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Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
ANNEX 3: ASSESSMENTS OF RISK MANAGEMENT
ACTUAL PRACTICES
Page 35
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Page 36
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Hazard maps prepared for drought, Caribbean Conference of Churches Inventory of critical facilities Individuals in communities have
hurricanes, wind, flood, and working with NODS to advance undertaken and most important valuable knowledge of protective
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 and historical information of how
historical knowledge used to Discussions with Antigua & to assess remaining critical facilities they function during actual hazard
supplement scientific studies to Barbuda Hotel Association to help and identify remedial work needed. events.
identify hazards and vulnerable disseminate hazard information. Damage history compiled for Local knowledge communicated
areas. Vulnerable groups identified in critical facilities under PGDM. to national institutions via the
Crabb Hill, Grays Green and Antigua and Barbuda. District Disaster Committees and
Civil Society
Liberta communities trained to relationships with workers in key
(Communities and their Much existing housing and departments like Fisheries and
identify hazard risks and how to development, including critical
organizations) Environment.
deal with them at local level. Some facilities and infrastructure,
community training also completed already exists in vulnerable areas. Community groups trained to
in Barbuda recognise legal extent of
Inappropriate use of some Environment Division's
Training in identification of emergency shelters due more to
hazards and dealing with them not responsibilities.
cultural traditions rather than lack
yet conducted in all communities. of public information. Lack of formal training for
community groups to identify and
protect critical environmental
systems.
Policy
Hazard maps completed in 2001, Inventories of critical facilities
also available to Barbuda Council. completed in 2001 as part of
comprehensive hazard vulnerability
Local Government assessment done under the PGDM
Technical and available to Barbuda Council.
Structural Vulnerability
assessments done for selected
government facilities in Antigua
and Barbuda under the PGDM.
District Disaster Committees in Disaster committees in Antigua and
Antigua and Barbuda all provided Barbuda identified vulnerable
Local Disaster Committees with hazard maps for their areas. groups.
Some training done in use of the
maps.
Page 37
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
National Mitigation Council Government agencies not yet Hazard maps used in conducting Inadequate monitoring of Barbuda Council provided with
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 identify Development standards
achieve this and get them to budget areas suitable for built applicable to Barbuda.
for these measures and submit to development.
Ministry of Finance and National NPDP provides guidance for
National Physical Development location of development in
Policy Mitigation Council. Plan and St. John's Local Plan Barbuda.
provide policy guidance for steering
development away from hazard
prone areas.
Hazard vulnerability assessments
not incorporated into project
appraisal process.
National Mitigation Technical Agricultural Extension Officers Repairs carried out on majority of Government agencies do not
Committee established. assist farmers to identify practices critical facilities (CF). maintain current inventories if
Hazard maps prepared by local and that degrade the environment and Some CFs abandoned because of physical assets besides buildings.
foreign consultants. appropriate mitigation measures. severity of damage.
Development Control Authority Development standards prepared
Central Planning and
(DCA) incorporated maps into GIS for hazard resistant construction.
Sectoral Agencies
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 technical with hazard maps (Environment,
skills. Fisheries, Agriculture, DCA).
Technical 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 assessments
work. 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.
Page 38
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
NODS prepared 'Build Strong' NODS identified vulnerable NODS maintains database of
pamphlet and conducted workshops communities and prioritises areas critical facilities and vulnerability
on 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 implemented in some vulnerable structures continuing with
to major sectors of government, communities. assistance from PWD.
according to their needs.
National Disaster Office
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.
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 Less than 10 percent of commercial developers.
Commerce. businesses carry business EIAs carried out by some
Hotel Association assists in interruption insurance. developers (often reluctantly)
identifying facilities critical to when requested by the DCA or
economy. Environment Division.
Leaders
Important commercial sector in St.
John's as yet has no formal process
for identifying facilities and
Business and Industry services critical to economic
development and interventions to be
taken during and after a hazard
event.
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.
Members 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.
Page 39
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Examples of hazard resistant Appropriate hazard resistant Hazard and vulnerability Appropriate building materials
construction by private sector and construction techniques available to reduction information available commercially.
individual developers. builders and are widely used. incorporated into programmes
Habitat for Humanity housing NODS plans to train members of at the State College, Technical
programmes incorporate building District Disaster Committees as and Vocational Training
Civil Society
techniques. monitoring officers. Centre and the Youth Skills
(Communities and their programme.
organizations) Individual builders sufficiently Patterns of land ownership may be a
sensitised now to request factor in causing people to build in Hazard and vulnerability
confirmation from NODS that vulnerable areas despite knowledge reduction information not yet
structural details proposed by their of vulnerability. infused into curriculum of
engineers meet Code requirements. primary and secondary
schools.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Local disaster committees in
Antigua and Barbuda have
general disaster plans that
emphasise preparedness and
response. NODS now
focusing on helping them to
Local Disaster Committees develop a mitigation
component, especially
mitigation measures that can
be taken on by the
communities.
Community disaster plans lack
mitigation component.
Page 40
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
National
New public buildings constructed in Conformity with Building Code and Infrastructure deficiencies Policies developed for protection Post disaster actions incorporate
accordance with Building Code. location criteria increasingly identified in National Physical of environmental systems like reduction measures.
Insufficient attention to location and important in granting development Development Plan and St. reefs, mangrove, sand dunes and Sources of finance available for
vulnerability criteria in siting approvals. John's Plan. beaches. post disaster recovery from
infrastructure. Building inspectors from DCA and Attempts to use EIAs as tool for regional institutions at lower
PWD trained in use and importance decision making in projects with interest rates and local sources
of 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
Central Planning and
Policy Hazard Mitigation Policy and Plan
Sectoral Agencies
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.
Page 41
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Technical staff in major agencies Some training conducted under Lack of dialogue between key Study of the effects of Hurricane
trained in use of Building Code and PGDM to provide staff with skills for technical agencies in Antigua Luis on the Antigua Public
have ready access to Code. proper enforcement of development and personnel on the ground Utilities Authority conducted
Inadequate monitoring and standards. in Barbuda. under the CDMP.
Technical
interventions by DCA. Insufficient training and budget for
enforcement of development and
environmental standards in Antigua
and in Barbuda.
Some technical expertise NODS reviews standards for
National Disaster Office available. post-disaster rehabilitation and
new construction.
Construction industry working with Many businesses do not
NODS to ensure quality control of deposit copies of their disaster
imported building materials and to plans with NODS and
adopt better practices for storing question the authority of
materials. NODS to request them.
Leadership Disaster plans prepared by
hotels are at best hurricane
plans and not considered to be
adequate by NODS.
Businesses do not have
recovery plans.
Appropriate building materials Some businesses have disaster
available for sale nationally. plans. NODS has copies of
Some construction related companies approximately 9 plans from
Business and conduct public workshops to private sector companies.
Industry demonstrate appropriate techniques. Hotels that are members of the
Individual insurance companies Antigua Hotel and Tourism
employ officers to inspect buildings Association have basic
to ensure conformity with disaster plans based on the
Code/Standards before insuring CTO Hurricane Plan
Members them.
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.
Page 42
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
There is no formal alternative There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
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 Commercial properties,
organizations (―hand‖) operate a buy adequate reinsurance. particularly hotels that are part of
―loose‖ form of self- Most properties in the middle and international chains, may be using
insurance/welfare for their upper income groups are risk financing options that allow
parishioners and partners through comprehensively insured to actual multi-year coverage that would
systematic savings.1 value as this forms part of the result in stabilizing premiums.
Some other sectarian groups build mortgage agreement.
up contingency funds for Income loss by owners has
providential purposes. resulted in about 50% under-
Civil Society NGOs are not involved in housing insurance2of non-encumbered
or property development property.
(Communities and their organizations)
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.
[There is no local government
Policy body. All activities are prosecuted
Local government by a national agency. ]
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
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.
Page 43
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory function Government has no policy for The public assets which are Government sources external
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 mitigation efforts. Most debt
probabilities equipped and poorly staffed. Staff
insured, are covered under the Airport capital is sourced from
Fiscal difficulties do not allow for lacks expertise in risk specific loan conditions and lease Holberton Hospital
commercial lenders.
such budgetary allocations. NB: management. arrangements. The Antigua Recreation Additional contingent credit
This remains a serious cause for Some aspects of planning, zoning There is no public fund or Grounds (ARG) facilities could include:
concern given the vulnerability of and hazard mapping (hazard mechanism established to The Free Zone (i) World Bank Economic
the islands to natural disasters. mapping for flooding and indemnify the poor or to provide Premiums are paid annually. Recovery Facility
Government will be expected to landslides) are being done by theincentive for undertaking
Physical Planning Department. NB: All other public assets are (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
encourage tax incentives when mitigation measures. Facility
the Catastrophe Pool is However there are no hazard not insured.
maps governing insurer’s levels Government needs to explore the
Policy established under The World feasibility of:
Central Planning and Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados of catastrophe peril liabilities, no (i) Investing in contingency credit
Sectoral Agencies Catastrophe Risk Management functional linkage between the
physical planning and the and contingency equity to
and Insurance Reform Project. increase liquidity for
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
Budgetary allocations are made NODS promotes risk reduction .
towards the National Office of through the national committees,
Disaster Services (NODS) only public education and awareness
for operations. No emergency programs mainly during the
funds are deployed for hurricane season.
contingencies. NODS needs to:
National Disaster Office NODS 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.
Page 44
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
The National Development Some insurance companies, Public autonomous enterprises Tourism: There is no risk
Foundation is involved in safer including State Insurance under the management of the transfer mechanism or self-
housing training and a revolving Company (the major property central government such as Water insurance for locally owned
loan fund for home retrofit. insurance carrier) and ANJO and Electricity are not adequately properties.
(United) provide incentives to insured because of financial Joint purchase of insurance
homeowners, such as lower difficulties. coverage is an imperative (given
premium rates for risk reduction, Statutory bodies such as the Port the similar exposure) to lower
and does some risk assessment Authority building, Antigua cost through increased portfolio.
and management checks. Public Utilities Authority
Business and Industry,
Leaders (APUA) and the Social Security
Financial
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.
Page 45
Antigua and Barbuda
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Leadership should be provided by About 100% of company
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
companies - in this case, State require building standards are
Insurance Company. strictly 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
Members 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.
4
Estimates provided by Mr. Robert Josiah, Managing Director, Sate Insurance, Antigua and Barbuda.
Page 46
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Page 47
British Virgin Islands
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Population groups are aware of Communities are aware of their Public awareness of vulnerability. Communities aware of vulnerable
local hazards. vulnerabilities. Uncontrolled grazing by stray groups and facilities.
Community groups have access to Built development exists in animals causes some
hazard maps at the office of the vulnerable coastal and hillside environmental degradation.
Civil Society
Department of Disaster locations.
(Communities and their Management (DDM).
organizations)
Hard copies of hazard maps not yet
made available to the public.
Hazard risk assessment not done at
community level.
Local Government
10 Zonal Committees throughout Committees assist DDM to Committees assist in evaluating Zonal Committees can access
the BVI. Had formal training in disseminate information to adequacy of shelters and ensuring digital copies of hazard maps at
hazard awareness and findings of communities. they are well maintained. office of DDM.
Local Disaster Committees 1997 Hazard and Risk Assessment
Study.
Hard copies of hazard maps not yet
made available.
Page 48
British Virgin Islands
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
National Emergency Advisory Government agencies have Some policies exist to protect Risk maps available for prevalent
Council set up in 1980s, chaired by identified vulnerable groups. environment. hazards including storm surge,
the Director of Public Works. Human Vulnerability Assessment Private sector marinas assist in floods, liquefaction, landslides
Includes a Mitigation and Damage on-going in collaboration with protecting mangrove. and high velocity winds.
Assessment Sub-Committee. social sector agencies. School projects assist in
Comprehensive Mitigation replanting mangrove.
Planning Framework prepared and
submitted to Executive Council for Damage to coral reefs and
approval in March 2002 after mangrove caused by coastal
receiving comments from technical development and construction
Policy agencies. known to increase vulnerability of
coastal areas to storm surge.
Land reclamation along the coast
also causes damage and
increases vulnerability.
Central Planning and Erosion caused by hillside
Sectoral Agencies development that removes
vegetation and increases water
runoff. Also lack of drainage
infrastructure along hillside
roads.
Hazard mapping carried out by Development standards revised to Increased awareness after Hugo Government agencies maintain
foreign consultants but local reflect impacts observed after of 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 Health Departments maps
Hazard maps available in digital and construction and reclamation location of clinics and medical
Technical in coastal areas.
format and included in GIS stockpiles using GIS.
database.
National GIS network shares hazard
mapping information with all
government departments.
Page 49
British Virgin Islands
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
DDM advertised availability of 1994 Shelter Survey conducted to DDM recognizes and
Hazard and Risk Assessment Study assess location, capacity, age and aggressively promotes awareness
and availability of maps so structural condition of emergency of impact of environmental
interested persons/groups can shelters. Study now being reviewed degradation in coastal areas on
access it at their office. and unsuitable buildings removed vulnerability.
as shelters or relocated if too close
to flood prone areas and repaired if
necessary.
National Disaster Office 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.
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,
Leaders
available hazard information. represented on Mitigation and other usually when requested by public
Business and Industry committees. agency.
Copies of hazard maps not
distributed but available in digital
format from DDM.
Businesses adopt safer building
Members
techniques.
Page 50
British Virgin Islands
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
High level of consciousness among Awareness sessions conducted to BVI Community College Appropriate building materials
residents of the importance of safe sensitise public to preparation of recently offering Associate easily available. Shutters and
building practices and appropriate Building regulations. Degree in Disaster hurricane straps are exempt from
techniques. Course run at Community College Management. Now in second government taxes.
New buildings built with hurricane familiarizes engineering technicians semester. Community College
shutters and straps. with provisions in Building has link with Arkansas
Regulations. Technical University
programme in Emergency
Traditional development patterns Administration and
resulted in location of development Management. BVI signed
in vulnerable coastal and hillside articulation agreement that
areas. allows students to transfer to
Civil Society
Arkansas after completing the
(Communities and their
Associate degree at the
organizations)
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.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Contingency sub-plans for
Local Disaster Committees Zonal Committees included in
National Contingency Plan.
National
New public buildings conform to Building Regulations approved in There is a National Disaster Private marinas assist in Post-disaster assessments (e.g.
Building Regulations since they 1999. Developed under 1995 Plan that addresses all major protecting mangroves. post-Hugo Assessment) include
were adopted. Regulations bind the Building Ordinance. Regulations hazards and includes recovery School projects assist in mitigation measures.
Crown. available for sale at cost of US $12. measures. Plan now being replanting mangroves. Government funds made
Government encourages use of Based on OECS Model Building revised. available for recovery and
Central Planning and Code and CUBIC. Marine shelters established and
Policy hurricane shutters and straps. All key sectors required to managed by boating community. mitigation measures.
Sectoral Agencies
Regulations are used as basis for have contingency plans. These They provide protected shelters in
approvals by the Building Authority. are prepared with help from mangrove where boats can be
Trained building inspectorate at DDM and are regularly moored during hurricanes.
Building Authority to evaluate updated. Copies are lodged Largest shelter can accommodate
structural elements of development with DDM. 5-600 yachts.
Page 51
British Virgin Islands
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
applications. Tourist Board now preparing a Conservation and Fisheries
Land-Use Plans prepared and Tourism Sector Plan involving Department help keep mangrove
approved for Road Town and East all major tourism properties. areas clean and clear.
End. Hazard information Water and Sewerage US Coast Guards assisted with
incorporated into Plans which are Authority conducting study of Environmental Sensitivity
used as the basis for making land-use water and sewerage systems to Mapping between 1998-2000.
decisions. identify and address Maps produced in digital format
Hazard information not well deficiencies. and Atlas also produced.
integrated into land-use planning Comprehensive Disaster EIAs requested for major
process. Much hazard information Management Strategy being projects.
not used in making land-use prepared to coordinate Oil spill Contingency Plan
decisions. activities of all agencies. prepared and response team in
National Physical Development Plan National Integrated place.
prepared but never approved by Development Plan prepared in PWD has regular maintenance
Executive Council. 1998. One of its main goals programme for water courses and
was to reduce the country‘s ghauts. Includes erection of
vulnerability to hazards. retaining walls to reducing
Formed basis for BVI‘s flooding and removal of debris
Comprehensive Disaster and garbage.
Management Strategy and
Mitigation Plan. No physical Planning or
Environmental legislation
Solid Waste Department mandates use of EIAs.
empties garbage and secures
receptacles when hurricane EIAs do not include specific
warnings issued. hazard information.
Need for more training to Environmental legislation to
make agencies aware of how protect natural systems is
they can contribute to relatively weak.
mitigation measures. Need for legislation to allow for
Need to provide agencies with imposition of fines for oil spills.
adequate resources to carry
out mitigation activities.
Need to get key agencies to
work together in a more
coordinated manner.
Page 52
British Virgin Islands
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Technical staff in relevant agencies Some training carried out for Mitigation Planning Some environmental protection Post Hurricane Hugo damage
are familiar with and use Building government departments to promote Framework addresses a legislation exists. assessment was conducted in
Regulations. awareness of Building Regulations. mitigation strategy and 1993. Recommendations helped
Construction of sea defense Physical Planning Department administration of the strategy inform 1997 Hazard Risk
structures to protect coastline and coordinates a quarterly Planning for the public and private Assessment and current
coastal infrastructure from damage Forum for senior government sectors. Mitigation Strategy.
during storm surge. officials and Department Heads to Mitigation Action Plan Post-disaster Damage
Retrofitting of emergency shelters discuss planning issues. These included use of GIS for hazard Assessments coordinated by
carried out. include risk evaluations for information management. DDM. Physical assessments
development applications and land- Seismic monitoring stations carried out by Public Works and
use plans and identify necessary established by Seismic Unit of Physical Planning. Rapid
planning controls. UWI Trinidad in Tortola and assessments carried out by
Early Warning Systems Virgin Gorda following spate sectoral agencies.
implemented. Monitoring systems in of earthquakes in October BVI has low level of structural
Technical place to track weather before and 2001. Fully operation al damage to buildings during
during hurricanes. monitoring system established hurricanes.
National Emergency Broadcast in Anegada by University of Government-in-Council
System established to warn public of Puerto Rico. established a Disaster Fund with
impending hazard events. System annual allocations of
regularly tested. approximately US $1m to use in
Inadequate staff in Development the event of a 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.
DDM promotes risk reduction Core technical expertise DDM coordinates post-disaster
strategies through their Public available to execute functions. damage assessments.
Information and Education and DDM now finalizing Bio-
training and Research Officers. Hazard Plan.
DDM also promotes use of DDM has budget head to
National Disaster Office appropriate building materials and provide assistance to sectors
identifies where they are available to prepare and update
locally. contingency plans.
DDM mandated to conduct
annual full-scale national
disaster simulation exercise.
Page 53
British Virgin Islands
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Some Insurance Companies assist in Tropical Shipping Company
promoting hazard awareness sponsored recovery planning
campaigns and vulnerability workshops organized by DDM
reduction measures. for resorts.
Leadership
Need to have private sector
recognize their role and
become more involved in
mitigation.
Business and
Local businesses manufacture Appropriate building materials easily Large hotels have disaster Boating community assists in Appropriate building materials
Industry
hurricane shutters for use locally and available for sale locally. plans, including recovery protecting mangrove. easily available.
for export to other Caribbean Government offers tax exemptions measures, prepared with
islands. on hurricane shutters and straps to support from the DDM and
Members encourage their widespread use. Caribbean Tourism Office.
Cable and Wireless now run
all telephone lines
underground throughout the
BVI.
Page 54
British Virgin Islands
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
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
Page 55
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
DOMINICA
Page 56
Dominica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Office of Disaster Management Some vulnerability assessments
(ODM) organises community carried out for hurricanes,
meetings during times of volcanic especially to assess road network.
Civil Society activity. Need to comprehensive
(Communities and their Relatively little housing and identification of critical facilities in
organizations) development in hazard prone areas. vulnerable areas.
Some development located in
vulnerable areas.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
ODM and Ministry of Local In 1998, with threat of volcanic
Government providing training in activity in south of island, meetings
Local Disaster Committees risk identification. were held with 12 communities and
special training sessions in 4 of
these.
National
Disaster Mitigation Committee set
up under World Bank Project.
Policy
Chaired by PS Ministry of
Communication and Works.
Landslide hazard map prepared in Ministry of Communication &
early 1980s. Trying to source funds Works identifies structures and
to update. facilities vulnerable to hazards.
Central Planning and Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad
Sectoral Agencies did volcanic hazard map in
1999/2000. Report to be put on
Technical
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.
ODM planned workshops for ODM ensures persons in shelters
business sector in May 2002 on well cared for during hazard events.
Role of Private Sector in
Emergency Management.
National Disaster Office
Also scheduled workshop for May
2002 with Dominica Hotel and
Tourism Association on Hurricane
Preparedness in Tourism Sector.
Page 57
Dominica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Business sector represented on
National Emergency Planning
Organisation. They have the
Leaders opportunity to express their
Business and Industry concerns.
Business sector not very active in
identifying hazard and risk issues.
Members
Page 58
Dominica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
Local
Civil Society ODM providing training for rural Hazard information not Lack of awareness of Building materials available but a
home owners who mostly build incorporated into school environmental issues at the little expensive. Some companies
(Communities and their wooden buildings. curricula. community level. may reduce prices after a hazard
organizations) event.
Policy
Local Government Councils build some storm drains
Technical and roads. Central government funds
some maintenance activities.
Local Disaster Committees are GTZ project prepared model
related to Local Government disaster plan. District Disaster
Structure. Committees to develop Plans
based on the model. Pilot
Local Disaster Committees project for 2 communities -
Bellevue Chopin and
Soufriere /Scottshead /Gallion.
There are no district disaster
plans.
National
Most public buildings conform to OECS Building Code customised for Improper disposal of solid Environmental protection policies After Hurricane David most
building code. Dominica. In use, but not yet adopted waste increase vulnerability developed by Fisheries Division public buildings were built using
Shelters undergoing retrofitting by government. during hazard events. and Environmental Coordinating hurricane resistant techniques.
under World Bank project. Revised Physical Planning Inadequate sanitation Unit.
Some private buildings may deviate legislation before Parliament. Will facilities in shelters. No EIAs requested for major projects
from approved plans. provide for adoption of Code under purpose built shelters. or those in vulnerable areas.
new Act. Therefore do not have the EIAs include hazard information.
Code and in-house guidelines used to capacity to deal with waste. Physical Planning Division brings
Central Planning Policy evaluate applications. Land use together relevant agencies to
and Sectoral planners, with assistance from increase awareness of technical
Agencies Environment Division provide staff about environmental issues
technical inputs to evaluate and to evaluate applications, to
suitability of locations, given help identify mitigation measures
knowledge of hazard vulnerability. to include in development
No hazard-specific standards exist. approvals.
No clear policy guidelines to guide Environmental systems not well
development in south of island, protected.
which is vulnerable to earth tremors. Environmental degradation due
to agricultural practices.
Page 59
Dominica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
Ministry of Communications and Agencies adhere strictly to Code.
Works built sea walls (eg between Physical Planning Division organises
Rouseau and Canefield and in workshops for staff with input from
Portsmouth.) relevant agencies to sensitise them to
Technical staff in relevant agencies environmental and hazard issues.
have copies of building code. Physical Planning organises training
Technical staff need to be more for their staff and staff of other
familiar with Code. 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
Technical 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.
Page 60
Dominica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
Under World Bank Project, Office National Emergency Management Evacuation plan in place for Community vulnerability
of Disaster Management building 21 Act is 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 help. before 2nd reading. and landslide dam in Layou
USAID and OAS funded preparation River.
National Disaster Office 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.
Banks impose loan ceiling for ODM targets Hotel and
lending in south of island, which is Tourism Association to cover
known to be vulnerable to earth all members.
tremors. Insurance companies also
Leadership
reluctant to insure properties in these
Business and
areas. These policies/practices serve
Industry as a disincentive to people from
building in this vulnerable area.
Some hotels have prepared Businesses have no recovery
Members simple Disaster Plans. ODM plans.
helping then to improve plans.
Page 61
Dominica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Insurance Reinsurance Diversification
Local
There is no formal alternative There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
mechanisms to insurance be it homeowners. Homeowners and mechanism that allows losses to
contingency credit or investors depend entirely on the be paid off in the future through
contingency equity. property insurance market, credit facility.
Some churches and non-formal although some carriers cannot buy Commercial properties do not use
organizations (―Sou Sou‖) adequate reinsurance. risk-financing options that allow
operate a ―loose‖ form of self- Most properties in the middle and multi-year coverage that would
insurance/welfare for their upper income groups are result in stabilizing premiums.
parishioners and partners comprehensively property insurance NB: Most hotels are locally
through systematic savings.5 to actual value as this forms part of owned and operated.
Some other sectarian groups the mortgage agreement.
and 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)
NGOs are not involved in since 1995 has resulted in a
housing or property significant level of under-insurance
Civil Society of non-encumbered property.
development.
(Communities and their organizations)
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.
There are Local government
bodies in all villages, towns
Policy and the City but all activities
Local government are co-ordinated by a national
agency.
Technical
5
This non-formal traditional contingency institution still lingers in some rural communities. Many of these institutions have evolved into credit unions.
Page 62
Dominica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Insurance Reinsurance Diversification
Local Disaster Committees
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory function is Government has no policy for The public assets which are Government sources external
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. capital is sourced from
insured, are covered under the Treasury Building
Serious fiscal difficulties do not
Some aspects of planning, zoning specific loan conditions and lease commercial lenders.
Post Office
allow for such budgetary and hazard mapping (hazard arrangement. Additional contingent credit
NB: All other public assets are
allocations. NB: This remains amapping for flooding and There is no public fund or facilities could include:
not insured.
serious cause for concern givenlandslides) are being done by the mechanism established to (i) World Bank Economic
Physical Planning Department.
the vulnerability of the islands indemnify the poor or to provide Recovery Facility
However there are no hazard maps
to natural disasters particularly incentives for undertaking (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
windstorms and volcanic governing insurer’s levels of mitigation measures. Facility
actions. catastrophe peril liabilities and no
Government needs to explore the
Government will be expected to functional linkage between the
Central Planning and Policy
encourage tax incentives when physical planning and the insurance feasibility of
regulation. (i) Investing in contingency credit
Sectoral Agencies the Catastrophe Pool is and contingency equity to
established under The World The insurance regulator needs to: increase liquidity for
Bank/CDB OECS and (i) Have the capacity to do rehabilitating damaged buildings,
Barbados Catastrophe Risk catastrophe premium pricing. schools, hospitals, water
Management and Insurance (ii) Educate with respect to reducing facilities, ports, roads bridges
Reform Project. the financial impact of events and using credit and capital market
minimizing the probability of instruments.
avoidable losses.
(ii) Providing incentives for
catastrophe risk coverage for
low-income groups particularly
those occupying areas prone to
landslide such as squatters.
Technical
Page 63
Dominica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Insurance Reinsurance Diversification
Budgetary allocations are (i) DPO promotes risk reduction .
made towards the Disaster through the national committees,
Preparedness Office (DPO) public education and awareness
only for operations. No programs mainly all year round but
emergency funds are deployed is particularly active during the
for contingencies because of hurricane season.
fiscal difficulties. (ii) Although its Focal Points are
However government has very active, its activity is restricted
National Disaster Office EC$853,000 in a Fiscal because of limited funds.
Tranche at the Central Bank DPO needs to:
which is a contingency fund.6 (i) embark on a broad based
DPO depends largely on insurance, risk management and
inflows from regional and disaster preparedness education
international donors in the programme
aftermath of a disaster. (ii) emphasize retrofitting,
maintenance and building standards
and insurance coverage
There is no society-wide Some insurance companies provide Public autonomous enterprises Banana Industry: The Alternative risk financing for the
Advisory Council, but the focal incentives to homeowners such as under the management of the Windward Island Crop Insurance business and industry would
points in the village, towns and lower premium rates for risk central government such as Water (WINCROP) provides a measure involve:
city councils are very active in reduction and undertake some risk and Electricity are not adequately of protection for wind storm (i) Allocation of capital reserve
the awareness and education assessment and management insured because of financial damage, but there is no risk during the profitable years to be
programmes with respect to checks. However, the high constraints. transfer mechanism or self- used as collateral for debt
disaster preparedness, disaster deductible for catastrophe coverage Statutory bodies such as the insurance. There is very little financing for reconstruction
mitigation and risk transfer. makes the premium prohibitive for Social Security Building are reserving because the industry is effort.
The National Development some households. insured to their actual value. experiencing financial difficulties.
(ii) Use of capital market
Foundation has organized safer Pooling method would most be Tourism: There is no risk instruments to generate raise
Business and Industry, housing promotions and loan appropriate for these enterprises. transfer mechanism or self- equity capital for the recovery
Leaders
Financial funding for retrofit. These are to be covered under insurance for locally owned effort
The work of DPO must be The World Bank/CDB OECS and properties.
(iii) Creation of a venture capital
further broadened to include a Barbados Catastrophe Risk Joint purchase of insurance fund to supplement recoveries for
Technical Advisory Team to Management and Insurance coverage is an imperative (given business interruption insurance.
influence policy at the Cabinet Reform Project. the similar exposure) to lower
Sub-Committee level. The costs through increased portfolio.
members should be drawn from
NGOs, banking, insurance,
industry and engineering to
advise the Insurance Regulator
and to promote best practices.
6
ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
Page 64
Dominica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Insurance Reinsurance Diversification
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 to terms and conditions of the debt
provide leadership. The larger capital require building standards
players in the economy such as are strictly adhered to at all stages of
Roseau Credit Union would the construction.
have to assume an active role. Almost all 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
Members 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.
Page 65
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Page 66
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
The Dominican Disaster Mitigation Most population groups are aware No comprehensive inventory of The training of local groups to In general, the government,
Association (ADMD), has worked of at least part of their important structures exists. identify and protect private and voluntary
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 flood
communities to assist them in problems are more important than selected communities. In Santiago, buffer hazard effects is included prone areas and industrial areas
identifying and mapping flooding, contamination and other for instance, a number of critical in the proposed Natural are highly vulnerable, however
vulnerabilities and local hazards. hazards. facilities in Santiago have been Resources and Environmental lack of resources and/or political
The Peace Corps and NGOs7 have During Hurricane season it is identified as hazardous structures legislation to be submitted to commitment impedes the
sponsored community disaster common for supermarkets, the requiring a inspection and Congress in early 2002. development and implementation
preparedness training in at least 200 telephone company, corrective/ mitigative measures to of an action plan.
Civil Society high-risk communities, mostly in CODETEL/VERIZON, and the assure their future functional Subsequent to hurricane Georges,
(Communities and their collaboration with the ADMD. newspapers to distribute orientation capacity.9 comprehensive vulnerability
organizations) After Hurricane Georges, the Civil information. The press only runs Given that an estimated 80% of reduction initiatives were
Defense and Red Cross seismic hazard information when a construction is informal, a undertaken in Haina, the
implemented awareness campaigns, major earthquake happens abroad significant percentage of this takes country‘s most important port and
giving over 2,000 presentations to or if a tremor is felt in the country. place in high-risk areas without industrial area, and in Tamayo,
more than 50,000 Dominicans However, the ADMD and Sociedad interference on behalf of the Vicente Noble and Jaquimeyes,
nationwide. 8 Dominicana de Sismología e authorities due to lack of political an area devastated by flooding;10
Ingeniería Sísmica commitment. Nor are the and assistance was provided to 81
Many of the community-based (SODOSISMICA) regularly communities in the development
efforts are short-term pilot projects, circulate information to hundreds of communities well-organized enough of community emergency plans
which do not provide long term to prevent further settlement in
international and national hazard-prone areas. and committees.11
follow-up necessary for lasting organizations.
impact on vulnerability reduction.
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).
Page 67
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
The Civil Defense has identified, Formal physical development Risk maps are not available at a
evaluated and marked a small (approx 20%) requires a scale useful for local government.
number of buildings as shelters in construction permit from Public
the event of a hurricane or Works, a land use permit from the
earthquake, and during hurricane Municipal authorities and
season published information in the completion of several related
press about the location of the processes, including increasing
shelters. environmental controls, which often
Policy 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.
Flood levels, soil conditions, International development agencies Selected NGOs and community Both risk and hazard maps were
erosion and slope failure, and and organizations have compiled groups include mitigation measures developed for La Zurza, El
Local Government structural weaknesses in housing damage-related information and are in 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 majority
Zurza, El Capotillo and Simón Dominican Republic.13 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
Technical (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.
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.
Page 68
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
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
Local Disaster Committees the Ministry of Mines and are not in disabled.
a scale as to be useful to specific
communities.
Maps of storm-related hazards15
made available to hotel, free zone
and other industrial and private
organizations.
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.
Page 69
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
The Civil Defense has a proposed In general, the government, private Assessments for project appraisals Natural Resources and the
legislative package in Congress on and voluntary organizations focus on industrial, environmental, Environment Legislation
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, understand that settlements and economic and political concerns. currently 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
Policy
Significant new private and public resources and/or political systems that contribute to hazard
sector buildings should be required commitment impedes the stabilization or mitigation.
to install meteorological and development and implementation of
seismic instruments, to be an action plan.
maintained by educational
institutions.
Digital orthophotography integrated The Civil Defense has a proposed The existing official wind and The Ministry of the Environment Critical facility information is not
into the National Planning Office, legislative package in Congress on seismic codes for construction and the National Institute of 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 available hazard vulnerability self-assessment natural hazards and are currently specifications should be placed in
Central Planning and at scales of 1: 250,000; 1:50,000, techniques and prioritizes being upgraded to improve public archives. This should be a
Sectoral Agencies and 1:5,000. 17 vulnerability reduction measures, performance. requirement for the issuing of
Adequate maps of rain hazards based on socio-economic impact Mechanisms for regular update and occupancy certificates, including
exist. Maps of wind hazards and environmental priorities. maintenance of the building for Government facilities.
available but requires further standards and codes needs to be
attention and available seismic developed.
hazard maps are inadequate. The Enforced compliance with the
Technical integration of hazard information building standards has been
into a national GIS database has proposed and approved18 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
published in national newspapers at maintain some type of
regular intervals. documentation regarding the
Networks of measuring stations for physical assets in inventory.
rainfall, wind speed , barometric Standards currently exist for
pressure and seismic strong building materials, but they require
motions should be established and updating and better enforcement.
maintained.
17
Developed under the IADB funded Post-Hurricane Georges program.
18
National Office for the Seismic Evaluation of Buildings and Infrastructure (ONESVIE).
Page 70
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
The National Disaster Office has The Civil Defense has identified The Civil Defense has solicited The Ministry of Education and
proposed a legislative package to highly vulnerable population resources to inventory and conduct the National Institute of
promote the use of hazard groups and is seeking government a vulnerability audit of all critical Hydrological Resources conduct
National Disaster Office information for development and resources to implement plans to facilities. courses for primary school
investment decisions across all reduce vulnerability in these students regarding the importance
sectors of government and the groups. of safe water.
economy.
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 chains and companies with the Environment requires projects
jointly a Strategic Development support national activities, international contracts are required to comply with specific standards
Plan for the City of Santiago de los including provision of support to to comply with international design to obtain a building permit and an
Caballeros to identify and prioritize the Civil Defense. and building as well as safety and operating license. However, there
strategic growth, service and other environmental standards in keeping is little enforcement and generally
measures, taking into consideration with programs such as ISO9000 this is not done.
active traces of the Septentrional and ISO14000. All hotels and industries are
Fault, areas prone to landslides, and CODETEL19 assesses suitability of required to monitor
flooding. new project sites, considering soil environmental degradation.
The businesses, industries and local conditions and other risk factors.
Business and Industry Leaders government in Haina agreed upon, The oil refinery, REFIDOMSA, is a
authorized and marked a hazardous leader in industrial safety and
materials safety route. advised the Dominican Authorities
Many large companies, (Marines) in development of
corporations, franchises and chains Contingency Plans.
use hazard maps in compliance Due to lack of awareness of the
with international safety guidelines local seismic code, some engineers
such as ISO9000 and ISO14000. and companies modify and apply
The Oil Refinery, REFIDOMSA, American, Japanese, and other
has supported the development, seismic resistant building codes.
distribution and use of hazard maps.
19
GTE/Verizon affiliate in the Dominican Republic.
Page 71
Dominican Republic
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Large employers are usually Both REFIDOMSA and CODETEL
required by their headquarters to conduct regular vulnerability audits
conduct regular structural of their facilities and support
assessments of facilities and networks, the former as a
implement suggested corrective requirement by SHELL, the latter
and/or preventive measures. as a requirement for the insurance
The oil refinery, REFIDOMSA, policy.
Members
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
Page 72
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Consejo Inter-Institucional para la There is no control over informal The Ministry of Education has Significant strides have been Appropriate building materials
Coordinación de Programas de housing in hazard prone areas, developed texts for various taken towards the development are generally available, but often
Viviendas (CII-VIVIENDAS) has which is often quite dense. subjects to include hazard and and implementation of without proper installation
developed and distributes a series ofCommunities often question the vulnerability reduction mechanisms and knowledge to instructions.
―Self-built construction guides.‖ standards of new construction and information in the school identify environmental Recent post-disaster
Mitigation measures designed to refurbishment projects, but often with curricula. degradation. reconstruction projects have
address one hazard (e.g. flooding) little effect. NGOs20 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
Civil Society impacts). development projects. materials.21
(Communities and their Community residents that have No general standards or controls
organizations) 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)
Much of the public infrastructure is A building code exists, however, it is There are no local recovery plans
currently located within hazardous only available as a series of separate in place.
areas. provisions, lacks references to All building and facility failures
crucial auxiliary documents (such as should be studied for causes.
the wind and seismic codes) and Failure reports should me a
Local Government Policy remains largely unenforced. Few 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.
Flood level markers were recently
installed along the Yaque del Sur
River as part of an early warning
Technical
system for the communities of
Tamayo, Vicente Noble and
Jaquimeyes.
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.
Page 73
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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; ADMD-sponsored disaster
received training in committees have formed links
community disaster with local authorities, reported
preparedness, first aid, key statistical community-based
Local Disaster Committees evacuation routes and security information and have met with
brigades; and received a Civil Defense, Red Cross and
donation of tools and other Provincial authorities.
emergency equipment.
The majority of high-risk
communities still have not
received orientation,
assistance or equipment.
Page 74
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
National
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
conform to existing standards. The development approval however there exist in the energy, has environmental management developed.
appropriateness of the standards is is little enforcement. Currently both transportation, health, and protection policies and Financing for immediate recovery
not generally satisfactory. the wind and seismic codes are being education, water and other programs which include is channeled through the
Only an estimated 30% of new upgraded.22 key sectors,24 most of which protection for natural systems that Technical Secretariat to the
buildings obtain the construction The National Planning Office are government dependencies stabilize hazardous areas. Many Presidency but has not developed
permit and an estimated 99% begin recently received a set of maps23 to subject to the lack of remain unenforced due to lack of the capacity to provide a Damage
construction before the designs are assist with land use plans, however resources and political political commitment. Assessment and Needs Analysis
approved by Public Works. little information is available commitment to achieve Environmental impact for each government dependency.
regarding soil composition. improvements. assessments do not include
All public buildings should be
subject to an independent review, A trained building inspectorate has natural hazard considerations.
including those designed by been proposed and the approval was Agriculture and forestry practices
engineers and architects. signed by the President in 2001, often degrade protective natural
creating the National Office of systems due to obsolete
Central Planning and Seismic Evaluation for Buildings and techniques and lack of
Policy
Sectoral Agencies Infrastructure. This office has not yet enforcement of controls by the
been presented or assigned a budget. authorities, such as Law 123
The designs of important facilities (extraction of aggregate
are reviewed but there is no control materials from river beds.)
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.
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.
Page 75
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Technical staff in most agencies is Public Works does not have
generally familiar with and use the adequate human, financial or
existing building code. material 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
Technical 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.
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
National Disaster Office
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.
Page 76
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Businesses conduct training in safety Generally corporations, chains and Generally corporations, chains The proposed legislation on
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 shifts promote the use of international
Businesses such as the Reserve The ADMD continues to emphasize and departments, however this standards that reduce the potential
Bank, CODETEL, and others have the importance of a fire prevention, is done internally, not in impact of disasters and accidents
Leadership collaboration with national or on the environment. Many
sponsored presentations on the DR‘s detection and control capacity along
natural hazards and disaster with other preventative measures. local plans. CODETEL and corporations, chains and
mitigation nationwide for their REFIDOMSA collaborate franchises already comply with
employees, in addition to with the Civil Defense and international guidelines such as
distributing printed materials and related authorities due to the ISO9000 and ISO14000.
providing training in fire prevention importance of their services to
and control. the country.
Technical organizations such as Appropriate building materials are Business and Industry The Ministry of the Environment Just-in-time setup and availability
SODOSISMICA, GE2 and available for sale. Association and its members provides limited training of shipping containers has more
Dominican Union for Engineers and Information on non-structural developed an Emergency Plan regarding reduction of impact on inventory levels than
Architects (CODIA) can be mitigation measures is available. for the Haina area, in environmental impacts. In considerations related to
consulted for structural retrofit and coordination with local addition, universities offer hurricane season. REFIDOMSA,
Business and Approximately 50% of companies
other services, technical assistance. authorities and includes the Environment masters programs. 25 CODETEL, and Hotels, however
Industry will consult their insurer regarding
Generally corporations, chains and Emergency Plan prepared by INTEC has a limited program to do adjust inventory in preparation
design specifications to include fire the local community for hurricane season.
franchises require the use of specific prevention measures and other promote training and research to
standards by designers and emergency committees. reduce environmental impact. Most corporations, chains and
elements before construction to
contractors, and conduct regular reduce insurance premiums for fire Both REFIDOMSA and franchises strive to reduce
inspections and require retrofitting coverage. CODETEL report having downtime to a minimum through
and modifications to comply with tested disaster plans developed the design and implementation of
Members company-wide standards. based on local hazard contingency plans.
Appropriate building materials are information, which include Often, corporations, chains and
available. preparation recommendations franchises will import appropriate
for employees‘ homes and building materials and technicians
families. from headquarters, if not
REFIDOMSA is assisting the available locally.
Dominican Marine Corps with
the development of its disaster
plan and assisted with
dissemination of information
on controls for toxic and
hazardous material spills and
contamination.
25
Including the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología (INTEC).
Page 77
Dominican Republic
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
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
Page 78
Dominican Republic
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
Many church and community Few residential and commercial
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 save on premiums. Often the level
made by local offices. of insurance is related to the
outstanding loan principal.
Civil Society
Generally loan recipients are
(Communities and their organizations) 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.
Policy
Local government
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
Page 79
Dominican Republic
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
The Government does not The insurance regulatory function The insurers and the IADB are Public assets are generally not
allocate contingent disaster is adequately empowered and promoting insurance for public insured, however there are
funding in its annual budget, but funded, with trained staff for properties, which is still not instances of 5 to 6 private insurers
there is a bill before Congress that controlling insurers‘ fiscal health required. There is a legislative pooling together to cover a large
would enable this practice. and catastrophe peril liabilities. proposal in the House of public entities assets, such as in
The Government does not offer The insurance regulator does not Representatives which would the case of the Central Bank. The
tax incentives to finance the oversee the implementation of require that 0.5% of the National assets that are insured are
creation of private catastrophe hazard maps governing insurers’ Budget be reserved to insure generally insured separately.
reserves. Government should levels of catastrophe peril public works.
Policy exempt from taxable income such liabilities, but reinsurers do useGovernment dependency
certifiable reserves for future hazard maps in this way. administrators are free to decide
Central Planning and damaging events. 5% of after-tax earnings is from whom to obtain insurance
Sectoral Agencies The Government often has contributed to a Catastrophe Loss for property and do not pool
difficulty complying with the Trust Fund. together to obtain better rates nor
counterpart requirements to gain are they required to insure via the
The insurers are currently government-held insurance
access to loans offered by the classified by size and premiums
IADB and World Bank. company.
collected/sales volume. Work
underway with M Best Co to There is no public funding
prepare new rating system. mechanism to indemnify the poor.
Government projects should be
independently reviewed at the
Technical design stage, with the aim of
eliminating need for hurricane
insurance.
The Civil Defense has submitted The Civil Defense does not
a legislative package that would promote risk reduction for
National Disaster Office
assure a budget for emergency insurability purposes.
response.
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 not generally insure their assets. franchises have a worldwide of the premium due, no other
on an Advisory Board to the companies provide technical policy that covers assets and mechanisms exist.
Insurance Superintendent, which assistance to clients, making activities in the country.
meets regularly and works on recommendation and evaluating Individual hotel chains will often
Business and Industry Leaders topics such as policies, coverage, their compliance. If the client pool coverage.
coverage modifications, and does not comply the company
insurance legislation. will cancel the policy.
Corporations, chains and
franchises generally are required
to have up-to-date coverage.
Page 80
Dominican Republic
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Generally, companies do not Often private commercial
maintain savings for self- properties are not insured to
insurance purposes. However, actual value, but to the amount
both REFIDOMSA and remaining on the loan principal.
CODETEL reported that special An estimated 20% of private
contingency funds are part of an companies, which are generally,
available emergency budget. corporations, chains and
Members
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
Page 81
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
GRENADA
Page 82
Grenada
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Population groups aware of some Some population groups aware of Forestry conducts some training
hazards from local and historical their vulnerability. sessions to identify and protect
knowledge of areas. Agency for Rural Transformation environmental systems via
1988 OAS study identified some conducting training sessions for Grenada Community
vulnerable areas. some communities. NERO assists. Organisation and Grenada's
Civil Society Agency for Rural Transformation.
Need for training in hazard NERO feels the need to work more
(Communities and their identification. closely with groups in communities
organizations) to identify their vulnerability.
Some development located in
hazard-prone areas. The extent of
the problem cannot be confirmed
without hazard and vulnerability
maps.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Some committees have identified
Local Disaster Committees
vulnerable groups in their areas.
Page 83
Grenada
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
National Mitigation Council Some vulnerability issues addressed There is no umbrella
established in 1999 under World in EIA request. environmental legislation and no
Bank Project. single environmental agency.
Policy
Therefore, there is no
comprehensive approach to
dealing with issues.
Seismic Unit in Trinidad providing No vulnerability assessments Causes of environmental
maps to identify areas vulnerable to carried out except for shelters. degradation identified. In Grand
impact of Kick 'em Jenny Shelters not assessed for locational Anse, increase in number and
(tsunamis) and Mt. Catherine vulnerability and some located in frequency of flooding and
volcanoes. areas vulnerable to landslides and landslides from heavy rain due to
floods. development practices on
Central Planning and hillsides and lack of drainage
Sectoral Agencies outfalls to the sea.
Serious environmental
Technical 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.
Vulnerability assessments of NERO promotes awareness of
shelters under CDMP.26 links between hazards and the
CPACC climate change project27 environment.
National Disaster Office
produced list of critical facilities No disaster management
(Established in 1996)
along the coast. legislation in place.
No inventory of critical facilities
except shelters.
Leaders
Business and Industry
Members
26
USAID/OAS Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project, www.oas.org/cdmp
27
GEF/World Bank/OAS Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change, www.cpacc.org
Page 84
Grenada
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
Local
Civil Society People not sufficiently aware of safe National Development Foundation Appropriate building materials
building techniques and there are organising training for builders in not easily available; eg hurricane
(Communities and their very few skilled builders. use of building code. straps not sold locally even
organizations) though retrofitting encouraged.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
No hazard maps available. Need for people with appropriate
Local Disaster Committees skills and training to understand
mitigation issues.
Page 85
Grenada
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
National
Existing planning legislation does Prior to preparation of Building EIAs requested although planning
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 legislation and Development Revised planning legislation
conformity with Standards prepared in-house to guide includes provision for EIA and
Code/standards/guidelines. development and construction. will go before Parliament in early
Historical information also used to 2002.
assess applications.
Some protection for
OAS/CDMP provided support to environmental systems eg via
develop Building Code in 2000. National Forestry Policy (1999)
Implemented for one year on a trial and Marine Parks Unit of
basis. Building Review Committee Fisheries Division.
collating comments to amend Code.
EIA process not fully
Revised planning legislation going institutionalised at this time.
Central Planning and before Parliament in early 2002,
Policy
Sectoral Agencies which provides for Building Code Shortage of resource persons in
and National Physical Development Physical Planning Unit to
Plan to be adopted under the Act. evaluate EIAs.
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.
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.
Technical
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.
Page 86
Grenada
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Measures Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures
NERO working with business Some sensitivity at the national
community to increase their level to the relationship between
awareness. environmental issues and natural
hazards. NERO represented on
National Disaster Office most environmental initiatives.
NERO working on draft
environmental legislation based
on CDERA model.
In 2001 NERO initiated
Private Sector Disaster
Management Committee. Now
being structured.
Large companies like Cable
and Wireless have disaster
Leadership
management plans.
Smaller companies asking
NERO for assistance to
prepare Plans after NERO
Business and worked to increase their
Industry awareness.
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
Members
measures or retrofitting.
Grenada Development Bank started
project with CDB assistance in
1998/9 to offer loans for retrofitting
homes.
Page 87
Grenada
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
NGOs are not involved in risk There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
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 credit property insurance market, credit facility.
or contingency equity. The although some carriers cannot Commercial properties,
28
clientele is not that sophisticated buy adequate reinsurance. particularly, hotels that are part of
or knowledgeable. Most properties in the middle and international chains, may be using
A few churches operate a ―loose‖ upper income groups are risk financing options that allow
form of self-insurance for their comprehensively property multi-year coverage that would
parishioners through informal insurance to actual value as this result in stabilizing premiums.
welfare schemes forms part of the mortgage
agreement.
Some churches build up
contingency funds for About 75% of properties in the
Civil Society providential purposes. lower income group are insured
(Communities and their organizations) because premium rates are
NGOs are not involved in housing relatively low in the market.
or property development.
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.
[There is no local government
Policy body. All activities are prosecuted
Local government by a national agency.]
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
28
Estimates were provided by David Phillip, managing Director, NALGICO, one, of the leading property underwriter in the market.
Page 88
Grenada
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory function Government has no policy for The public assets which are Government sources external
contingency funds in its annual is inadequate. The office is poorly insuring public assets. Only insured include: credit for reconstruction and
budget based on actuarial staffed but is equipped with a fair vehicles are insured. Government Headquarters mitigation efforts.
probabilities. amount of technical skill. Skills in The public properties, which are Additional contingent credit
The Financial Complex
risk management however are
A contingency fund was set up in insured, are covered under the The ministerial Complex facilities could include:
1999 but no transfer is being limited. specific loan conditions and lease (i) World Bank Economic
The National Stadium
made. Some aspects of planning, zoning arrangement. Recovery Facility
and hazard mapping (hazard NB: All other public assets are (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
NB: The absence of deliberate There is no public fund or not insured.
risk transfer policy may be due to mapping for flooding and mechanism established to Facility
the fact that the country has not landslides) are being done by the indemnify the poor or to provide
had a major disaster (fire, Physical Planning Department. incentive for undertaking
volcanic or windstorm) since the However there are no hazard mitigation measures.
passage of Hurricane Janet in maps governing insurer’s levels
Policy 1955. of catastrophe peril liabilities, no Government needs to explore the
Central Planning and feasibility of
functional linkage between the
Sectoral Agencies Government will be expected to physical planning and the (i) Investing in contingency credit
encourage tax incentives when insurance regulation, and very and contingency equity to
the Catastrophe Pool is little enforcement. increase liquidity for
established under The World rehabilitating damaged buildings,
Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados The insurance regulator needs to: schools, hospitals, water
Catastrophe Risk Management (i) have the capacity to do facilities, ports, roads bridges
and Insurance Reform 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
Page 89
Grenada
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
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 (i) To embark on a broad based
National Disaster Office
insurance, risk management and
in a Fiscal Tranche at the Central
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
disaster. coverage
There is no society-wide Advisory Insurance companies do not Public autonomous enterprises Nutmeg: There is a certain Alternative risk financing for the
Council. provide incentives to homeowners under the management of the measure of risk transfer 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 adequately This is associated with the (i) Allocation of capital reserve
assessment and management insured because of expectations capitalization of the Cooperative, during the profitable years to be
checks. in the insurance market. which manages the production, used as collateral for debt
Statutory bodies such as the port and marketing of the export crop. financing for reconstruction
are insured to actual value. Reserving is however never effort.
sufficient to bail out the industry (ii) Use of capital market
Business and Industry, Pooling method would most be
Leaders in difficult periods. instruments to generate raise
Financial appropriate for these enterprises. equity capital for the recovery
These are to be covered under Tourism: There is no risk effort
The World Bank/CDB OECS and transfer mechanism or self- (iii) Creation of a venture capital
Barbados Catastrophe Risk insurance for locally owned fund to supplement recoveries
Management and Insurance properties. from business interruption
Reform Project. Joint purchase of insurance insurance.
coverage is an imperative (given
the similar exposure) to lower
cost through increased portfolio.
29
ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
Page 90
Grenada
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Leadership should be provided by About 100% of company
the private enterprises that are buildings are insured to actual
leaders in financial management value because the terms and
particularly the insurance sector. conditions of the debt capital
require 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
Members 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.
30
Estimates were provided by David Phillip, Managing Director, NALGICO, one, of the leading property underwriter in the market.
Page 91
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
JAMAICA
Page 92
Jamaica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Communities have basic Communities aware of Vulnerability assessments based on
information about hazard vulnerability. first hand knowledge of community
vulnerability and considerable Informal identification of members.
historical information about hazard vulnerable sub-groups (eg via Rio Minho landslide map includes
prone areas. churches knowledge of elderly and location of critical facilities.
Some community groups trained in disabled.)
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
Civil Society communities, starting with
(Communities and their Kingston and St. Andrew.
organizations) 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.
Disaster Coordinator maintains
Policy database of shelters and remedial
action needed.
Need hazard maps to cover all of
Portland and other parts of
Local Government
country.
Technical Maps need to be made more user
friendly by inserting missing
descriptions, altering level of detail
to reflect user groups.
Page 93
Jamaica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Few committees have copies of Committees identify vulnerable Assist ODPEM to maintain
hazard maps. groups. database of shelters.
Local Disaster Committees (exist in Some training in use of maps
most but not all communities) started in Portland.
Poor distribution of maps to
communities.
National
National Mitigation Programme Critical facilities reviewed by
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
Central Planning and impacts.
Policy National Disaster Committee
Sectoral Agencies
chaired by Prime Minister, includes Location of critical facilities in
all government ministries and hazard prone areas need to be
NGOs with ODPEM serving as reviewed. Many older buildings
secretariat. were never subject to vulnerability
assessments.
Available hazard mapping includes Ministry of Health has list of NEPA has atlas identifying all
Landslides for sections of Portland, critical health facilities and ecosystems in the country.
Rio Grande, Kingston metropolitan Ministry of Works has list of roads Indicators of environmental
area, St. Mary and Clarendon and and bridges. Any vulnerability degradation developed. Some
Rio Minho (more detailed maps assessments only rudimentary. based on UN trends and
exist for heavily populated areas); Water Resources Authority indicators.
rudimentary earthquake; river maintains functional database of
flooding for areas historically prone sewage plants which is geo-
to hazard (eg Rio Cobre); wind referenced and includes photos.
damage for Kingston; storm surge
for Kingston, parts of St. Catherine Need to develop comprehensive
and Montego Bay. vulnerability assessments of all
critical facilities.
Technical 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
31
Caribbean Development Bank.
Page 94
Jamaica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
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.
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
National Disaster Office Hazard maps available for flooding. rehabilitation strategies and some
relocation.
ODPEM trying to develop GIS
capability in-house. Acquired Arc
Info and ArcView and some
hardware.
Insurance Company of the West Local bauxite companies get
Indies has disaster wardens and involved in local disaster initiatives.
provides training for them. UWI Not formal members of local
Department of Geology and disaster committees.
Geography conducted workshop for
Business and Industry Leaders them on Understanding Natural
Hazards and Disasters in early
2002.
Institute of Engineers conducts
workshops to sensitise insurance
industry to risks.
Page 95
Jamaica
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Jamaica Light and Power Company
maintains GIS database of facilities,
Members including information about each
pole and has capacity to relate this
to location of hazard prone areas.
Page 96
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Construction Resources Use of community expertise is used ODPEM working to Appropriate building materials
Development Centre (CRDC) to develop strategies, eg use of incorporate disaster easily available at reasonable
Project in 1990s built houses and personal initiatives to reduce impact management measures into cost.
created video of critical stages in the of flooding in Gordon Town. school curricula from primary Flood damage assessments in Rio
construction process to show Houses built on supports in rural level. Cobre community.
assembly of timber houses. areas to reduce impact of flooding. NEPA linked census data to
In Nightingale Grove (Portland), roof watersheds to identify
level used as height of floor level for households in poverty who
new buildings depending on depth of live in vulnerable watersheds.
floods. Environmental issues
Workshops organised by national integrated into school
and local groups, including Jamaica curricula. Comprehensive
Institute of Engineers to sensitise Environmental Education
people to National Building Code Project includes some disaster
and how to use it. management.
NEPA now preparing
classroom resource manuals.
UWI conducts summer
Certificate course in Geo-
Hazards, MSc in
Civil Society Environmental Management
and degree courses in
(Communities and their Geography and Geology
organizations) 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.
Page 97
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Parish Council prepares mitigation ODPEM requires Parish Parish Environmental Profile
programme with guidelines from Councils to prepare Parish prepared for Portland in 2000.
ODPEM. Disaster Plans and guides their
programmes.
Local Government Policy 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.
Page 98
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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.
Technical 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.
Page 99
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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.
Local Disaster Committees
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.
Page 100
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
National
New public buildings conform to 1983 Jamaica National Building EIAs required for projects and Over 50 percent of government
Jamaica National Building Code, Code (based on CUBIC) published include request for hazard agencies have disaster plans.
since they are designed by as a Green Paper (ie endorsed by information.
professional engineers who adhere government but not made law.) Code Jamaica's Environment 2001 -
to Code now being revised. Also use CUBIC Environmental Status and State of
and California Codes. the Environment Report prepared
Committee set up to review 1983 in 2001.
Building Code has stalled due to National Environment and
confusion over which agency should Planning Strategy to be prepared.
be responsible. Will outline an approach to
Bureau of Standards developed mitigation.
Central Planning and standards for building materials. Need to further explore forest
Policy
Sectoral Agencies 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
Development standards adequate to to agricultural practices, coal
guide development in vulnerable and wood-fire burning and
areas. human 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.
Page 101
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Widespread use of gabion baskets to Monthly roundtable discussions held On-going UWI project to NEPA uses Sustainable Hurricane Housing Act empowers
strengthen river banks. to evaluate development applications build awareness of landslides, Watershed Management as a Ministry of Housing to develop
River training done in Portland to informally including various empower people and develop mitigation tool. their own designs and housing
contain river in its natural course. agencies and ODPEM. a computer-based expert Environmental policies developed projects after a hurricane.
More widespread than building sea Slope stabilization with plants to knowledge system. to protect some ecosystems eg
defences. reduce soil erosion used to reduceFlood Water Control Master Ridge to Reef Project, Watershed
Regular drain maintenance by impact of landslides. Plan being prepared in Management Project in Rio
government. Other appropriate mitigation consultation with Grande and Great River
Retaining walls (not widespread) measures suggested by ODPEM after stakeholders. watersheds and Trees for
site visits. Tomorrow Project in Portland,
used to reduce impact of landslides. Portland.
Use of hurricane straps and NEPA uses hazard maps to impose
conditions in planning approvals. More work needed to
appropriate design to reduce impact institutionalise environmental
from wind damage. Some areas for which hazard maps
exist are not a priority for preparation protection policies for ecosystems
Bureau of Standards has building of development plans. and to value them.
materials committee, which Jamaica's coral reefs very
publishes standards for building Some guidelines prepared by NEPA
to guide development in vulnerable degraded and need protection.
materials.
areas, such as St. Ann's.
Qualified staff graduates from UWI
Technical and/or UTECH. Staff at many government agencies
such as ODPEM and NEPA trained
Certain housing agencies design and in natural hazard issues as graduates
build housing without always of UWI.
passing through local authority
approval 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.
Page 102
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
ODPEM has Mitigation Planning and Variety of in-house technical ODPEM documents impacts of
Research Unit which encourages use expertise available. hazard events.
of mitigation strategies in planning Use of awareness days such as 2001 floods in Portland assessed
and 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
ODPEM/MPRU works with other schools competition (primary
agencies to develop mitigation and secondary) to prepare
strategies. hazard map for the community
ODPEM works with umbrella in which school located,
National Disaster Office agencies to assist them to develop design posters and build
disaster plans. 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.
Page 103
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Work with Regional Disaster Tourism Product Very few hotel disaster plans
Coordinators attached to ODPEM. Development Committee submitted to or approved by
Insurance industry has used requires hotels to develop ODPEM.
information about risks and disaster plans to be certified
vulnerable areas to increase for hotel operation. Plans must
premiums. be sent to ODPEM for
approval.
Companies not offering premium
reductions for use of risk reduction Red Cross initiated a project
measures or retrofitting techniques. to encourage hotels to write
plans. Not very successful.
Sandals hotel has a hurricane
plan (not done on group/chain
basis).
Petroleum industry required to
Business and have disaster plans. Also
Leadership
Industry 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.
Page 104
Jamaica
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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 engineers comprising representatives from Communications media offer Plan. Companies can get workers
to conduct regular audits of many group companies and concessionary rates for public and their families home safely or
buildings and report to the company divisions. Conduct annual Group information, awareness days to a safe place. Supplies available
and the Safety Council. Reports Disaster Preparedness Seminar. and other projects. for key personnel who man
included as agenda item of main GK stations.
Board meetings. Remedial measure Cable and Wireless and
Texaco sponsored simulation Individual hotels have no formal
quickly implemented. hurricane plans.
exercise for Portland
Evacuation Plan.
Grace Kennedy has Disaster
Manual, prepared with
Members 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.
Page 105
Jamaica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
One housing-related NGO offers About 30-50% of houses in the Traditional methods to finance
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 non-existent
NGO, CR&DC, has virtually small business enterprises do not due to knowledge gaps and the
abandoned mission to provide carry insurance against natural current stage of development of
hurricane- resistant home disasters. Per capita spending on the market.
improvement programmes to non-life insurance in 1997 was
reduce vulnerability reduction estimated at US$76.32
Civil Society
and attention to building Long-term savings to meet
(Communities and their organizations) standards. Revolving loan educational goals more
financing was not available. widespread than is planning for
Churches and other community natural 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 is
programmes. not mandated by law.
Catastrophe insurance
penetration across all sectors
estimated at below 50 percent.
Risk management perceived to
fall exclusively within the ambit
Policy of National Disaster Office
Local government [ODPEM] and not at the
institutional level.
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
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.
Page 106
Jamaica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
Funds allocated in annual budget New insurance regulatory Policy on public asset coverage Public insurable assets are External financing sought ex-post
for environmental planning and authority, Financial Services appears to be concerned largely covered on an institution-by- event to address reconstruction
disaster management based on Commission, is in early stage of with procurement procedure institution basis with no attempt and restoration.
disaster plans. Budgetary organization after 30-year old Act compliance rather than with at pooling. Financing mechanisms restricted
constraints preclude complete repealed and replaced by management of catastrophe risks. Policy in relation to public asset exclusively to ex-post disaster
provision. Insurance Act 2001. Staff and Central government assets self- coverage seems to be concerned financing – no emphasis on pre-
Actuarial assumptions do not other resources are being insured. exclusively with compliance with event financing.
apparently underlay funding upgraded. New funding procurement guidelines than with
arrangement in place. Assets of public corporations
provisions. covered by private market. mitigating risks.
Funding provisions are limited The main focus of the insurance
regulatory authority has tended to Policy in relation to public asset
Policy due to budgetary constraints. coverage seems to be concerned
Central Planning and be in relation to the solvency of
Sectoral Agencies Risk management perceived to players in the market place. The exclusively with compliance with
fall exclusively within the ambit agency has developed no explicit procurement guidelines than with
of National Disaster Office policies to manage systemic risks mitigating risks.
[ODPEM] and not at the posed by natural disasters,
institutional level. catastrophe-pricing policies or to
The creation of private ensure fair access to coverage.
catastrophe reserves by way of
tax incentives are not encouraged
either to insurer s or other
enterprises.
Persons occupying marginal
Technical
lands should be relocated.
Disaster office promotes the use Promotes risk reduction, with the
of hazard information emphasis on saving lives.
National Disaster Office
development and investment
decisions.
Insurers, lenders, Chamber of Insurers do not promote schemes Most autonomous enterprises
Commerce and community that provide incentives for risk insured with private insurers.
leaders, most of whom belong to reduction or implement creative
umbrella organization, PSOJ, plans to educate consumers about
have not formed advisory council risks of natural disasters and
Business and Industry, to Financial Services stimulate demand. Market for
Leaders
Financial Commission, to promote best insurance against natural
practices for catastrophe perils disasters very volatile.
and vulnerability reduction
methods. FSC board comprises
ex-government sector officials
almost exclusively.
Page 107
Jamaica
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
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
Members 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.
Page 108
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps—St. Kitts and Nevis
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Page 109
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
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
2001 for St. Kitts and Nevis under Nevis aware of some vulnerable International Labour Organisation environmental systems and their out to identify vulnerable groups
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 assessments not being used much systems like coral reefs.
campaign, which will publicise in disseminating information and by NEMA.
Civil Society
maps. promoting public awareness via
(Communities and their street banners and hurricane
Local groups in St. Kitts and Nevis
organizations) preparedness messages.
have basic training to identify
hazards and vulnerable areas. Red Cross discussing with NEMA
Community groups not widely the possibility of establishing Nevis
aware of hazard mapping. as a focal point for distributing
relief supplies for the region.
Hazard maps not yet provided to
communities Significant amount of housing in
vulnerable coastal areas and on
lower slopes of hills.
Policy n.a.
Local Government
Technical n.a.
8 disaster districts in St. Kitts and 5 No formal risk assessment .
in Nevis. conducted but Committee members
Committees host public workshops and communities have much local
on topics including purpose of and historical knowledge.
hazard mapping. No formal risk assessments
Promoting preparation of conducted.
Local Disaster Committees community 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.
34
USAID/OAS Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis, www.oas.org/pgdm
Page 110
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
National Disaster Mitigation Vulnerability assessment carried Good environmental legislation to NEMA encouraging government
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 post
Hazard maps not distributed to done in 1998. Identifies disaster assessment.
government agencies. environmental systems, assesses Inventories of physical assets not
them and deals with incidence of widely done.
degradation and causes.
Policy 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
Central Planning and resources.
Sectoral Agencies
Consultant engaged at Physical Preliminary assessment of housing
Planning Department under PGDM sector done in 1999/2000 by
to prepare hazard maps. NEMA on advice of National
Physical Planning Department Mitigation Council.
preparing National Land Policy and Most assessments done in relation
intend to incorporate hazard maps. to coastal areas and rivers.
Technical 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.
Employs District Coordinator to
National Disaster Office coordinate community pre- and
post-disaster activities.
Page 111
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
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 relief supplies.
from business community and
identify issues of concern to them.
Leaders
Business and Industry 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
Page 112
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Some development located in hazard- Clarence Fitzroy Bryant Appropriate building materials
prone areas. College to introduce part time available in St. Kitts and Nevis.
course in disaster
management.
CDERA assistance sought to
introduce hazard and
vulnerability reduction
information into schools.
Civil Society Duty free allowances on
building materials to facilitate
(Communities and their
repair of hurricane damage
organizations)
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.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Committees have no .
Local Disaster Committees
contingency plans.
Page 113
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
National
Since 1995, Government policy that Development Control and Planning Recognise link between solid New Planning Act provides for Government provides initial
all its buildings have hurricane Act passed in Parliament in 2000. waste management and EIAs for major projects. funds for recovery efforts.
resistant windows. Building Code operationalised under vulnerability. Environmental systems well Regional institutions and
After hurricane Georges, Act. It is a Federal Building Code Information from vulnerability protected by legislation and governments also assist.
government built 400 starter homes and covers Nevis. assessments not being used policies, in particular mangrove NEMA trying to encourage
at cost of EC $27,000 for persons Building Code and Building much by NEMA. and coral reefs. establishment of contingency
whose homes 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 Physical Planning Unit in Nevis also
3 multi purpose shelters in St. Kitts uses hazard maps to make some
and 2 in Nevis. decisions in coastal areas.
Central Planning and Government policy requires all new Workshop in Antigua under PGDM
Sectoral Agencies
Policy 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.
Page 114
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
In 2000 public awareness Shortage of building inspectors to
programme carried out with enforce code.
Chamber of Commerce and
community groups and other
stakeholders to sensitise them to
Technical Code. Used print media and
leaflets/flyers.
Many persons not familiar with
Code. Further public awareness
needed.
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 coordinated with it.
hurricane proofing homes and Many technical staff have no
showing where and how to build. formal training in disaster
Video aired on TV. management but attended
NEMA preparing to host a train the many short courses and
National Disaster Office
trainers workshop with disaster acquired considerable
committees. practical knowledge and
experience.
NEMA not adequately staffed
with technical expertise.
Technical staff not formally
trained in disaster
management.
Insufficient awareness and Business community developed Some businesses have
involvement of business community strong links with Ministry of Trade emergency contingency plans
in hazard issues. and Commerce to cooperate in and hotels have disaster
disaster preparedness. recovery plans. Four Seasons
No premium reductions offered by hotel in Nevis has a
Insurance companies for use of contingency plan.
mitigation measures. All hotels in Nevis asked to do
emergency plans by NEMA.
Leadership
Business and When hurricanes approach,
Industry most hotels evacuate guests
and close.
Hotel and Tourism
Association hold workshops to
promote development of
hurricane contingency plans in
hotel industry.
Appropriate building materials
Members
available for sale.
Page 115
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Self Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
Local
NGOs and other forms of social There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
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 not small and sometimes under- credit facility.
allow for alternatives to capitalized property insurance Commercial properties,
insurance be it contingency credit market, which, in some cases, particularly, hotels that are part of
or contingency equity. Moreover, cannot buy adequate reinsurance, international chains, may be using
the clientele is not that to provide insurance coverage. 35 risk financing options that allow
sophisticated or knowledgeable. About 100% of properties in the multi-year coverage that would
Some NGOs, particularly middle and upper income groups result in stabilizing premiums.
churches, build up contingency are comprehensively insured to
funds for providential purposes. actual value.
NGOs are not involved in housing About 90% of properties in the
or property development. lower income group are not
Civil Society
insured or are under-insured.
(Communities and their organizations)
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.
[There is no local government
Policy body. All activities are prosecuted
Local government by national agencies.]
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
35
Estimates provided by the insurance regulator and based on my knowledge of the market.
Page 116
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Self Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory Government has taken policy The public assets which are Government sources external
contingency funds in its annual decision for insuring critical
function is inadequate. The office insured include: credit for reconstruction and
budget based on actuarial is poorly staffed, poorly public properties to reduce fiscal Government Headquarters mitigation efforts.
probabilities but maintains a equipped; has no staff member risk. Annual premiums are
Electricity Department Additional contingent credit
contingency reserve, which is trained in insurance and risk estimated at EC$2 million.36 This
Water Authority facilities could include:
used for emergency purposes. management. covers public buildings, schools,
JNF France Hospital (i) World Bank Economic
Government would be expected to Some aspects of planning, zoning hospitals, police stations, fire Community Hospital s Recovery Facility
encourage tax incentives when the and hazard mapping (hazard departments, defence force (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
buildings, sporting complex etc. All Health Centres
Catastrophe Pool is established mapping for flooding and Facility
CFB Community College
under The World Bank/CDB landslides) are being done by the There is no public fund or
All Schools
OECS and Barbados Catastrophe Physical Planning Department mechanism established to
Treasury Building
Risk Management and Insurance but there are no hazard maps indemnify the poor or to provide
Reform Project. governing insurer’s levels of incentive for undertaking The Public Library
catastrophe peril liabilities. mitigation measures. However Coast Guard Building
Furthermore there is no current government provides incentives Drug Squad Building
linkage between the Physical for first homeowners in form of Police Training Complex
Planning Department and the tax breaks, and this has served as Basseterre Police Station
Insurance Regulator. incentives for building in Football Complex
The insurance regulator needs accordance to building standards. Net ball Complex
to: Properties owned by the statutory
Central Planning and (i) Have the capacity to do bodies are insured to actual
Policy catastrophe premium pricing. values.
Sectoral Agencies
(ii) Educate with respect to Government middle and low-
reducing the financial impact of income homes (part of the 1000
events and minimizing the project) are insured with local
probability of avoidable losses. 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
36
List of Government Properties for Insurance, Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning, 2001
Page 117
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Self Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
the appropriate infrastructure
improvement, retrofitting and, in
some cases, relocation.
Technical
Budgetary allocations are made (i) NEMA promotes risk
towards the National Emergency reduction through the national
management Agency (NEMA) committees, public education and
only for operations. No emergency awareness programs, national
funds are deployed for training programs, literature
contingencies. distribution and media programs.
Government has EC$2.9 millions NEMA needs to:
National Disaster Office in a Fiscal Tranche at the Central
(i) embark on a broad based
Bank, which is a contingency insurance, risk management and
fund.37 disaster preparedness education
NEMA depends largely on inflows programme
from regional and international (ii) emphasize retrofitting,
donors in the aftermath of a maintenance and building
disaster. standards and insurance
coverage
There is no Advisory Council Some Insurance companies Public autonomous enterprises Sugar: There is no risk transfer Alternative risk financing for the
drawn from the wider society or provide incentives to under the management of the mechanism or self- insurance. business and industry would
the productive sector. homeowners such as lower central government such as Water The industry is a financial burden involve:
The work of NEMA should be premium rates for risk reduction and Electricity are not adequately and is in transition. (i) Allocation of capital reserve
broaden to include a Technical not for risk assessment and insured because of small profit during the profitable years to be
management checks. margins and government’s fiscal Tourism: There is no risk used as collateral for debt
Advisory Team drawn form transfer mechanism or self-
NGOs, banking, insurance, constraints but the government financing for reconstruction
statutory bodies are insured to insurance for locally owned effort.
Business and Industry, industry and engineering to
Leaders actual value. properties. (ii) Use of capital market
Financial advise the Insurance Regulator
and to promote best practices. Pooling method would most Joint purchase of insurance instruments to generate raise
appropriate for these enterprises. coverage is an imperative (given equity capital for the recovery
These are to be covered under the similar exposure) to lower effort
The World Bank/CDB OECS and cost through increased portfolio. (iii) Creation of a venture capital
Barbados Catastrophe Risk fund to supplement recoveries
Management and Insurance from business interruption
Reform Project. insurance.
37
ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
Page 118
St. Kitts and Nevis
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Self Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
Leadership should be provided by About 100% of company
the private enterprises that are buildings are insured to actual
leaders in financial management; value because the terms and
have a history of adequate conditions of the debt capital
insurance coverage; adhere to require building standards are
building standards; and enjoy a strictly adhered to at all stages of
strong institutional advocacy and the construction.38
goodwill. About 100% of company
buildings are insured against all
perils and are built in accordance
with building standards
Members 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
38
Estimates are based on discussions with the insurance regulator and based on my knowledge of the market.
Page 119
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
ST. LUCIA
Page 120
St. Lucia
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Under World Bank Project, Red National consultations held with Ministry of Works assists some Need for local groups to receive Vulnerable groups and facilities
Cross works with local disaster service and religious groups. community groups to conduct environmental training. identified.
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.
Civil Society Due to topography of island, there
Lack of importance attached to is much housing in hazard prone
(Communities and their earthquakes. areas like hillsides, coastal areas
organizations)
and riverbanks.
Much development located in
hazard prone areas due to
unplanned development and
squatting which is still occurring.
Castries City Council took on some
disaster management functions for
Castries. Functions as a local
disaster committee for food
distribution.
Policy City Council conducts annual
Local Government shelter assessments.
Invite public to nominate structures
to be used as shelters and these are
inspected by Ministry of Works to
determine suitability.
Technical
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.
Local Disaster Committees Committees do not have copies of
hazard maps. Must access them at
Physical Planning Department.
Committee members not trained to
interpret maps.
Page 121
St. Lucia
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
Draft Mitigation Plan prepared but Ministry of Community Environmental systems not well
not yet adopted. Development cooperating with protected.
National Mitigation Council Women and Development Unit
established in 2001 to oversee from UWI Barbados on study of
Central Planning and Women's Vulnerability to Social
Policy vulnerability mapping component
Sectoral Agencies and Natural Disasters in 6
of World Bank Project. Chaired by
Minister of Works. communities in south-east.
National Emergency Advisory National consultations held.
Council set up. Vulnerable groups identified.
Landslide (1985) and debris (1995) Ministry of Works conducted
hazard maps prepared. Landslide vulnerability exercise for
map updated 1995. Coastal Hazard government buildings.
map (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
Technical
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'.
Page 122
St. Lucia
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Has access to hazard maps. NEMO involved in identifying NEMO inspects some facilities as NEMO tries to make link
NEMO promotes development and vulnerable groups. part of hurricane preparedness between environmental
use of hazard information across all NEMO organises awareness and programme. degradation and vulnerability and
sectors. vulnerability reduction programmes Vulnerability assessments of increase awareness across all
National Disaster Office
for some vulnerable groups. structures conducted by Ministry of sectors.
Works but not forwarded to NEMO.
NEMO should have list and
participate in regular updates.
During the last 3 years, the Ministry
of Tourism with NEMA and Fire
Services held 1 day training
Leaders sessions to sensitise small property
Business and Industry owners to hazards. Low attendance.
Businesses do not have copies of
hazard maps.
Members
Page 123
St. Lucia
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Ministry of Works assists some NEMO in talks with Appropriate building materials
community groups to carry out community college and adult available.
remedial work on buildings that education programme to Communities participate in some
were assessed to be in need of introduce hazard information. damage assessment.
repair. CDERA offered modular
NEMO collaborating with the community-based disaster
Civil Society Poverty Reduction Fund (Ministry course to community college
(Communities and their of Social Transformation) to carry and adult education
organizations) out infrastructure work on self help 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.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
NEMO bringing together Committees have a type of
committees with Poverty Reduction 'Contingency Plan', which
Fund to get advice on preparing identifies community
project proposals for funding works. resources and their owners
Local Disaster Committees and vulnerable groups. Plan
revised annually.
No community mitigation
plans in place.
Page 124
St. Lucia
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
National
Public buildings conform to 1988 Manual for Developers used to OECS Solid Waste project Sustainable Development National response Plan previously
standards. identify criteria for location of identified deficiencies in Committee comprises NEMA, prepared and adopted. Now under
Infrastructure and other built development to avoid hazard-prone waste disposal that increase Solid Waste, Agriculture Lands review.
development located in hazard areas. vulnerability. and Fisheries; and National Some government incentives
prone areas. Manual available to public and Conservation Council. offered for post disaster recovery
familiar to developers and EIAs requested under previous efforts.
contractors. planning legislation but are now a Post disaster measures tied to
Also use CUBIC to guide requirement under new Act. donor agencies and usually for
construction. High degree of compliance from capital works such as building sea
Training at Sir Arthur Lewis developers for EIA. walls, strengthening retaining
Community College includes EIAs reviewed by many agencies walls and rebuilding structures.
construction management, building who may also be involved in
construction and architectural preparing TOR for EIA.
studies. Agencies responsible for
Meteorological Office preparing to protecting environmental systems
set up an Early Warning System. included in review of
Building Code already drafted but development proposals and
not yet adopted. identify potential impacts and
mitigation measures needed.
Need workshops to sensitise
government, public and construction EIAs circulated for comment on
Central Planning and sector on requirements of code. sectoral basis. Comprehensive
Policy
Sectoral Agencies EIA not sent to individual
Hurricane Mitigation techniques not agencies/sectors.
well detailed in existing standards.
New building code addresses this NEMO Act #13 of 2000 and
deficiency. Disaster Emergency Response
Act require EIAs be copied to
Existing Manual for Developers NEMO. EIAs not circulated to
focuses on land use criteria and NEMO.
layouts. It is not construction-
oriented. No hazard assessment required as
part of project appraisal.
No flood markers erected.
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.
Page 125
St. Lucia
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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 within
Lack of inspectors and resources for 48 hours) submitted to Chairman
monitoring. of National Damage Assessment
Technical Committee. Cultural sector
recently included.
Need to include churches in
preparing assessments for
includion in National Damage
Assessment Report.
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 in occurred in St. Lucia, includes
shelters. event of hazard. Some information event, number of people dead and
also reproduced from NEMA in cost of damage.
Trinidad. Post Disaster Damage
National Disaster Office Funding from German government Assessment Team includes
via OECS to produce flyers. private sector engineers and
NEMO has good working quantity surveyors.
relationship with media and carries
out much public awareness and
education work.
Page 126
St. Lucia
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Cable and Wireless has
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
Leadership 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
Business and to ensure their corporate
Industry 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.
NEMWIL and British American Bank of St. Lucia has a recovery
Insurance companies offer premium plan that commits them to be
reductions if houses incorporate ready to conduct business within
disaster reduction measures. 6 hours of an all clear signal from
Insurance companies reluctant to NEMO after a hazard event.
insure wooden buildings. Many businesses only doing
regular building maintenance
Members work, sandbagging during
hurricanes.
Appropriate building materials
available.
Businesses not conducting
structural assessments of their
buildings.
Page 127
St. Lucia
Table 3: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
NGOs are not involved in risk There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
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 credit property insurance market, credit facility.
or contingency equity. which, although some carriers Commercial properties,
cannot buy adequate reinsurance. particularly, hotels that are part of
Friendly Societies operate a
―loose‖ form of self-insurance for Most properties in the middle and international chains, may be using
their parishioners through upper income groups are risk financing options that allow
informal welfare schemes. comprehensively insured to actual multi-year coverage that would
value as this forms part of the result in stabilizing premiums.
Some churches build up mortgage agreement.
contingency funds for
providential purposes. A significant percentage of
properties in the lower income
NGOs are not involved in housing group are under-insured or are
or property development. not insured because of the high
deductible on catastrophe
Civil Society
insurance, high premium rates
(Communities and their organizations) 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.
[There is no local government
Policy body. All activities are prosecuted
Local government by a national agency. ]
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
Page 128
St. Lucia
Table 3: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory function Government has no policy for The public assets which are Government sources external
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 Additional contingent credit
The Parliament Building
However a Contingency Fund The office is fairly staffed and insured, are covered under the The Graham Louisy facilities could include:
EC$1.6 million and a Capital equipped but the staff has limited specific loan conditions and lease Administration Building (i) World Bank Economic
Contingency Fund of EC$ 1.1 technical skill in risk arrangement. The National Cricket Recovery Facility
million are available as part of the management. EC$500,000 are allocated Ground (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
risk transfers policy.39 Some aspects of planning, zoning annually for premium payments. NB: All other public assets are Facility
40
Government will be expected to and hazard mapping (hazard not insured.
encourage tax incentives when mapping for flooding and There is no public fund or
the Catastrophe Pool is landslides) are being done by the mechanism established to
established under The World Physical Planning Department. indemnify the poor or to provide
Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados However there are no hazard incentive for undertaking
Catastrophe Risk Management maps governing insurer’s levels mitigation measures.
Central Planning and Policy
and Insurance Reform Project. of catastrophe peril liabilities, no
Sectoral Agencies functional linkage between the Government needs to explore the
physical planning and the feasibility of
insurance regulation, and very (i) Investing in contingency credit
little enforcement. and contingency equity to
increase liquidity for
The insurance regulator needs to: rehabilitating damaged buildings,
(i) Have the capacity to do schools, hospitals, water
catastrophe premium pricing. facilities, ports, roads bridges
(ii) Educate with respect to using credit and capital market
reducing the financial impact of instruments.
events and; minimizing the (ii) Providing incentives for
probability of avoidable losses. catastrophe risk coverage for
low-income groups particularly
those occupying areas prone to
landslide such as squatters.
Technical
39
Comptroller of Budget, Ministry of Finance
40
Comptroller of Budget, Ministry of Finance
Page 129
St. Lucia
Table 3: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Budgetary allocations are made NEMO promotes risk reduction
towards the National Emergency through the national committees,
Management Office (NEMO) public education and awareness
only for operations. No programs throughout the year but
emergency funds are deployed for is more active during the
contingencies. hurricane season.
NEMO depends largely on NEMO needs to:
National Disaster Office inflows from regional and (i) embark on a broad based
international donors in the insurance, risk management and
aftermath of a disaster. disaster preparedness education
programme
(ii) emphasize retrofitting,
maintenance and building
standards and insurance
coverage
There is no society-wide Advisory Some insurance companies Public autonomous enterprises Banana Industry: The Alternative risk financing for the
Council but local Focal Points provide incentives (to under the management of the Windward Island Crop Insurance business and industry would
are very active in education and homeowners) such as lower central government such as Water (WINCROP) provides a measure involve:
awareness programmes. premium rates for risk reduction and Electricity are insured to of protection for windstorm (i) Allocation of capital reserve
The work of NEMO must be not for risk assessment and actual value. damage, but there is no risk during the profitable years to be
broaden to include a Technical management checks. All statutory bodies such as the transfer mechanism or self- used as collateral for debt
Advisory Team drawn form port are insured to actual value. insurance. Reserving is however financing for reconstruction
NGOs, banking, insurance, never sufficient to bail out the effort.
Business and Industry, Pooling method would most be industry in difficult periods. (ii) Use of capital market
Leaders industry and engineering to appropriate for these enterprises.
Financial instruments to generate raise
advise the Insurance Regulator These are to be covered under Tourism: There is no risk
and to promote best practices. transfer mechanism or self- equity capital for the recovery
The World Bank/CDB OECS and effort
The National Development Barbados Catastrophe Risk insurance for locally owned
properties. (iii) Creation of a venture capital
Foundation has organized safer Management and Insurance fund to supplement recoveries
building training, a home retrofit Reform Project. Joint purchase of insurance from business interruption
loan program and a group coverage is an imperative (given insurance.
insurance program for lower the similar exposure) to lower
income homeowners. cost through increased portfolio.
Page 130
St. Lucia
Table 3: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
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
Members 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.
Page 131
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Page 132
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Local
Some population groups aware of Population groups in some areas No comprehensive structural
local hazards based on historical aware of their vulnerability, eg in vulnerability assessments carried
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.
Civil Society National Emergency Organisation
(Communities and their seeking assistance from CDERA to
organizations) 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.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Disseminate information about Assess condition of shelters as part
vulnerability to villages, of hurricane preparedness
appropriate preparedness measures programme.
and response activities. Assisted by
Local Disaster Committees health groups, which are part of
committee.
Maintain list of shelters.
Committees identify vulnerable
groups.
Page 133
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
National
National Mitigation Council to be
Policy
established in 2002.
Central Planning Division has GIS Vulnerability reduction measures Some utility companies (eg
capacity and prepares carried out on shelters by Ministry of VINLEC and central Water and
rudimentary, generalised hazard Transport and Works. Sewerage Authority) keep list of
Central Planning and maps. critical facilities which may be
Sectoral Agencies vulnerable to hurricanes.
Technical No mapping of areas vulnerable
to landslides, such as Marriaqua
Valley.
No mapping of storm surge from
hurricanes.
No link established between
hazards and environmental
National Disaster Office
management. NEO focuses on
Response and Preparedness.
Insurance industry not very
Leaders
responsive to hazard issues.
Business and Industry Cable and Wireless has list of
Members critical facilities which may be
vulnerable to hurricanes.
Page 134
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Local
Civil Society Populations in areas vulnerable to
(Communities and their floods and landslides not very aware
organizations) of their vulnerability.
Policy
Local Government
Technical
Outside the hurricane season, Health groups on some local
committees disseminate some disaster committees have
Local Disaster Committees
information about mitigation contingency plans.
measures and retrofitting techniques.
National
Planning Regulations include Utility companies, health Ministry of Health and
development standards, which are sector and airport have Environment has policies and
used 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 provided
Some zoning work on-going at for in existing legislation. Hazard
Central Planning and information not a standard part
Policy Physical Planning Division to guide
Sectoral Agencies of EIA request.
development away from hazard-
prone areas or articulate standards Environmental systems not well
for development. protected by policies or
Draft National Physical legislation.
Development Plan was prepared and No links made between
submitted to Cabinet. environmental degradation and
Draft National Physical natural hazards.
Development Plan not yet approved
or adopted.
Page 135
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
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.
Technical 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.
NEO conducts public awareness
campaigns at start of hurricane
National Disaster Office season to disseminate information
about mitigation and retrofitting
techniques.
Caribbean Tourism
Association recently prepared
a Hurricane Preparedness
Leadership
Business and Manual for hotels. All hotels
Industry have copies and are expected
to use it.
Carenage Bay Hotel has
Members
disaster plan.
Page 136
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
Local
NGOs are not involved in risk There is no group insurance for There is no risk financing
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 part of
form of self-insurance for their comprehensively property international chains, may be using
parishioners through informal insurance to actual value as full risk financing options that allow
welfare schemes insurance coverage forms part of multi-year coverage that would
the mortgage agreement. result in stabilizing premiums.
Some churches build up
contingency funds for A significant percentage of the
providential purposes through thehousing stock in the lower income
establishment of ―Friendly group is under-insured or has no
Societies.‖ insurance coverage as result of
Civil Society income loss, poor education, and
NGOs are not involved in housing a general disposition to make no
(Communities and their organizations) or property development. 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.
[There is no local government
Policy body. All activities are prosecuted
Local government by a national agency. ]
Technical
Local Disaster Committees
41
Like its neigbour, Grenada, the islands were last affected by a hurricane in 1955.
Page 137
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
National
Government does not allocate The insurance regulatory function Government has no policy for The public assets which are Government sources external
contingency funds in its annual is inadequate. The office is poorly insuring public assets. Most insured include: credit for reconstruction and
budget based on actuarial staffed but is equipped with a fair public assets are uninsured. Government Headquarters mitigation efforts.
probabilities amount of technical skill. Skills in The public properties, which are Additional contingent credit
The Fisheries Complex
risk management are limited.
NB: The absence of deliberate insured, are covered under the The Arnos Vale Playing facilities could include:
risk transfer policy may be partly Some aspects of planning, zoning specific loan conditions and lease Field (i) World Bank Economic
42
due to the fact that the country and hazard mapping (hazard arrangement. The National Stadium Recovery Facility
has not had a major disaster (fire, mapping for flooding and There is no public fund or
volcanic and hurricane) recently, landslides) are being done by the mechanism established to NB: All other public assets are (ii) CDB Disaster Mitigation
although it is often moderately Physical Planning Department. not insured. Facility
indemnify the poor or to provide
affected by windstorms during the However there are no hazard incentive for undertaking
hurricane season. maps governing insurer’s levels mitigation measures.
Government will be expected to of catastrophe peril liabilities, no
functional linkage between Government needs to explore the
Central Planning and Policy encourage tax incentives when
physical planning and the feasibility of
Sectoral Agencies the Catastrophe Pool is (i) Investing in contingency credit
established under The World insurance regulation, and very
little enforcement. and contingency equity to
Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados increase liquidity for
Catastrophe Risk Management The insurance regulator needs to: rehabilitating damaged buildings,
and Insurance Reform Project. (i) Have the capacity to do schools, hospitals, water
catastrophe premium pricing. facilities, ports, roads bridges
(ii) Educate with respect to using credit and capital market
reducing the financial impact of instruments.
events and minimizing the (ii) Providing incentives for
probability of avoidable losses. catastrophe risk coverage for
low-income groups particularly
those occupying areas prone to
landslide such as squatters.
Technical
42
Annual budgetary premium for the Government Headquarters is about EC$200, 000 according Mr. Isaac Solomon, Budget Director, Ministry of Finance and Planning
Page 138
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
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 programs mainly during the
emergency funds are deployed for hurricane season.
contingencies. NDPC needs to:
Government has EC$3.5 millions (i) embark on a broad based
National Disaster Office
insurance, risk management and
in a Fiscal Tranche at the Central
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
disaster. coverage
There is no society-wide Advisory Insurance companies do not Public autonomous enterprises Banana Industry: The Alternative risk financing for the
Council. provide incentives to homeowners under the management of the Windward Island Crop Insurance business and industry would
The work of NDOC must be such as lower premium rates for central government such as Water (WINCROP) provides a measure involve:
broadened to include a Technical risk reduction or for risk and Electricity are not adequately of protection for windstorm (i) Allocation of capital reserve
Advisory Team drawn form assessment and management insured because of general mood damage, but there is no risk during the profitable years to be
NGOs, banking, insurance, checks. in the insurance market. transfer mechanism or self- used as collateral for debt
industry and engineering to Statutory bodies such as the port insurance. financing for reconstruction
Business and Industry, advise the Insurance Regulator are insured to actual value. Tourism: There is no risk effort.
Leaders
Financial and to promote best practices. transfer mechanism or self- (ii) Use of capital market
Pooling method would most be insurance for locally owned instruments to generate raise
appropriate for these enterprises. properties. equity capital for the recovery
These are to be covered under effort
The World Bank/CDB OECS and Joint purchase of insurance (iii) Creation of a venture capital
Barbados Catastrophe Risk coverage is an imperative (given
the similar exposure) to lower fund to supplement recoveries
Management and Insurance from business interruption
Reform Project cost through increased portfolio.
insurance.
43
ECCB Credit Market Report, Feb 15, 2002
Page 139
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Market Insurance and Risk Pooling and
Budget Self Insurance Public Asset Coverage Risk Financing
Reinsurance Diversification
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 sector. conditions of the debt capital
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
Members 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
44
Like its neigbour, Grenada, Hurricane Janet hit St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1955.
Page 140
Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean
Actual Practices and Gaps
OECS AND CARICOM
Page 141
OECS and CARICOM
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
Subregional
Detailed hazard maps not yet GTZ Decentralised Disaster Project Lack of comprehensive institutional The practice of integrating OECS/NRMU preparing a
prepared for some countries. provides for developing a series of approach to carrying out disaster management initiatives Manual and Guidelines on Post
Inadequate distribution of hazard communication systems for risk vulnerability assessments and with environmental priorities is Disaster Rapid Environmental
maps at the community level. forecasting in St. Kitts/Nevis, inadequate of coordination and stated in Principle 9 of the St. Assessment for use in OECS to
Dominica and St. Lucia where they communication between agencies at Georges Declaration of Principles identify environmental risks
Need to produce hazard maps that will target poorer communities national level. for Environmental Sustainability following a disaster and inform
can be easily understood and affected by Tropical Storm Debby. in the OECS. response decisions. Will include
interpreted at the community level. assessment of OECS-wide
Member of staff of NRMU
training in Environmental response to Hurricane Lenny and
Auditing. case studies of Antigua and St.
Vincent. Includes participation
OECS Framework 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
CDERA collaborated with the Under DIPECHO Project Vulnerability audits for critical CDMP Storm hazard modeling
Japanese to assess the capacity of communities in St. Lucia, facilities focused on schools under assesses the risk to coastal areas
countries to do hazard mapping and Dominica, Bahamas and Barbados CDMP. from tropical storm surge and
vulnerability assessments. taught skills to prepare for hazards. Sectoral vulnerability assessments associated high winds. TAOS
Caricom-Japanese Cooperative Methodology and training materials conducted under CDMP for model installed at the CIMH and
Agreement will strengthen these made available to other countries. Caribbean Electrical Utilities; for staff trained to apply model to
capacities, including GIS World Bank US $37 million schools and shelters in the Eastern member countries. Applied at
component. Focus on flood hazard project: part of funds used to Caribbean; vulnerability audit for Parham Harbour in Antigua
Regional Institutions in 3 pilot countries - Barbados, St. enhance community disaster hydroelectric power facilities in (1995); west coast of Dominica;
Vincent and Trinidad. planning. Dominica, electrical power Montego Bay (1997), Kingston.
OAS/CDMP45 documented hazard facilities in St. Lucia and Regional atlases also developed.
USAID Disaster Management
mapping availability in the region Training Programme provided transmission and distribution
as on output of the 1999 CDMP training for Instructors in damage facilities in St. Vincent.
Hazard Mapping and Vulnerability assessment and needs analysis. Structural vulnerability assessments
Assessment Workshop which also Focus on communities at risk. carried out for selected government
provided an overview of assessment facilities in Antigua/Barbuda and
techniques used in region. Community level vulnerability
assessments done in Dominican St. Kitts/Nevis under Post-Georges
45
Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project, www.oas.org/cdmp
Page 142
OECS and CARICOM
Table 1: Risk Identification – Actual Practices
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Hazard Assessment and Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Assessment
Mapping Socio-economic Physical Environmental
As part of the CDMP, sub-regional Republic and Haiti under CDMP. Disaster Mitigation project.
seismic hazard maps prepared for
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.
CDB to use Disaster Mitigation
Facility for the Caribbean (DMFC)
Multilateral Lending Institutions, to further hazard mapping and
Bilateral Donors integrate into the development
planning process
Page 143
OECS and CARICOM
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Subregional
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 emergency plans in rural binding on governments. It is
countries. communities in Nevis (pilot), prescriptive and is to be reviewed
OECS Secretariat offers technical St. Kitts, St. Lucia and after 3 years to determine if
guidance to governments, sources Dominica. Draft Plans for St. should become a binding Treaty.
technical expertise for EIAs and acts Kitts, Dominica and St. Lucia OECS/NRMU prepared National
as a reviewer for terms of reference under final review Environmental Management
for EIAs. NRMU Watershed Project in Strategy for Anguilla and
Need to ensure that all countries St. Lucia, St. Vincent and St. scheduled to prepare for
have resources to customise building Kitts introduces community Dominica (on-going), St. Vincent
codes or develop national codes. based technologies such as and Montserrat. Legislative and
river bank stabilisation and Institutional capacity reviews in
Lack of technical and financial addresses erosion, St. Lucia and St. Kitts will likely
resources for monitoring of environmental degradation, result in preparation of EMS.
development and enforcement of water quality and appropriate
codes EIAs not well institutionalised.
watershed uses. Project also Needed for public as well as
Need for institutional strengthening includes training in private sector projects. Need
of physical planning departments application of bio-engineering commitment at political level to
and national disaster offices in some techniques and use of act on and implement findings of
countries. indigenous food crops. EIA. Need for legislation to
OECS Framework Absence of a well-defined mechanism NRMU's Environmental support EIA in all countries.
and procedure for integrating Capacity Development Project Lack of technical and financial
existing hazard information into the also includes development of resources and equipment in
land-use planning process. curriculum materials for agencies for monitoring and
teaching at community and enforcement of actions requested
vocational colleges in the following EIA.
region. Post Disaster Rapid
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 Inadequate solid waste
Project includes Technical and management and failure to
Vocational Education and establish clear link between
Training with links to the improper garbage disposal and
education system. flooding or damage from items
which become missiles during
Need to develop link between hurricane winds and
the insurance industry and environmental health issues.
environmental hazards.
Insufficient attention in OECS to
Environmental Management
Systems (EMS) by companies to
Page 144
OECS and CARICOM
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
monitor their environmental
performance.
Need to review legislative and
institutional capacities re
National Environmental
Management Strategies.
Inter-Country Collaboration
Regional
Hurricane Resistant Home Regional Building Code to be DIPECHO project developed Focus of initiatives on policy and CDERA documented best
Improvement Programme: Toolkit updated in 'CUBIC 2000.' public education materials and education rather than capital practices in the recovery efforts in
prepared under CDMP to address Assistance provided to Dominica, worked with schools to infuse works. Antigua and St. Kitts after
the informal sector. Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada and into curricula. Hurricane Lenny.
Regional initiatives focus on policy Belize to develop national building Working with CXC to CDERA prepared Post Impact
measures rather than structural/ codes under CDMP, in collaboration introduce disaster Situation Reports for various
construction initiatives. with UNCHS. management into syllabus. tropical storms, hurricanes,
CDERA conducted series of Discussions with UWI in 1999 droughts and volcanic eruptions
workshops in Grenada and St. Lucia to inventory training affecting the region since 1997.
to integrate disaster management into initiatives at the regional level CDMP documented case study of
the planning process. and coordinate them. the effects of Hurricane Luis on
Comprehensive Disaster 1996 CDERA project with the Antigua Public Utility
Management Strategy also seeks to UWI Faculty of Law to Authority.
do same with focus on institutional develop Model Disaster
strengthening; incorporating disaster Legislation. Sought
management into projects; public endorsement via series of
Regional Institutions education and training; contingency national consultations. Now
and hazard specific plans and enacted in Belize and
operational procedures and Montserrat and in advanced
conducting research to inform public stage in other countries.
education. Strategy endorsed by
OECS and CARICOM. Planned DIPECHPO Project hosted
national consultations to get member regional workshop in St. Lucia
countries to adopt. in 1999 on vulnerability
reduction for school facilities
Under PGDM, status of building to include issues of school
codes in a number of countries safety, construction and
documented. hazard resistance. Developed
Flood Alert and Warning Systems mitigation policy guidelines.
provided in vulnerable communities DIPECHO Project producing
in Jamaica, Trinidad, Dominican videos on disaster
Republic and Haiti under USAID preparedness for 7 to 11 year
community preparedness olds and interactive class
programme. materials for secondary school
Page 145
OECS and CARICOM
Table 2: Risk Reduction – Actual Practices
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Physical Measures Socio-economic Environmental
Post-disaster Measures
Structural Non-Structural Measures Measures
Public Facility Inspectors Workshop students to strengthen
held in Trinidad in 1999 provided geography and social science
training to inspect public facilities syllabus.
for compliance with safety standards. Post event diagnostic surveys
Development of comprehensive of infrastructure projects
hazard mitigation policies and plans resulted in preparation of
underway or complete in Jamaica, St. guidelines on mitigation
Lucia, Barbados, BVI and USVI. criteria for infrastructure
Natural Hazard Mitigation Policy design.
and Plan prepared for Antigua and
St. Kitts (PGDM).
Need to develop model mitigation
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.
CDB funding rehabilitation of 9 CDB provides assistance for CDB assisting countries to CDB strengthening its own
schools in St. Kitts and retrofitting institutional strengthening of develop Disaster Mitigation capacity for mitigation and
of shelters in Nevis. National Disaster Offices and Plans and policies and encouraging borrowing member
World Bank Eastern Caribbean CDERA. building awareness at the countries to integrate disaster
Emergency Management Loans CDB assists in promoting better community level. mitigation measures into all
funding structural works in building practices. CDB provides assistance to development projects. Also
participating countries, as identified tertiary institutions in the training the Bank's staff in
CDB will provide assistance to disaster management and
in loan assessments. BMCs to develop country Building region to facilitate integration
of disaster management into designing a strategy for
Multilateral Lending Institutions, Codes or ensure that existing ones
their curricula. integrating it into the project
Bilateral Donors are taken through the legislative cycle.
process. CDB including mitigation
criteria in infrastructure design CDB developing guidelines for
World Bank Eastern Caribbean preparing Natural Hazard Impact
Emergency Management Loans to ensure long term viability
Assessments (NHIA) which will
supporting institutional strengthening of loan projects. be funded by the Bank's DMFC
measures in participating countries. and will eventually become part
of the project evaluation process.
Loan requests for projects will be
required to include NHIA.
Page 146
OECS and CARICOM
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
Subregional
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)
OECS Framework 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.
There is no deliberate policy There is no insurance There is no insurance The practice of using contingency
move to consolidate insurance arrangement for public asset arrangement for public asset credit as supplementary
operations across countries. coverage. coverage. instrument to market reinsurance
NB: Consolidation of the life The World Bank/CDB OECS and The World Bank/CDB OECS and to reduce price volatility is not
insurance industry was purely Barbados Catastrophe Risk Barbados Catastrophe Risk established in the OECS
driven by acquisitions.46 Management and Insurance Management and Insurance countries.
The property insurance industry Reform Project will provide that Reform Project will provide that NB: The securities market is
is very inefficient. There are more facility. facility. embryonic and fiscal difficulties
than 60 insurance entities place limit on such initiatives.
operating in a market with Governments and the private
Inter-Country Collaboration 500,000 persons. sector should:
Minimum standards of operations (i) use capital market instruments
as set out by a new OECS to generate equity capital for the
harmonized insurance legislation recovery effort and
should drive the consolidation (ii) establish a venture capital
process. fund to supplement recoveries
from business interruption
This is critical as many property insurance.
insurance companies are under-
capitalized and cannot purchase
reinsurance coverage because of
portfolio size.
46
Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) acquired Capital Life and British American Insurance.
Page 147
OECS and CARICOM
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
Regional
Funding from CDB has been Caribbean Association of The recommendation to establish Governments would be expected
utilized mainly for the financing Insurance Regulators (CAIR) was a regional catastrophe pool came to encourage tax incentives when
of economic infrastructure such established to develop out of the Report of the the Catastrophe Pool is
as roads, seaports and utilities; as harmonized risk classification for CARICOM Working Party on established under the World
well as post-disaster financing. the region, but financial Insurance. Bank/CDB OECS and Barbados
difficulties have rendered the Regional bodies such as CHA, Catastrophe Risk Management
body very ineffective. It pays CARILEC, IAC and CDERA, and Insurance Reform Project.
more attention to regulatory have promoted the idea of risk This would be expected to be the
issues. pooling but the matter has not case for a regional pool.
The Insurance Association of the influence public and private
Caribbean (IAC) promotes policy.
harmonization of insurance CARICOM’s efforts in the setting
legislation in collaboration with up of a regional catastrophe Pool
the CLI and CAIR but except in have been limited through
some jurisdictions (Trinidad, insularity and the absence of
Barbados and Jamaica), the financial resources to complete
impact on government and the technical work. No work had
private sector policy is limited. been done sine 1999.47
Regional Institutions In some jurisdictions, rating An OECS Catastrophe pool
agencies evaluate the fiscal would hardly be sustainable.
health of insurance companies
but this is not a normal practice Any semblance of a sustainable
in the OECS. pool would have to include the
entire Caribbean region.
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.
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.
Page 148
OECS and CARICOM
Table 3: Risk Transfer – Actual Practices and Gaps
Note: Actual practices are described in plain type and gaps or limitations are listed in italics.
Budget Self Market Insurance Public Asset Risk Pooling and
Risk Financing
Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Diversification
The World Bank is providing The World Bank/CDB OECS and
loan financing for insurance Barbados Catastrophe Risk
capacity building. CFTC has Management and Insurance
provided funds for legislative Reform Project will serve as pilot
Multilateral Lending Institutions, reform. project for risk pooling.
Bilateral Donors
The IDB and World Bank are
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
Page 149
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