Antigua Breaking News

Day: January 12, 2021

  • Travellers boarding international flights to US will need proof of negative COVID-19 test

    Travellers boarding international flights to US will need proof of negative COVID-19 test

    SOURCE: USA TODAY — Travelers flying into the United States from international destinations will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flight. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new policy Tuesday and said it will go into effect Jan. 26. The agency said it hopes the…

  • Sections of Sir Sydney Walling Highway to remain closed

    Sections of Sir Sydney Walling Highway to remain closed

    The traffic management plan for ongoing works under the second Road Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project on Sir Sydney Walling Highway for the period Jan. 11 to 23 will result in sections of the road remaining closed while the traffic will be diverted in an effort to ensure safety. The traffic management plan include but is not…

  • Local medical practitioners need licence to acquire, administer COVID vaccines – Nicholas

    Local medical practitioners need licence to acquire, administer COVID vaccines – Nicholas

    Cabinet spokesperson Melford Nicholas has put all local medical practitioners on notice regarding the purchasing and administering of any COVID vaccine in the country. Nicholas, who is also the Information Minister in Antigua and Barbuda, said a licence will be needed by all local medical officials. Nicholas made the revelation after government was made aware…

  • Tourism Association bids farewell to Chairman Vernon Jeffers

    Tourism Association bids farewell to Chairman Vernon Jeffers

    The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association/ABHTA bids farewell to its out-going Chairman Vernon A. Jeffers Snr. Jeffers served as Chairman of the ABHTA from May 2019 to January 2021. Jeffers stated “This past year has been one of challenges, resilience and change however for me it has been one of reflection and growth.…

  • PAHO raises $263 million in 2020 to fight COVID-19 in the Americas

    PAHO raises $263 million in 2020 to fight COVID-19 in the Americas

    In 2020, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) received commitments for more than $263 million to provide technical support and supplies for the fight against COVID-19 in the Americas. “We are grateful to all of our partners who have made it possible for us to assist countries in the Americas as they take on this…

  • CIU responds to viral video

    CIU responds to viral video

    The Citizenship by Investment Unit notes with great concern the circulation of a video which has regrettably been determined/concluded to be authorized promotion of the national investment programme. The CIU advises that the video and its contents are currently being investigated by the Unit. In the interim, we assure the public, and all our stakeholders,…

  • Local agent provokes disgust with video marketing the ‘selling of passports;’ Lovell says advert damages national brand

    Local agent provokes disgust with video marketing the ‘selling of passports;’ Lovell says advert damages national brand

    Antigua & Barbuda citizens are expressing their disgust with the Gaston Browne Administration after an advertisement by a CIP passport agent went into local circulation yesterday. Many persons describe the ad as “vulgar,” with one resident likening the sales pitch to “somebody selling bread and cheese.” In the video, the agent asks: “Do you wanna…

  • UN: COVID-19 herd immunity unlikely in 2021 despite vaccines

    UN: COVID-19 herd immunity unlikely in 2021 despite vaccines

    The World Health Organization’s chief scientist warned that even as numerous countries start rolling out vaccination programs to stop COVID-19, herd immunity is highly unlikely this year. At a media briefing on Monday, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said it was critical countries and their populations maintain strict social distancing and other outbreak control measures for the…

  • 429 people in quarantine in Antigua

    429 people in quarantine in Antigua

    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has received no new reports from the Mount St. John’s Medical Center (MSJMC) or the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) as of Monday 11th January 2021 at 6pm. Consequently, the total number of persons with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda remains at one hundred…

  • Jamaican ‘Black Panther’ claims $301.5M Super Lotto prize

    Jamaican ‘Black Panther’ claims $301.5M Super Lotto prize

    Loop Jamaica: A Jamaican man claimed his J$301.5 million Super Lotto prize wearing a Black Panther costume on Friday. Gaming company Supreme Ventures welcomed the latest member to its ‘super millionaire’ club with the recent handover of the jackpot to the man it only identified as G Samuels. Samuels purchased his lucky J$300 Quick Pick ticket from the Lotto…

  • Weekend gatherings a sign of pandemic fatigue — Psychologist

    Weekend gatherings a sign of pandemic fatigue — Psychologist

    It seems as if incidents of large gatherings are becoming more commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic despite numerous warnings and regulations against it. The prevalence of these events are more pronounced when juxtaposed with the behaviours during the start of the outbreak locally. According to clinical psychologist and member of the University of the West…

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]