Antigua Breaking News

Day: May 11, 2021

  • EMS responds to concerns about the ICU

    EMS responds to concerns about the ICU

    Management of the Antigua Barbuda Emergency Medical Services (ABEMS) has become aware of concerns in the public regarding the use of an Ambulance which was designated as the Infectious Control Unit (ICU) to transport suspected Covid-19 cases being used to transport non-suspected Covid-19 patients. ABEMS Management is giving the assurance that all provisions have been…

  • BREAKING: Canada’s largest province pausing rollout of AstraZeneca Vaccine due to blood clot risk

    BREAKING: Canada’s largest province pausing rollout of AstraZeneca Vaccine due to blood clot risk

    Ontario will no longer give the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a first dose due to the risk of rare blood clots. Dr. David Williams, chief medical officer of health, said on Tuesday that the Ontario government made the decision due to an increase in the rare blood clotting condition, known as Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. “Effective…

  • 2 new cases of COVID-19

    2 new cases of COVID-19

    The most recent reports received by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment from the Mount St. Johns Medical Centre (MSJMC) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) have revealed two (2) new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda as of Monday 10th May 2021 at 6pm. These new cases were out…

  • Prime Minister Gaston Browne reaches out to EU Parliament

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne reaches out to EU Parliament

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Tuesday, reached out to key members of the European Parliament, proposing a sustained dialogue on issues of concern to both sides. In the most recent of a series of Zoom meetings with EU parliamentarians and policy-makers, Browne spoke with Stephane Bijoux, who is a member of the European Parliament and…

  • Authorities seek help locating missing fishing boat

    Authorities seek help locating missing fishing boat

    Fishing vessel KIRSIA I with registration number V2-467MW was reported stolen Tuesday morning from the causeway of Perry Bay in St. John’s Harbour. The vessel is a 25-foot pirogue with a single Yamaha 100 horsepower 4-stroke engine (as opposed to the two 40 horsepower engines in the picture). If you see this vessel, please contact…

  • Firearm Licence Renewal Notice

    Firearm Licence Renewal Notice

    The Police Administration within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda reminds all licensed firearm holders that their licences become payable on or before 31st May each year. This is in accordance with Section 40 (4) of the Firearms Act, Cap. 171 of the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda, as Amended Licensed firearm holders…

  • Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett named as 8th CARICOM Secretary-General

    Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett named as 8th CARICOM Secretary-General

    STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM), DR KEITH ROWLEY, PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ON THE SELECTION OF THE NEW CARICOM SECRETARY-GENERAL Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting virtually in Special Session on Tuesday 11 May unanimously agreed to appoint Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett as the 8th CARICOM…

  • A storm brewing over Haiti at the OAS

    A storm brewing over Haiti at the OAS

    By Sir Ronald Sanders Strong disagreement may be brewing at the Organization of American States (OAS) on how to respond to the ongoing, grave political and constitutional crisis in Haiti. Since January 2020, the Haitian President,  Jovenel Moïse, has been ruling the country by decree without any legislative oversight.  The mandates of the members of…

  • AIDS virus used in gene therapy to fix ‘bubble baby’ disease

    AIDS virus used in gene therapy to fix ‘bubble baby’ disease

    UNITED STATES (AP) — A gene therapy that makes use of an unlikely helper, the AIDS virus, gave a working immune system to 48 babies and toddlers who were born without one, doctors reported Tuesday. Results show that all but two of the 50 children who were given the experimental therapy in a study now…

  • Widespread informality likely to slow recovery from COVID-19 in developing economies

    Widespread informality likely to slow recovery from COVID-19 in developing economies

    A strikingly large percentage of workers and firms operate outside the line of sight of governments in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs)—a challenge that is likely to hold back the recovery in these economies unless governments adopt a comprehensive set of policies to address the drawbacks of the informal sector, a new World Bank…

  • COVID-19 second dose to officially commence this week

    COVID-19 second dose to officially commence this week

    This week, Antigua and Barbuda will officially commence vaccinating thousands of citizens and residents with their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This roll-out will see senior health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer and Cabinet members take centre stage as they receive their second jab. By all indications, the end of June will see…

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]