Antigua Breaking News

Day: May 7, 2020

  • Meet our newest centenarian – Gwendolyn Reifer

    Meet our newest centenarian – Gwendolyn Reifer

    On Thursday, Antigua and Barbuda registered yet another pillar in its foundation with the 100th birth anniversary celebration of Gwendolyn Goldine Reifer, who was born on this day in 1920. Mrs. Reifer, now a widow who has outlived all of her siblings, is a Christian with roots in the Anglican church. She said, from childhood…

  • Tied to no one’s apron strings: The Caribbean in an emerging new world

    Tied to no one’s apron strings: The Caribbean in an emerging new world

    By Sir Ronald Sanders Developing countries, including Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, would make a grave mistake if, in the wake of the economic crisis they now face, they decide to diminish their foreign affairs budgets. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created huge challenges for advanced economies, but those challenges are even more daunting…

  • Tax revenue under threat amid deteriorating regional outlook

    Tax revenue under threat amid deteriorating regional outlook

    Tax revenues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased to 23.1% of GDP on average in 2018, according to the new edition of Revenue Statistics in Latin America in the Caribbean published today. However, these gains are now under threat as a result of the region’s deteriorating fiscal outlook, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19…

  • OECS Chairman on COVID-19: Region needs help

    OECS Chairman on COVID-19: Region needs help

    The Eastern Caribbean and CARICOM countries will require substantial assistance to climb out of the economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This was put forward as two Eastern Caribbean leaders participated in the launch of the United Nation’s COVID-19 Multi-sectoral response plan and US$29.7 million Fund Appeal on behalf of Barbados and the OECS…

  • BREAKING: Trump’s personal valet has tested positive for coronavirus

    BREAKING: Trump’s personal valet has tested positive for coronavirus

    A member of the US Navy who serves as one of President Donald Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, CNN learned Thursday, raising concerns about the President’s possible exposure to the virus. The valets are members of an elite military unit dedicated to the White House and often work very close to the…

  • Jumby Bay Fund and Homeowners make donation to Infectious Disease Facility

    Jumby Bay Fund and Homeowners make donation to Infectious Disease Facility

    The Jumby Bay Fund and Homeowners have assisted the new Antigua Infectious Disease Facility by donating in excess of EC$1 million worth of supplies in addition to a Medical Compressor and Vacuum System. Just last Week, the JB Fund delivered 1,004 food parcels to least fortunate families on island, covering 1% of the local population.…

  • What you need to know about changes to the school term

    What you need to know about changes to the school term

    The Minister of Education, Michael Browne, has made changes  to the school terms, which will add weeks to future terms, thereby catching-up with the time lost during the shutdown. Term 1 is scheduled from June 1 to December 11, 2020. Term 2 is scheduled to begin January 4 to April 6, 2021. Term 3 is…

  • Comedy of Legal Errors Resulting from COVID-19

    Comedy of Legal Errors Resulting from COVID-19

    By Charlesworth Tabor The fallout from the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the weaknesses in the health, social, economic and political infrastructure in countries around the world. Our little island of Antigua and Barbuda is no exception. However, my focus in this article with respect to Antigua and Barbuda will not be on the health, social,…

  • Dr Jose Humphreys, you are a Master

    Dr Jose Humphreys, you are a Master

    Antiguan Dr Jose Humphreys has been awarded a Master of Philosophy in public policy and administration with a specialisation in health policy from Walden University. “This is an advanced master’s degree, indicating to employers and others that you have a higher level of knowledge and skills in the evaluation of research in your field of…

  • Antigua and Barbuda asks for UN’s help to seek debt forgiveness from Paris Club

    Antigua and Barbuda asks for UN’s help to seek debt forgiveness from Paris Club

    By Desmond Brown Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne on Wednesday called on the United Nations to assist with its appeal to the Paris Club for debt forgiveness of more than US$100 million. Browne made the call during the launch of a  COVID-19  multi-sectoral response plan (MRP), and US$29.7 million funding appeal for…

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]. 

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]