Antigua Breaking News

Day: May 14, 2020

  • State of Emergency extended until July 31

    State of Emergency extended until July 31

    Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution to extend the public state of emergency until July 31, 2020. The initial schedule for the state of emergency was set to expire today, May 14, however in a continued effort to control the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has opted for it to be extended. While…

  • Calvin Ayre Foundation donates laptops to Ministry of Health

    Calvin Ayre Foundation donates laptops to Ministry of Health

    In addition to more than EC$4 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) being donated to the Ministry of Health, the Calvin Ayre Foundation (CAF) will also be making a further contribution of 20 high-quality laptops to the Ministry, valued at EC$87,000. According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment,…

  • Attacking Golding does not change demand for credible Guyana elections result

    Attacking Golding does not change demand for credible Guyana elections result

    By Sir Ronald Sanders In the wake of a report to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on the Guyana general elections of March 2, the Head of the Electoral Mission (EOM), former Jamaica Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has been accused of being “exceptionally partisan” and “hostile to the nation and…

  • Antigua Opposition Leader storms out of Parliament after heated exchange with Speaker

    Antigua Opposition Leader storms out of Parliament after heated exchange with Speaker

    Antigua and Barbuda Opposition Leader Jamal Pringle has stormed out of the House of Assembly after a heated exchange with House Speaker Sir Gerald Watt, QC. The exchange started after the Speaker stopped Pringle from making a “personal statement” on why he declined an invitation to join the Economic Recovery Committee. The Speaker ruled that…

  • MUST READ: CAL must prepare for turbulence

    MUST READ: CAL must prepare for turbulence

    With the global aviation industry traumatised by the chilling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government’s guarantee of a $445 million loan for Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is a lifeline that gives the airline some breathing space as it faces an uncertain future. For at least the next three months while borders remain closed, CAL has…

  • BREAKING: LIAT extends suspension of passenger services to May 31

    BREAKING: LIAT extends suspension of passenger services to May 31

    LIAT advised that it is extending the suspension of its passenger services to May 31, 2020 given the current border closures and travel restrictions within the regional network. Chief Executive Officer, Julie Reifer-Jones explained that the airline continues to monitor the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and that the further extension is necessary at…

  • Flight opportunity to London on Sunday May 17

    Flight opportunity to London on Sunday May 17

    There will be a British Airways flight departing from Antigua to London Heathrow on Sunday, May 17 at 18:50 – available for those who are eligible to enter the UK. A flight from Anguilla to Antigua will be available to book for those with confirmed booking on the British Airways flight. British Airways have made…

  • The implicit danger of suspending HIV testing in Antigua and Barbuda in the era of COVID-19

    The implicit danger of suspending HIV testing in Antigua and Barbuda in the era of COVID-19

    By Eleanor Frederick MSc. MPH In order to adhere to social distancing requirements, the AIDS Programme Manager Delcora Williams says “no HIV tests are being conducted by the HIV clinic until further notice.” She states further that: “An HIV test is a very intimate thing — the counsellor sits on one end of the table…

  • US Embassy Barbados provides funding for PPEs to assist with the COVID-19 response in the region

    US Embassy Barbados provides funding for PPEs to assist with the COVID-19 response in the region

    In response to the high demand for personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other medical supplies due to COVID-19, the United States has donated more than US $104,000 worth of PPE and other medical supplies for seven Eastern Caribbean countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent &…

  • Antigua cancels HIV tests due to COVID-19

    Antigua cancels HIV tests due to COVID-19

    Antigua has halted testing people for HIV and this decision is being blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. HIV AIDS Programme Manager  Delcora Williams says in order to adhere to social distancing requirements, no HIV tests are being conducted by the HIV clinic until further notice. “An HIV test is a very intimate thing,” Williams said. …

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]