Antigua Breaking News

Day: March 5, 2021

  • US$750,000 for regional vaccines

    US$750,000 for regional vaccines

    Ten countries across the region will get a major boost to their COVID-19 vaccination programmes as a result of a USD$500,000 donation from regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean. The donation to national vaccination programmes is being made by the bank through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, and will support the purchase of vaccines…

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Registration HOTLINE

    COVID-19 Vaccine Registration HOTLINE

    COVID-19 Vaccine Registration HOTLINE

  • 300 jobs with new call centre

    300 jobs with new call centre

    CABINET NOTES: The Minister with responsibility for Technology informed that his Ministry is in negotiations with another Call Center. The principals have announced that they will employ more than 300 workers who can be trained to work from their homes. The firm has a workforce of hundreds of thousands around the world, and can begin…

  • Op-Ed: Respecting the right to love

    Op-Ed: Respecting the right to love

    By Anthony Gifford On 17th February 2021 the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) made public its report on the petition of Gareth Henry and Simone Edwards, who alleged violations of their human rights by Jamaica. The 24 page report can be found online and contains a thorough review of Jamaica’s sexual offences laws…

  • CXC reverts to previous format for this year’s June/July exams

    CXC reverts to previous format for this year’s June/July exams

    The Caribbean Examinations Council, CXC, has decided to revert to using the previous format in this years sitting of the exams, which have been scheduled for June and July. This was decided on, during a recent meeting of the council for human and social development, education, and follows extensive consultations with regional stakeholders. It comes in the wake of controversy about…

  • Legislation introduced for Caribbean ‘Dreamers’ to earn green card, US citizenship

    Legislation introduced for Caribbean ‘Dreamers’ to earn green card, US citizenship

    Caribbean American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke on Wednesday introduced legislation in the United States House of Representatives that would allow Caribbean and other “Dreamers” to earn lawful permanent residence, or green card, and US citizenship. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act, is a United States legislative proposal…

  • Strong demand continues for the COVID-19 vaccine

    Strong demand continues for the COVID-19 vaccine

    Strong demand for the covid-19 vaccine continues as the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment makes every effort to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable in the population. Approximately 2,700 people were inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday. The Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment is reminding recently vaccinated individuals of the necessity…

  • Big plans for 10 acres of newly-created land on north side of Rat Island

    Big plans for 10 acres of newly-created land on north side of Rat Island

    CABINET NOTES: The General Manager of the Port, the Architect/Planner, and the technician involved in designing the Dredge Bay Port Project reported to Cabinet on the plans that are being readied to transform the 10 acres of newly-created land, on the north side of Rat Island, into a hub of economic activity. The site will…

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]