Marjorie’s car was set on fire in Dumbéa-sur-Mer a few weeks ago. For the care staff, it is impossible to do without a vehicle, an important tool for getting to work. She therefore decided to buy one with her own funds without waiting for insurance compensation. Problem : “my company only wants to insure me with third parties under the pretext that I work for Médipôle“, laments Marjorie, who points out the injustice of the situation.
When the unrest broke out on May 13, the insurance companies put an end to the signing of new contracts, for private and professional. A month later, they are still very reluctant to insure their injured customers. “With regard to vehicles, we are currently limited to civil liability only.“, confirms Jean-Michel Calba, general manager of Groupama-Gan Pacifique. A guarantee that limits compensation to damages caused to others and excludes coverage for possible damage or even fire to one’s vehicle. No “all risks” contracts are currently not offered .
“An empty shell”
The difficulties are the same for companies. Benoît (not his real name) saw his business premises go up in smoke in the first days of the unrest. To limit losses, he and his partner decided to bounce back by quickly relaunching their business in a new location. “We signed a lease which I sent to my insurance“, says Benoît. The company’s response was quick: “she told me she no longer insures anyone in new caledonia.“Volt, according to the manager, who in the rapid relaunch of his activity saw the means to”limit operating losses“and therefore the compensation that the insurance must pay him. Finally afterwards”an obstacle course“and several discussions with the headquarters of their company, located in France, Benoît and his partner managed to sign a new contract.”It’s an empty shellhowever, this one points out. The insurance does not reimburse us in case of fire or looting, which is still the biggest risk at the moment.“
“As for renting or buying a door pass, it is still extremely complicated“, confirms Jean-Michel Calba. Insurance companies will not take the risk of covering a professional”as long as there is no visibility when returning to safety” in the country. A caution which can be partly explained by the amount of damage already caused by the unrest (estimated at 120 billion francs). Insurers will have to turn to “reinsurers” (insurance insurers) who share the risks with them in this type of situation.Without them, we would have to pay all the damages out of our own funds, and we simply cannot afford it.“, emphasizes the General Manager of Groupama-Gan Pacifique.
A removal of the “riot” cause?
To guarantee the participation of reinsurers in compensation for the riots in New Caledonia, “we will exercise great caution“, assures Jean-Michel Calba. No questions”to add claims to the situation“by securing commercial premises which may in turn be set on fire or looted.”The reinsurer could think that our management is not serious and we would lose its confidence.“
If they will definitely cover part of the compensation to cover the New Caledonian crisis, the reinsurers will not fail to renegotiate their contracts with the New Caledonian companies taking into account the events. The new conditions could result in an increase in prices, which would be passed on to individuals and professionals, or even the removal of the cause of “riots and popular movement” from the guarantees that apply in the area. If this last option was chosen by reinsurers, de facto, this risk could no longer be covered by New Caledonian insurance contracts.
