Dominica: Hurricane Maria Cash Transfer Program (CTP) Assessment ...
Dominica: Hurricane Maria Cash Transfer Program (CTP) Assessment Key informant interviews at select financial institutions and stores in Roseau 26 September 2017 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: To date have talked to two key stakeholders from CBIC First Caribbean Bank and Credit Union: CBIC First Caribbean Bank
1. Pre -Disaster Capacity (ATMs ) • First Caribbean Bank has 2 ATMs in Dominica : o ATM 2 (Old Street Branch) o ATM 1 (inside S-Mart grocery store) 2. Post-Disaster Capacity • ATM 1 • ATM 2 - located in a S-Mart (third party location). So availability to this ATM will depend on on when S-Mart opens and/on whether ATM was damaged (Part of the store caught on fire on 09/24/2017) • ATMs were actually up and functioning after the hurricane. However, they were shut off as a precautionary measure. 3. How quickly can affected ATMs/physical locations recover? • Bank and ATMs are shut down but they are anticipating that bank and ATMs will be back and running in 1-2 days (a test of the system will be conducted today to see how things are functioning). • When ATMs are functional they will be providing limited services: o Withdrawals will be limited to 500 EC per person/day limit (approx $185 USD) o Banks will only be open for 3 hours every day. • The limited services will probably go on for at least a month if not longer - it will also be dependent on how quickly things are improving. Page 1 of 4
4. What is the cash capacity /liquidity in each ATM • Currently for liquidity the bank is relying on what they have at hand now and any transactions taking place via cash (e.g .deposits). Some merchants are already asking if they can deposit money. • Pre-Maria ATMs were replenished once a week (estimate - not always the case). • Prior to major events (e.g. hurricane) bank tries to overfill ATM in anticipation that many people will withdraw funds. 5. Safety/Security Concerns: • Across the city there has been looting of and vandalizing. • The bank has a commitment from the Police Force to provide security for bank when they are open. 6. Other • Banks is dependent on internet and mobile network being back up and running for ATM transactions and for PoS machines. National Cooperative Credit Union 2. Pre -Disaster Capacity (ATMs ) • 1 HQ office + 7 Branches + 7 ATMs (1 (Portsmouth); 1 (Marigot); 1 (Goodwill); 4(Roseau) 3. Post-Disaster Capacity • To date unclear what the damage is. However the credit union is dependent on banks being open to function (branches & ATMs) as this is how they source cash for ATMs and branch location. 4. How quickly can affected ATMs/physical locations recover? • Unclear whether ATMs have been affected or not – however if they are depending on how badly they are damaged – would need to source someone from overseas for repairs. . 5. What is the cash capacity /liquidity in each ATM • Pre-disaster capacity was about 4,000 XCD ($1,480 USD) / person / day – key informant does not anticipate this capacity to change once ATMs are back online and functioning as changing ATM withdrawal capacity would likely require additional technical support. • Dependent on electricity being back for ATMs to function. Additionally, for ATMs outside of Roseau – dependence on fiber optic cable (hub is in town) – would need to check if this has been damaged. 7. Safety/Security Concerns: • No problems with looting in branches or ATMs as far as key informant in aware of. NBD •
Have not talked to a key informant yet – announcement in Facebook indicated that bank would be open for limited transactions Thursday (09/29) AND Friday (09/30) from 10am to 1pm
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MARKETS/STORES: •
Talked to 3-4 Key Informants across Roseau:
S-Mart • S-Mart (supermarket) in Roseau that is currently closed. I had a brief conversation with the owner of the store. While, it is not possible to extrapolate the information he gave me to the rest of the stores/markets island – it was promising information: a. Currently he was 1 weeks’ worth of supplies b. He just ordered new stock of commodities. This new stock should be here in about 2 weeks’ time (primarily goods coming from Miami and I believe other neighboring islands) c. If demand were to increase – he doesn’t anticipate issues with supplies. Sourcing goods from Miami and other neighboring islands has not been affected/interrupted by the Hurricane. However, sourcing local goods (citruses, fruits, others – will not be possible given the agricultural damage across the island). •
Key Challenges he is facing at this moments: o Dealing with the lack of electricity has been challenging. I believe he now has generators but has lost some perishable goods (meats, eggs, etc.) in the aftermath of a hurricane where they were without electricity for 3-4 days.
Jolly’s Pharmacy General Description: • Jolly's Pharmacy is a full scale pharmacy offering medicines as well as other product (the store has a small groceries aisle)
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• •
Current Situation: • The pharmacy has not been affected by the hurricane and has not been vandalized or looted. Post hurricane they activated their generator (which was stored inside) and this was functional for 3 days - so while has been loss of products / meds that need refrigeration - this has been minimal. • Currently, the pharmacy is opening every other day (as they can only get security/police on the premises every other day) from 9:00am to 2:00pm. However in reality, due to the large volume of people coming in - they tend to close at 4pm so that everyone has a chance to get what they need. The current stock is good but running out. However, owner informed us that re-stocking / replenishing supplies would not be a problem. Just today the port opened up to receive commercial goods - so some shipments he is expecting should be coming in soon. Like many of the other stores in the island, goods sold in the pharmacy are sourced from Miami, UK & other islands. Once an order is placed it will take 1-2 weeks max for the shipment to arrive. PoS system requires internet to function - once internet is up and running he can accept cards.
Demand • Pre-Maria they were getting about 1000 purchases / day - he doesn't have an exact count but this has increased considerably post-Maria since people need anything and everything. When pharmacy is open there are lines out the door. Page 3 of 4
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Typical food items in his grocery aisle include water, instant oatmeal, biscuits, ramen, tuna and sardines. Currently considering ordering additional food products (sugar, powdered milk etc.) given that demand for these across the country.
•
Safety/Security • Given the security situation in country, Jolly's is only opening if and when there is security presence (they currently have an agreement with police for police presence every other day). • Entrance to the store is controlled - they are only letting a handful of people at a time. ACS 711
Products/Supplies • Supplies typically come from overseas (Miami and other neighboring islands. • Once order is placed to supplier it will take about 1-2 weeks to get suppliers Challenge: • Currently does not have money/funds to pay suppliers up front for products to procure more goods. Save – A- Lot •
Did not talk to key informant directly but have heard that they will not be re-opening given the damage post hurricane.
For information requests: Dan Joseph Dominica: Hurricane Maria Information Management, IFRC [email protected]
IFRC and Dominica Red Cross will be trying to map status of stores and financial institutions to monitor change in situation. To access information to date please go to:
https://americanredcross.github.io/dominica-market-survey/
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1. Pre -Disaster Capacity (ATMs ) • First Caribbean Bank has 2 ATMs in Dominica : o ATM 2 (Old Street Branch) o ATM 1 (inside S-Mart grocery store) 2. Post-Disaster Capacity • ATM 1 • ATM 2 - located in a S-Mart (third party location). So availability to this ATM will depend on on when S-Mart opens and/on whether ATM was damaged (Part of the store caught on fire on 09/24/2017) • ATMs were actually up and functioning after the hurricane. However, they were shut off as a precautionary measure. 3. How quickly can affected ATMs/physical locations recover? • Bank and ATMs are shut down but they are anticipating that bank and ATMs will be back and running in 1-2 days (a test of the system will be conducted today to see how things are functioning). • When ATMs are functional they will be providing limited services: o Withdrawals will be limited to 500 EC per person/day limit (approx $185 USD) o Banks will only be open for 3 hours every day. • The limited services will probably go on for at least a month if not longer - it will also be dependent on how quickly things are improving. Page 1 of 4
4. What is the cash capacity /liquidity in each ATM • Currently for liquidity the bank is relying on what they have at hand now and any transactions taking place via cash (e.g .deposits). Some merchants are already asking if they can deposit money. • Pre-Maria ATMs were replenished once a week (estimate - not always the case). • Prior to major events (e.g. hurricane) bank tries to overfill ATM in anticipation that many people will withdraw funds. 5. Safety/Security Concerns: • Across the city there has been looting of and vandalizing. • The bank has a commitment from the Police Force to provide security for bank when they are open. 6. Other • Banks is dependent on internet and mobile network being back up and running for ATM transactions and for PoS machines. National Cooperative Credit Union 2. Pre -Disaster Capacity (ATMs ) • 1 HQ office + 7 Branches + 7 ATMs (1 (Portsmouth); 1 (Marigot); 1 (Goodwill); 4(Roseau) 3. Post-Disaster Capacity • To date unclear what the damage is. However the credit union is dependent on banks being open to function (branches & ATMs) as this is how they source cash for ATMs and branch location. 4. How quickly can affected ATMs/physical locations recover? • Unclear whether ATMs have been affected or not – however if they are depending on how badly they are damaged – would need to source someone from overseas for repairs. . 5. What is the cash capacity /liquidity in each ATM • Pre-disaster capacity was about 4,000 XCD ($1,480 USD) / person / day – key informant does not anticipate this capacity to change once ATMs are back online and functioning as changing ATM withdrawal capacity would likely require additional technical support. • Dependent on electricity being back for ATMs to function. Additionally, for ATMs outside of Roseau – dependence on fiber optic cable (hub is in town) – would need to check if this has been damaged. 7. Safety/Security Concerns: • No problems with looting in branches or ATMs as far as key informant in aware of. NBD •
Have not talked to a key informant yet – announcement in Facebook indicated that bank would be open for limited transactions Thursday (09/29) AND Friday (09/30) from 10am to 1pm
Page 2 of 4
MARKETS/STORES: •
Talked to 3-4 Key Informants across Roseau:
S-Mart • S-Mart (supermarket) in Roseau that is currently closed. I had a brief conversation with the owner of the store. While, it is not possible to extrapolate the information he gave me to the rest of the stores/markets island – it was promising information: a. Currently he was 1 weeks’ worth of supplies b. He just ordered new stock of commodities. This new stock should be here in about 2 weeks’ time (primarily goods coming from Miami and I believe other neighboring islands) c. If demand were to increase – he doesn’t anticipate issues with supplies. Sourcing goods from Miami and other neighboring islands has not been affected/interrupted by the Hurricane. However, sourcing local goods (citruses, fruits, others – will not be possible given the agricultural damage across the island). •
Key Challenges he is facing at this moments: o Dealing with the lack of electricity has been challenging. I believe he now has generators but has lost some perishable goods (meats, eggs, etc.) in the aftermath of a hurricane where they were without electricity for 3-4 days.
Jolly’s Pharmacy General Description: • Jolly's Pharmacy is a full scale pharmacy offering medicines as well as other product (the store has a small groceries aisle)
•
• •
Current Situation: • The pharmacy has not been affected by the hurricane and has not been vandalized or looted. Post hurricane they activated their generator (which was stored inside) and this was functional for 3 days - so while has been loss of products / meds that need refrigeration - this has been minimal. • Currently, the pharmacy is opening every other day (as they can only get security/police on the premises every other day) from 9:00am to 2:00pm. However in reality, due to the large volume of people coming in - they tend to close at 4pm so that everyone has a chance to get what they need. The current stock is good but running out. However, owner informed us that re-stocking / replenishing supplies would not be a problem. Just today the port opened up to receive commercial goods - so some shipments he is expecting should be coming in soon. Like many of the other stores in the island, goods sold in the pharmacy are sourced from Miami, UK & other islands. Once an order is placed it will take 1-2 weeks max for the shipment to arrive. PoS system requires internet to function - once internet is up and running he can accept cards.
Demand • Pre-Maria they were getting about 1000 purchases / day - he doesn't have an exact count but this has increased considerably post-Maria since people need anything and everything. When pharmacy is open there are lines out the door. Page 3 of 4
•
Typical food items in his grocery aisle include water, instant oatmeal, biscuits, ramen, tuna and sardines. Currently considering ordering additional food products (sugar, powdered milk etc.) given that demand for these across the country.
•
Safety/Security • Given the security situation in country, Jolly's is only opening if and when there is security presence (they currently have an agreement with police for police presence every other day). • Entrance to the store is controlled - they are only letting a handful of people at a time. ACS 711
Products/Supplies • Supplies typically come from overseas (Miami and other neighboring islands. • Once order is placed to supplier it will take about 1-2 weeks to get suppliers Challenge: • Currently does not have money/funds to pay suppliers up front for products to procure more goods. Save – A- Lot •
Did not talk to key informant directly but have heard that they will not be re-opening given the damage post hurricane.
For information requests: Dan Joseph Dominica: Hurricane Maria Information Management, IFRC [email protected]
IFRC and Dominica Red Cross will be trying to map status of stores and financial institutions to monitor change in situation. To access information to date please go to:
https://americanredcross.github.io/dominica-market-survey/
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