Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Dominica experiences two main periods, a dry season from February to June and a hurricane season from June to November. The hurricane season presents prolonged and intense rain falls causing landslides and collapses of bridges, with partial interruptions of primary and secondary roads which contributes to the increase in transport rates and consumer prices.

 

 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government 

Emergency response operates through the National Emergency Planning Organisation (NEPO) and the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) which provides the coordination and framework for emergency response. 

It has been identified the importance to work in conjunction with local communities in the management and coordination of disaster risk reduction through the existence of various community disaster organisations, district organisations, and the participation of community leaders. Some community groups have been equipped with relevant tools and equipment as part of the effort of an early response mechanism, given the topography of the country and resource constraint that could prevent the quick response from the authorities.  

Institutions and agencies such as DOMLEC, DOWASCO, St. John’s, Ambulance and Dominica Red Cross place heavy emphasis on community participation in the management of resources and mitigation and adaptation efforts. These communities serve in some cases as first responders who report incidents to the relevant authorities. The Local Government system has been leveraged in that respect and plays an integral role in the management of localised crisis situations with effective results in mitigation activities.  

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List. 

Humanitarian Community 

The international humanitarian community has increased their support and number of organizations present after Hurricane Maria hit the island.  Furthermore, sector groups have been established in order to coordinate with different partners around the island and provide effective solutions. 

Sector/Working Group contact list Dominica

*Not all in-country but included for communication purposes

 

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List

 

 

 

The Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS) is a statutory body under the aegis of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Consumer and Diaspora Affairs and its general administration is guided by a 14 member National Standards Council (NSC) appointed by the Minister. The Dominica Bureau of Standards develops, establishes, maintains and promotes standards for improving industrial development, industrial efficiency, promoting the health and safety of consumers as well as protecting the environment, food and food products, the quality of life for the citizenry and the facilitation of trade. Core competencies – preparation and development of Standards for products, systems, and processes; development and establishment of food safety and quality management system, product testing, inspection and certification, GMPS, SOPSs and SSOPs, calibration and testing various measuring and weighing devices, training and various consultancy services. 

The Financial Services Unit (FSU) of the Commonwealth of Dominica is the regulatory authority for the Non-Bank Financial Sector in Dominica and the Money Laundering Supervising Authority; the authority of the Financial Services Unit (FSU), which is a department within the Ministry of Finance, covers the financial sector in Dominica with the exception of Commercial Banks and Securities Business. 

The Plant Protection and Quarantine Service (PPQ) of the Department of Agriculture is the lead institution concerned with the protection of agricultural resources of Dominica from dangerous plant (and animal) pests and diseases.  The responsibility for monitoring of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures which sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards also resides with the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit which collaborates with other related entities in execution of its activities. 

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) is a civil aviation authority serving the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The headquarters are in Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda. The headquarters are in Saint John's, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda. The ECCAA also operates outstations, which include the Dominica Outstation at Melville Hall Airport.  

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List

 

 

 

 

Duties and Tax Exemption

The Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the control and management of the customs clearance of goods process.

The operations of the Customs and Excise Division are governed by the Customs (Control and Management) Act chapter 69:01 of the revised laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Customs Import and Export Tariffs Ordinance chapter 365, Value Added Tax Act 7 of 2005, Excise Tax Act 8 of 2005, Supplies Control Act chapter 20:01 of the revised laws, Fiscal Incentives Act chapter 84:51 of the revised laws, Hotels Aid Act chapter 85:04 of the revised laws, Customs Duty Free Shopping Act 2 of 1991, Caribbean Community Act of 2005 , Solid Waste Management Act, Ozone Layer Depletion Substances (Control) Act and each of the subsequent statutory rules and orders (SROs) attached. Laws enforced by the Ministry of Trade and Marketing and the Ministry of Agriculture are also involved in the customs administration process.

Customs website for further information is http://customs.gov.dm/index.php/menu-styles/customs-tariff 

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Government Contact Lists

Emergency Response:

Emergency response operates through the National Emergency Planning Organisation (NEPO) and the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) which provides the coordination and framework for emergency response. All goods designated for use for humanitarian purposes during time of emergency can apply for tax and import duty exemptions through the ODM (Customs Act 20, Part IX, Art. 90). There is no requirement for an organisation who was responding to an emergency to be registered unless they intend to establish a permanent presence in country.

When there is a declaration of an emergency, relief goods from the different humanitarian organisations can be channelled through the ODM to obtain a tax exemption authorization. The process to obtain a tax and duty exemption requires the organisation to provide standard customs import documentation (Invoice, PL, BL and Asycuda), the BL and the Asycuda are provided by the respective shipping agent, along with a letter of request from the organisation to the National Disaster Coordinator of the ODM.

Also, exemption is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). Organization wishing to import items under duty exemption will need to submit the standard customs import documentation (Invoice, PL, BL and Asycuda), the BL and the Asycuda are provided by the respective shipping agent, along with Duty Free Request Form (Blue Form) and a letter of request which must state the description, value and quantity of the items and a short explanation of the objectives of the organisation.  Once is signed and authorized by MoFA, all the documentation must be submitted to Customs in order to get the clearance and release of the goods.

The following figure shows the procedure for clearance of relief cargo.

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones:

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

General Imports are subject to five different types of duties, taxes and surcharges: 1.- Import Duty, 2.- Environmental Surcharge, 3.- Customs Service Charge, 4.- Excise Tax and 5.- Value Added Tax. 

Import duties levied against goods are based on the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value and rates determined by the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET). 

 

 

 

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

 

Organizations can apply to receive duty free concessions through the National Development Corporation (NDC). If duty free exemptions are granted and approved by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, these organizations submits a master list (also subject to approval by the Ministry of Finance and Planning) to the NDC of all the goods and products they wish to import under the program. This master list is forwarded to the Fiscal Incentive Unit of the Customs and Excise Division and kept on file. Normal procedure for declaring duty free imports is as follows:  

 

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements 

Customs Clearance

General Information 

All imports must be accompanied by an import declaration, with the exception of fresh fish taken by Dominican fishermen and imported by them in their vessels in accordance with section 26(2)(a), and passengers baggage in accordance with section 26(2)(b) of the Customs (Control and Management) Act. The importers must present a declaration to the Customs and Excise Division within:

1. Seven days after the goods have been landed for goods transported by air; in accordance with section 26 (1) (a) of the Customs Act
2. Fourteen days after the goods have been landed for goods transported

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

 

Transit Regime 

Please be informed that customs service charge will be collected on the following:

 

CPC Description 

E371 Re-Exportation from a government warehouse 

E372 Re-Exportation from a private warehouse 

E374 Re-Exportation from other premises under fiscal control

E380 Re-exportation from transit 

E390 Re-exportation from other procedures

In the case where goods are not consigned to an address in the Commonwealth of Dominica and were landed by mistake, there will be no customs service charge collected on its exportation.

 

For humanitarian goods an authorized customs broker will require a customs declaration.  A customs transit declaration must be prepared by an authorized customs broker and the following must be attached: invoice, transport document, insurance certificate, transhipment certificate (in the form of a declaration that is stamped and signed by consignee/owner/ declarant) and if any other supporting documents such as export customs declaration from previous country. 

Procedure for Duty Rebate on Goods Short-shipped or damaged, and Drawback on Goods Re-exported

 

Duty Rebate or drawback in respect of the above-mentioned cases is provided for under Sections 59, 63 and 64 of the Customs (Control and Management) Act Chapter 69:01 of the Revised Laws of 1990 of Dominica. The following steps should be taken by anyone applying for duty rebate or drawback on goods: 

• Ensure that the case is verified by Customs and Excise Division

• Prepare and submit a signed claim addressed to the Comptroller of Customs indicating the reason(s) for the duty rebate or drawback, the amount refundable, the amount paid, the applicable rate of duty and the amount which should be paid where appropriate.

• Obtain a Landing and Delivery Certificate where appropriate for goods shortshipped or damaged and submit it with your claim.

 

Copies of the following documents should be attached to the claim: 

• A legible copy of the declaration on which duty was paid, indicating the receipt number and date paid.

• The invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin where appropriate.

• The split-up, where appropriate, which should provide details of the apportioned charges and the value for refund.

 

Before submitting the claim, ensure that the following are correct: 

• The quantities on which the claim is based

• The commodity description and classification on which the claim is based

• The value for refund

• The amount refundable

 

Persons applying for duty rebate or drawback should note the following: 

• No repayment of the amount of the abatement shall be made unless the claim is made within twelve months of the date of payment of duty

• No drawback may be claimed in respect of goods which were imported into Dominica more than twelve months before the date of the claim for drawback

• No drawback may be claimed in respect of any goods of a value of less than two hundred and seventy dollars, such value being that at which the goods were originally imported.

• No drawback may be claimed in respect of any goods not in the packages in which they were originally imported into Dominica, with the exception of imported goods which are re-exported within six months of their importation by their importer to the same country and to the same person or firm from which they were imported.

 

Once approved by Customs, payment for approved claims can be obtained from the Treasury Division, Ministry of Finance and Planning.

 

For more information on customs tariffs and procedures please see the following document: Customs Import and Export Tariffs Dominica