
| | |to volcanic actions, there is | | | |
| | |need for compulsory insurance for| | | |
| | |properties. | | | |
|Local government |Policy |[There is no local government | | | | |
| | |body. All activities are | | | | |
| | |prosecuted by a national agency. | | | | |
| | |] | | | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|Local Disaster Committees | | | | | |
|National |
|Central Planning and |Policy |Government does not allocate |The insurance regulatory function|Government has no policy for |The public assets which are |Government sources external |
|Sectoral Agencies | |contingency funds in its annual |is inadequate. The office is |insuring public assets. Most |insured include: |credit for reconstruction and |
| | |budget based on actuarial |poorly staffed but is equipped |public assets are uninsured. |Government Headquarters |mitigation efforts. |
| | |probabilities |with a fair amount of technical |The public properties, which are |The Fisheries Complex |Additional contingent credit |
| | |NB: The absence of deliberate |skill. Skills in risk management |insured, are covered under the |The Arnos Vale Playing Field |facilities could include: |
| | |risk transfer policy may be |are limited. |specific loan conditions and |The National Stadium |(i) World Bank Economic Recovery |
| | |partly due to the fact that the |Some aspects of planning, zoning |lease arrangement. [42] |NB: All other public assets are |Facility |
| | |country has not had a major |and hazard mapping (hazard |There is no public fund or |not insured. |(ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation |
| | |disaster (fire, volcanic and |mapping for flooding and |mechanism established to | |Facility |
| | |hurricane) recently, although it |landslides) are being done by the|indemnify the poor or to provide | | |
| | |is often moderately affected by |Physical Planning Department. |incentive for undertaking | | |
| | |windstorms during the hurricane |However there are no hazard maps |mitigation measures. | | |
| | |season. |governing insurer’s levels of |Government needs to explore the | | |
| | |Government will be expected to |catastrophe peril liabilities, no|feasibility of | | |
| | |encourage tax incentives when the|functional linkage between |(i) Investing in contingency | | |
| | |Catastrophe Pool is established |physical planning and the |credit and contingency equity to | | |
| | |under The World Bank/CDB OECS and|insurance regulation, and very |increase liquidity for | | |
| | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |little enforcement. |rehabilitating damaged buildings,| | |
| | |Management and Insurance Reform |The insurance regulator needs to:|schools, hospitals, water | | |
| | |Project. |(i) Have the capacity to do |facilities, ports, roads bridges | | |
| | | |catastrophe premium pricing. |using credit and capital market | | |
| | | |(ii) Educate with respect to |instruments. | | |
| | | |reducing the financial impact of |(ii) Providing incentives for | | |
| | | |events and minimizing the |catastrophe risk coverage for | | |
| | | |probability of avoidable losses. |low-income groups particularly | | |
| | | | |those occupying areas prone to | | |
| | | | |landslide such as squatters. | | |
| |Technical | | | | | |
|National Disaster Office |Budgetary allocations are made |NDPC promotes risk reduction | | | |
| |towards the National Disaster |through the national committees, | | | |
| |Preparedness Committee (NDPC) |public education and awareness | | | |
| |only for operations. No emergency|programs mainly during the | | | |
| |funds are deployed for |hurricane season. | | | |
| |contingencies. |NDPC needs to: | | | |
| |Government has EC$3.5 millions in|(i) embark on a broad based | | | |
| |a Fiscal Tranche at the Central |insurance, risk management and | | | |
| |Bank, which is a contingency |disaster preparedness education | | | |
| |fund.[43] |programme | | | |
| |NDPC depends largely on inflows |(ii) emphasize retrofitting, | | | |
| |from regional and international |maintenance and building | | | |
| |donors in the aftermath of a |standards and insurance coverage | | | |
| |disaster. | | | | |
|Business and Industry, |Leaders |There is no society-wide Advisory|Insurance companies do not |Public autonomous enterprises |Banana Industry: The Windward |Alternative risk financing for |
|Financial | |Council. |provide incentives to homeowners |under the management of the |Island Crop Insurance (WINCROP) |the business and industry would |
| | |The work of NDOC must be |such as lower premium rates for |central government such as Water |provides a measure of protection |involve: |
| | |broadened to include a Technical |risk reduction or for risk |and Electricity are not |for windstorm damage, but there |(i) Allocation of capital reserve|
| | |Advisory Team drawn form NGOs, |assessment and management checks.|adequately insured because of |is no risk transfer mechanism or |during the profitable years to be|
| | |banking, insurance, industry and | |general mood in the insurance |self- insurance. |used as collateral for debt |
| | |engineering to advise the | |market. |Tourism: There is no risk |financing for reconstruction |
| | |Insurance Regulator and to | |Statutory bodies such as the port|transfer mechanism or self- |effort. |
| | |promote best practices. | |are insured to actual value. |insurance for locally owned |(ii) Use of capital market |
| | | | |Pooling method would most be |properties. |instruments to generate raise |
| | | | |appropriate for these |Joint purchase of insurance |equity capital for the recovery |
| | | | |enterprises. These are to be |coverage is an imperative (given |effort |
| | | | |covered under The World Bank/CDB |the similar exposure) to lower |(iii) Creation of a venture |
| | | | |OECS and Barbados Catastrophe |cost through increased portfolio.|capital fund to supplement |
| | | | |Risk Management and Insurance | |recoveries from business |
| | | | |Reform Project | |interruption insurance. |
| |Members |Leadership should be provided by |A high percentage of company | | | |
| | |the private enterprises that are |buildings are insured to actual | | | |
| | |leaders in financial management |value because the terms and | | | |
| | |particularly the insurance |conditions of the debt capital | | | |
| | |sector. |require building standards are | | | |
| | | |strictly adhered to at all stages| | | |
| | | |of the construction. | | | |
| | | |Most company buildings are not | | | |
| | | |insured against all perils. | | | |
| | | |No coverage is taken for business| | | |
| | | |interruption, given the low | | | |
| | | |incidence of major | | | |
| | | |catastrophes.[44] | | | |
| | | |Private firms do not cover | | | |
| | | |compensation for employees. | | | |
| | | |There is need for legislation to | | | |
| | | |enforce the insurance of private | | | |
| | | |property. | | | |
| | | |There is need for more forward | | | |
| | | |planning by the private sector. | | | |
References
The information on risk transfer practices is the product of:
1) The consultant first hand knowledge of the OECS insurance market, having being involved in market development since 1991.
2) Research on the insurance market, government planning and macro-economic policies, sub-regional disaster agencies, the private sector and NGOs in mitigation efforts.
3) Discussions with market players in insurance, regulation, planning, and disaster mitigation including:
• Mr. Isaac Solomon, Budget Director, Ministry of Finance and Planning
OECS AND CARICOM
| | |Hazard Assessment and Mapping |Vulnerability Assessment |Risk Assessment |
| |
|OECS Framework |Detailed hazard maps not yet |GTZ Decentralised Disaster Project |Lack of comprehensive institutional|The practice of integrating |OECS/NRMU preparing a Manual and |
| |prepared for some countries. |provides for developing a series of|approach to carrying out |disaster management initiatives |Guidelines on Post Disaster Rapid|
| |Inadequate distribution of hazard |communication systems for risk |vulnerability assessments and |with environmental priorities is |Environmental Assessment for use |
| |maps at the community level. |forecasting in St. Kitts/Nevis, |inadequate of coordination and |stated in Principle 9 of the St. |in OECS to identify environmental|
| |Need to produce hazard maps that |Dominica and St. Lucia where they |communication between agencies at |Georges Declaration of Principles|risks following a disaster and |
| |can be easily understood and |will target poorer communities |national level. |for Environmental Sustainability |inform response decisions. Will |
| |interpreted at the community level.|affected by Tropical Storm Debby. | |in the OECS. |include assessment of OECS-wide |
| | | | |Member of staff of NRMU training |response to Hurricane Lenny and |
| | | | |in Environmental Auditing. |case studies of Antigua and St. |
| | | | | |Vincent. Includes participation |
| | | | | |from OAS, IDB, CIDA, USAID, |
| | | | | |Trinidad and Jamaica. |
| | | | | |Technical Manual and Guidelines |
| | | | | |to be prepared by June 2002 |
| | | | | |followed by workshops and |
| | | | | |training to introduce |
| | | | | |Insufficient use of Environmental|
| | | | | |Management Systems by companies |
| | | | | |in OECS to identify hazard risks |
| | | | | |and develop strategies to reduce |
| | | | | |risks outputs. |
|Inter-Country Collaboration | | | | | |
|Regional |
|Regional Institutions |CDERA collaborated with the |Under DIPECHO Project communities |Vulnerability audits for critical | |CDMP Storm hazard modeling |
| |Japanese to assess the capacity of |in St. Lucia, Dominica, Bahamas and|facilities focused on schools under| |assesses the risk to coastal |
| |countries to do hazard mapping and |Barbados taught skills to prepare |CDMP. | |areas from tropical storm surge |
| |vulnerability assessments. |for hazards. Methodology and |Sectoral vulnerability assessments | |and associated high winds. TAOS |
| |Caricom-Japanese Cooperative |training materials made available |conducted under CDMP for Caribbean | |model installed at the CIMH and |
| |Agreement will strengthen these |to other countries. |Electrical Utilities; for schools | |staff trained to apply model to |
| |capacities, including GIS |World Bank US $37 million project: |and shelters in the Eastern | |member countries. Applied at |
| |component. Focus on flood hazard |part of funds used to enhance |Caribbean; vulnerability audit for | |Parham Harbour in Antigua (1995);|
| |in 3 pilot countries - Barbados, |community disaster planning. |hydroelectric power facilities in | |west coast of Dominica; Montego |
| |St. Vincent and Trinidad. |USAID Disaster Management Training |Dominica, electrical power | |Bay (1997), Kingston. Regional |
| |OAS/CDMP[45] documented hazard |Programme provided training for |facilities in St. Lucia and | |atlases also developed. |
| |mapping availability in the region |Instructors in damage assessment |transmission and distribution | | |
| |as on output of the 1999 CDMP |and needs analysis. Focus on |facilities in St. Vincent. | | |
| |Hazard Mapping and Vulnerability |communities at risk. |Structural vulnerability | | |
| |Assessment Workshop which also |Community level vulnerability |assessments carried out for | | |
| |provided an overview of assessment |assessments done in Dominican |selected government facilities in | | |
| |techniques used in region. |Republic and Haiti under CDMP. |Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis| | |
| |As part of the CDMP, sub-regional | |under Post-Georges Disaster | | |
| |seismic hazard maps prepared for | |Mitigation project. | | |
| |the Leeward Islands, Windward | | | | |
| |Islands and Jamaica by UWI Seismic | | | | |
| |Research Unit, assessments of | | | | |
| |landslide and earthquake hazards | | | | |
| |conducted in Jamaica and river | | | | |
| |flooding in Belize. | | | | |
| |Storm surge atlas prepared for the | | | | |
| |Eastern Caribbean by CIMH under the| | | | |
| |CDMP. | | | | |
| |PGDM produced hazard maps and | | | | |
| |vulnerability assessments for | | | | |
| |Antigua/Barbuda and St. | | | | |
| |Kitts/Nevis. | | | | |
| |Communities trained to identify | | | | |
| |hazards under USAID community | | | | |
| |preparedness programme. | | | | |
| |CDMP provided for physical planners| | | | |
| |and disaster coordinators to review| | | | |
| |hazard maps and on use of maps for | | | | |
| |vulnerability assessments and | | | | |
| |incorporation into development | | | | |
| |planning and control and | | | | |
| |environmental management. | | | | |
|Multilateral Lending Institutions, |CDB to use Disaster Mitigation | | | | |
|Bilateral Donors |Facility for the Caribbean (DMFC) | | | | |
| |to further hazard mapping and | | | | |
| |integrate into the development | | | | |
| |planning process | | | | |
| | |Physical Measures |Socio-economic Measures |Environmental |Post-disaster Measures |
| | | | |Measures | |
| |
|OECS Framework | |OECS Secretariat prepared model |GTZ disaster project includes |St. Georges Declaration (OECS | |
| | |building code which is being |development of community |Environmental Charter) not | |
| | |customised by some member countries. |emergency plans in rural |binding on governments. It is | |
| | |OECS Secretariat offers technical |communities in Nevis (pilot), |prescriptive and is to be | |
| | |guidance to governments, sources |St. Kitts, St. Lucia and |reviewed after 3 years to | |
| | |technical expertise for EIAs and acts|Dominica. Draft Plans for St.|determine if should become a | |
| | |as a reviewer for terms of reference |Kitts, Dominica and St. Lucia |binding Treaty. | |
| | |for EIAs. |under final review |OECS/NRMU prepared National | |
| | |Need to ensure that all countries |NRMU Watershed Project in St. |Environmental Management Strategy| |
| | |have resources to customise building |Lucia, St. Vincent and St. |for Anguilla and scheduled to | |
| | |codes or develop national codes. |Kitts introduces community |prepare for Dominica (on-going), | |
| | |Lack of technical and financial |based technologies such as |St. Vincent and Montserrat. | |
| | |resources for monitoring of |river bank stabilisation and |Legislative and Institutional | |
| | |development and enforcement of codes |addresses erosion, |capacity reviews in St. Lucia and| |
| | |Need for institutional strengthening |environmental degradation, |St. Kitts will likely result in | |
| | |of physical planning departments and |water quality and appropriate |preparation of EMS. | |
| | |national disaster offices in some |watershed uses. Project also |EIAs not well institutionalised. | |
| | |countries. |includes training in |Needed for public as well as | |
| | |Absence of a well-defined mechanism |application of bio-engineering|private sector projects. Need | |
| | |and procedure for integrating |techniques and use of |commitment at political level to | |
| | |existing hazard information into the |indigenous food crops. |act on and implement findings of | |
| | |land-use planning process. |NRMU's Environmental Capacity |EIA. Need for legislation to | |
| | | |Development Project also |support EIA in all countries. | |
| | | |includes development of |Lack of technical and financial | |
| | | |curriculum materials for |resources and equipment in | |
| | | |teaching at community and |agencies for monitoring and | |
| | | |vocational colleges in the |enforcement of actions requested | |
| | | |region. Post Disaster Rapid |following EIA. | |
| | | |Environmental Assessment |Institutional and legislative | |
| | | |project will also develop |frameworks for addressing wider | |
| | | |curriculum materials and |environmental issues is | |
| | | |teaching aids. |inadequate . | |
| | | |OECS Education Reform Project |Inadequate solid waste management| |
| | | |includes Technical and |and failure to establish clear | |
| | | |Vocational Education and |link between improper garbage | |
| | | |Training with links to the |disposal and flooding or damage | |
| | | |education system. |from items which become missiles | |
| | | |Need to develop link between |during hurricane winds and | |
| | | |the insurance industry and |environmental health issues. | |
| | | |environmental hazards. |Insufficient attention in OECS to| |
| | | | |Environmental Management Systems | |
| | | | |(EMS) by companies to monitor | |
| | | | |their environmental performance. | |
| | | | |Need to review legislative and | |
| | | | |institutional capacities re | |
| | | | |National Environmental Management| |
| | | | |Strategies. | |
|Inter-Country Collaboration | | | | | |
|Regional |
|Regional Institutions |Hurricane Resistant Home Improvement|Regional Building Code to be updated |DIPECHO project developed |Focus of initiatives on policy |CDERA documented best practices |
| |Programme: Toolkit prepared under |in 'CUBIC 2000.' |public education materials and|and education rather than |in the recovery efforts in |
| |CDMP to address the informal sector.|Assistance provided to Dominica, |worked with schools to infuse |capital works. |Antigua and St. Kitts after |
| |Regional initiatives focus on policy|Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada and Belize |into curricula. | |Hurricane Lenny. |
| |measures rather than structural/ |to develop national building codes |Working with CXC to introduce | |CDERA prepared Post Impact |
| |construction initiatives. |under CDMP, in collaboration with |disaster management into | |Situation Reports for various |
| | |UNCHS. |syllabus. | |tropical storms, hurricanes, |
| | |CDERA conducted series of workshops |Discussions with UWI in 1999 | |droughts and volcanic eruptions |
| | |in Grenada and St. Lucia to integrate|to inventory training | |affecting the region since 1997. |
| | |disaster management into the planning|initiatives at the regional | |CDMP documented case study of the|
| | |process. Comprehensive Disaster |level and coordinate them. | |effects of Hurricane Luis on the |
| | |Management Strategy also seeks to do |1996 CDERA project with UWI | |Antigua Public Utility Authority.|
| | |same with focus on institutional |Faculty of Law to develop | | |
| | |strengthening; incorporating disaster|Model Disaster Legislation. | | |
| | |management into projects; public |Sought endorsement via series | | |
| | |education and training; contingency |of national consultations. | | |
| | |and hazard specific plans and |Now enacted in Belize and | | |
| | |operational procedures and conducting|Montserrat and in advanced | | |
| | |research to inform public education. |stage in other countries. | | |
| | |Strategy endorsed by OECS and |DIPECHPO Project hosted | | |
| | |CARICOM. Planned national |regional workshop in St. Lucia| | |
| | |consultations to get member countries|in 1999 on vulnerability | | |
| | |to adopt. |reduction for school | | |
| | |Under PGDM, status of building codes |facilities to include issues | | |
| | |in a number of countries documented. |of school safety, construction| | |
| | |Flood Alert and Warning Systems |and hazard resistance. | | |
| | |provided in vulnerable communities in|Developed mitigation policy | | |
| | |Jamaica, Trinidad, Dominican Republic|guidelines. | | |
| | |and Haiti under USAID community |DIPECHO Project producing | | |
| | |preparedness programme. |videos on disaster | | |
| | |Public Facility Inspectors Workshop |preparedness for 7 to 11 year | | |
| | |held in Trinidad in 1999 provided |olds and interactive class | | |
| | |training to inspect public facilities|materials for secondary school| | |
| | |for compliance with safety standards.|students to strengthen | | |
| | |Development of comprehensive hazard |geography and social science | | |
| | |mitigation policies and plans |syllabus. | | |
| | |underway or complete in Jamaica, St. |Post event diagnostic surveys | | |
| | |Lucia, Barbados, BVI and USVI. |of infrastructure projects | | |
| | |Natural Hazard Mitigation Policy and |resulted in preparation of | | |
| | |Plan prepared for Antigua and St. |guidelines on mitigation | | |
| | |Kitts (PGDM). |criteria for infrastructure | | |
| | |Need to develop model mitigation |design. | | |
| | |policies and guidelines. | | | |
| | |Lack of enforcement mechanisms to | | | |
| | |implement building codes. | | | |
| | |Need for on-going research to develop| | | |
| | |appropriate mitigation tools. | | | |
| | |Absence of a well defined mechanism | | | |
| | |and procedure for integrating | | | |
| | |existing hazard information into the | | | |
| | |land-use planning process. | | | |
|Multilateral Lending Institutions, |CDB funding rehabilitation of 9 |CDB provides assistance for |CDB assisting countries to |CDB strengthening its own | |
|Bilateral Donors |schools in St. Kitts and |institutional strengthening of |develop Disaster Mitigation |capacity for mitigation and | |
| |retrofitting of shelters in Nevis. |National Disaster Offices and CDERA. |Plans and policies and |encouraging borrowing member | |
| |World Bank Eastern Caribbean |CDB assists in promoting better |building awareness at the |countries to integrate disaster | |
| |Emergency Management Loans funding |building practices. |community level. |mitigation measures into all | |
| |structural works in participating |CDB will provide assistance to BMCs |CDB provides assistance to |development projects. Also | |
| |countries, as identified in loan |to develop country Building Codes or |tertiary institutions in the |training the Bank's staff in | |
| |assessments. |ensure that existing ones are taken |region to facilitate |disaster management and designing| |
| | |through the legislative process. |integration of disaster |a strategy for integrating it | |
| | |World Bank Eastern Caribbean |management into their |into the project cycle. | |
| | |Emergency Management Loans supporting|curricula. |CDB developing guidelines for | |
| | |institutional strengthening measures |CDB including mitigation |preparing Natural Hazard Impact | |
| | |in participating countries. |criteria in infrastructure |Assessments (NHIA) which will be | |
| | | |design to ensure long term |funded by the Bank's DMFC and | |
| | | |viability of loan projects. |will eventually become part of | |
| | | | |the project evaluation process. | |
| | | | |Loan requests for projects will | |
| | | | |be required to include NHIA. | |
| |Budget Self |Market Insurance and Reinsurance |Public Asset |Risk Pooling and |Risk Financing |
| |Insurance | |Coverage |Diversification | |
|Subregional |
|OECS Framework |There is no common insurance | | | | |
| |legislation in force in the | | | | |
| |sub-region. | | | | |
| |NB: The insurance legislations in| | | | |
| |force were enacted between 1967 | | | | |
| |and 1977. Only St Lucia and | | | | |
| |Grenada have a modified Caribbean| | | | |
| |Law Institute (CLI) version and | | | | |
| |the Trinidad and Tobago version, | | | | |
| |respectively. | | | | |
| |The respective legislations do | | | | |
| |not promote risk retention and | | | | |
| |self-sufficiency to prevent over | | | | |
| |leveraging of reinsurance and | | | | |
| |price volatility. The provisions | | | | |
| |for reserving are purely for the | | | | |
| |purpose of capitalization. | | | | |
|Inter-Country Collaboration | |There is no deliberate policy |There is no insurance arrangement|There is no insurance arrangement|The practice of using contingency|
| | |move to consolidate insurance |for public asset coverage. |for public asset coverage. |credit as supplementary |
| | |operations across countries. |The World Bank/CDB OECS and |The World Bank/CDB OECS and |instrument to market reinsurance |
| | |NB: Consolidation of the life |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |to reduce price volatility is not|
| | |insurance industry was purely |Management and Insurance Reform |Management and Insurance Reform |established in the OECS |
| | |driven by acquisitions.[46] |Project will provide that |Project will provide that |countries. |
| | |The property insurance industry |facility. |facility. |NB: The securities market is |
| | |is very inefficient. There are | | |embryonic and fiscal difficulties|
| | |more than 60 insurance entities | | |place limit on such initiatives. |
| | |operating in a market with | | |Governments and the private |
| | |500,000 persons. | | |sector should: |
| | |Minimum standards of operations | | |(i) use capital market |
| | |as set out by a new OECS | | |instruments to generate equity |
| | |harmonized insurance legislation | | |capital for the recovery effort |
| | |should drive the consolidation | | |and |
| | |process. | | |(ii) establish a venture capital |
| | |This is critical as many property| | |fund to supplement recoveries |
| | |insurance companies are | | |from business interruption |
| | |under-capitalized and cannot | | |insurance. |
| | |purchase reinsurance coverage | | | |
| | |because of portfolio size. | | | |
|Regional |
|Regional Institutions |Funding from CDB has been |Caribbean Association of | |The recommendation to establish a|Governments would be expected to |
| |utilized mainly for the financing|Insurance Regulators (CAIR) was | |regional catastrophe pool came |encourage tax incentives when the|
| |of economic infrastructure such |established to develop harmonized| |out of the Report of the CARICOM |Catastrophe Pool is established |
| |as roads, seaports and utilities;|risk classification for the | |Working Party on Insurance. |under the World Bank/CDB OECS and|
| |as well as post-disaster |region, but financial | |Regional bodies such as CHA, |Barbados Catastrophe Risk |
| |financing. |difficulties have rendered the | |CARILEC, IAC and CDERA, have |Management and Insurance Reform |
| | |body very ineffective. It pays | |promoted the idea of risk pooling|Project. |
| | |more attention to regulatory | |but the matter has not influence |This would be expected to be the |
| | |issues. | |public and private policy. |case for a regional pool. |
| | |The Insurance Association of the | |CARICOM’s efforts in the setting | |
| | |Caribbean (IAC) promotes | |up of a regional catastrophe Pool| |
| | |harmonization of insurance | |have been limited through | |
| | |legislation in collaboration with| |insularity and the absence of | |
| | |the CLI and CAIR but except in | |financial resources to complete | |
| | |some jurisdictions (Trinidad, | |the technical work. No work had | |
| | |Barbados and Jamaica), the impact| |been done sine 1999.[47] | |
| | |on government and private sector | |An OECS Catastrophe pool would | |
| | |policy is limited. | |hardly be sustainable. | |
| | |In some jurisdictions, rating | |Any semblance of a sustainable | |
| | |agencies evaluate the fiscal | |pool would have to include the | |
| | |health of insurance companies but| |entire Caribbean region. | |
| | |this is not a normal practice in | | | |
| | |the OECS. | | | |
| | |The regional body for Insurance | | | |
| | |regulators in the | | | |
| | |Spanish-speaking countries of the| | | |
| | |region is ASSAL (Associacion de | | | |
| | |Superintendentes de Seguros de | | | |
| | |America Latina.) | | | |
| | |CAIR should be capitalized to | | | |
| | |build capacity to deal with | | | |
| | |issues of risk classification | | | |
| | |IAC should be given a more | | | |
| | |prominent role in CARICOM to | | | |
| | |influence policy making process | | | |
| | |Rating agencies to be encouraged | | | |
| | |in the insurance industry. | | | |
|Multilateral Lending Institutions, | |The World Bank is providing loan | |The World Bank/CDB OECS and | |
|Bilateral Donors | |financing for insurance capacity | |Barbados Catastrophe Risk | |
| | |building. CFTC has provided funds| |Management and Insurance Reform | |
| | |for legislative reform. | |Project will serve as pilot | |
| | |The IDB and World Bank are | |project for risk pooling. | |
| | |working with the Dominican | | | |
| | |Republic towards uniform | | | |
| | |principles in the region. | | | |
References
Interviews for risk transfer practices were done with the following persons:
1) Allister Campbell, Director General, Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC), IAC Building, Collymore Rock, St Michael, Barbados
2) Evelyn Wayne, Deputy Programme Manager, Macroeconomics and Trade Policy Coordinator, Bank of Guyana Building, Georgetown, Guyana.
3) Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator, Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Agency (CDERA), The Garrison, St Michael, Barbados
-----------------------
[1] This non-formal traditional contingency institution still lingers in some rural communities. Many of these institutions have evolved into credit unions.
[2] Estimates provided by Mr. Robert Josiah, Acting General Manager, Sate Insurance, Antigua and Barbuda. There is no evidence of provisions for alternatives to insurance. Households are simply assuming the liabilities.
[3] Ibid. State Insurance – the major carrier – provides accessible premium rates.
[4] Estimates provided by Mr. Robert Josiah, Managing Director, Sate Insurance, Antigua and Barbuda.
[5] This non-formal traditional contingency institution still lingers in some rural communities. Many of these institutions have evolved into credit unions.
[6] ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
[7] Including World Vision, Food for the Hungry, Mujeres en Desarrollo (MUDE), Centro de Educación de la Mujer (CE-MUJER), Centro de Apoyo a la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa (CAMPE-INTEC), Esperanza International, Asociación Dominicana de Ayuda Social, Ecológica y Cultural, Inc. (ADESAEC), and Plan International.
[8] With financial assistance from the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), ETRENA/ABT/Technical Secretariat to the Presidency (STP)/Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and other sources.
[9] Including the Cabral & Baez University Hospital; the Santiago Fire Station: and the Taveras/Bao Dam system.
[10] Implemented by ADMD, with funding from the USAID reconstruction program after Hurricane Georges. Based on the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Project Impact model.
[11] Communities in the southern portion of the country. Assistance from the International Resource Group (IRG).
[12] Funded by USAID and implemented by the International Resources Group (IRG) and Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI).
[13] Including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF).
[14] Communities participating in the USAID sponsored Post-Hurricane Georges reconstruction project guided by CHF.
[15] Developed under the USAID/OAS Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project (CDMP).
[16] Example: Flood containment wall in Tamayo, which was designed to control normal water levels, not hurricane-related levels.
[17] Developed under the IADB funded Post-Hurricane Georges program.
[18] National Office for the Seismic Evaluation of Buildings and Infrastructure (ONESVIE).
[19] GTE/Verizon affiliate in the Dominican Republic.
[20] For example, World Vision, Food for the Hungry, Plan International and the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI).
[21] For example, post-hurricane Georges housing reconstruction and rehabilitation implemented by the Cooperative Housing Foundation, with funding from USAID.
[22] Financed by the World Bank and IADB.
[23] Financed by the IADB.
[24] For example, the current drainage infrastructure is only serves approximately 13% of the capital city of Santo Domingo.
[25] Including the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología (INTEC).
[26] USAID/OAS Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project, cdmp
[27] GEF/World Bank/OAS Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change,
[28] Estimates were provided by David Phillip, managing Director, NALGICO, one, of the leading property underwriter in the market.
[29] ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
[30] Estimates were provided by David Phillip, Managing Director, NALGICO, one, of the leading property underwriter in the market.
[31] Caribbean Development Bank.
[32] Stephens, Cedric E., Catastrophe Insurance in Jamaica: A Review of the Period 1989-1998 and Non-Life Insurers: are they playing an effective role …?
[33] Ignorance about the nature of the risks and expectations of donor support could be contributors to the low rate of insurance penetration.
[34] USAID/OAS Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis, pgdm
[35] Estimates provided by the insurance regulator and based on my knowledge of the market.
[36] List of Government Properties for Insurance, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, 2001
[37] ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
[38] Estimates are based on discussions with the insurance regulator and based on my knowledge of the market.
[39] Comptroller of Budget, Ministry of Finance
[40] Comptroller of Budget, Ministry of Finance
[41] Like its neigbour, Grenada, the islands were last affected by a hurricane in 1955.
[42] Annual budgetary premium for the Government Headquarters is about EC$200, 000 according Mr. Isaac Solomon, Budget Director, Ministry of Finance and Planning
[43] ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
[44] Like its neigbour, Grenada, Hurricane Janet hit St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1955.
[45] Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project, cdmp
[46] Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) acquired Capital Life and British American Insurance.
[47] Interview with Allister Campbell, Director General, Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC) and Evelyn Wayne, Deputy Programme Manager, Macroeconomics and Trade Policy Coordinator.
Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica opted out of the discussions and the World Bank efforts have since been concentrated on Barbados and the OECS countries.
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