Project assistance completion report : Hurricane Hugo disaster rehabilitation project

Kitts/Nevis and (2) agricultural sector and road rehabilitation activities in Dominica. The project achieved its goals, and thereby allowed the two countries to resume productive economic activities. The most important effect of the U.S. assistance, however, was the alleviation of the human suffering and hardship caused by the hurricane. Specific accomplishments were as follows. Primary electrical distribution systems in St. Kitts/Nevis are now operational, as are primary and secondary road networks in Dominica. Planting targets in Dominica for the 1989 season were met, including the rehabilitation of 6000 acres of bananas; by the PACD, weekly banana production had risen from 400 tons immediately after the hurricane to 1,050 tons. Also in Dominica, the project: (1) rehabilitated 750 acres of other crops, particularly cocoa and vegetable crops, through inputs of fertilizer, planting material, and various farm implements; and (2) assisted about 500 artisanal fisherman, leaving the country's fishing industry fully operational. (Chemical analyses of river water in Dominica revealed no fertilizer-related quality problem in any of the watersheds tested). Two unplanned outputs were the restoration of the primary and secondary electrical distribution system in Montserrat and the restoration of sea walls and drainage lines in Dominica. The following lessons were learned. (1) The Government of Dominica did not follow precisely some of the regulations of the project. Early and more precise instructions should be given to governments in emergency relief projects in order to ensure strict adherence to requirements. (2) The successful use of a concurrent audit showed that such audits are the most suitable form of financial monitoring in disaster assistance and similar type projects. To ensure that such audits are performed on time, RDO/C should engage a local CPA firm. (3) In short-duration projects, it is essential that appropriate counterpart personnel be appointed at the inception of the project to ensure proper implementation. Dominica did so, resulting in a quality of management that was above normal standards. (4) Contracting of the infrastructure rehabilitation work to the private sector resulted in timely completion, as did the on-site pre-placement of Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) specialists.