Antigua Breaking News

Day: May 18, 2021

  • Grenadians encouraged to make use of remaining doses of COVID-19 vaccine

    Grenadians encouraged to make use of remaining doses of COVID-19 vaccine

    Grenadians are being encouraged to make use of the remaining doses of AstraZeneca vaccine as the country continues the valiant fight against COVID-19. After two record-breaking days in which more than 1,000 people were vaccinated each day, the Ministry of Health wishes to clarify what appears to be a misconception that Monday, May 17 was…

  • FLASHBACK: How Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced he’d been vaccinated

    FLASHBACK: How Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced he’d been vaccinated

    FLASHBACK: How Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced he’d been vaccinated

  • Airlines could start weighing passengers before boarding

    Airlines could start weighing passengers before boarding

    In a measure that will likely irk flyers, airlines could soon require plus-sized passengers to step on the scale — or provide their weight — before boarding the aircraft. The initiative, which was outlined in a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory, strives to provide new data on average passenger weights as the current numbers…

  • CARPHA’s position on the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients

    CARPHA’s position on the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients

    The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging Ministries of Health and clinicians to only use the medicine, ivermectin, under the conditions of well-regulated clinical trials for COVID-19, or for approved indications. This is a result of the limited evidence available to assure a favorable benefit-risk balance when used in treating patients with COVID-19. This…

  • Antigua buys $500K worth of oxygen to aid in COVID-19 battle

    Antigua buys $500K worth of oxygen to aid in COVID-19 battle

    Antigua and Barbuda today received 234 additional units of medical oxygen. Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph accepted the purchases at the port. Sir Molwyn says the supplies cost half a million dollars and were sourced from the United States. He says the purchase is out of an abundance of caution considering reports from India and…

  • Come now, lady and gentlemen, get off the fence and lead

    Come now, lady and gentlemen, get off the fence and lead

    By — Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst Politicians’ fence-sitting on mandatory COVID19 vaccine for those not contra-indicated could be responsible for COVID19 illness, death, and economic disaster in their country. Given the (COVID 19-driven) existential crisis confronting the social and economic future of tourism dependent economies, I would much rather see these four…

  • Poultry production on upward swing in Antigua and Barbuda

    Poultry production on upward swing in Antigua and Barbuda

    A breakthrough is underway in poultry production in Antigua and Barbuda and when fully implemented, it will make a significant impact on the importation of our most consumed meat product. Minister of Agriculture, Samantha Marshall, recently led a high-level team from the ministry on a visit to a major broiler farm project which is being…

  • PM says Antigua may have to donate if vaccines are not used

    PM says Antigua may have to donate if vaccines are not used

    Vaccine hesitancy appears to be stronger among indigenous Antiguans and Barbudans than among the expats dwelling among us, the nation’s leader says he has observed. Prime Minister Gaston Browne shared those comments on Saturday during his weekly radio program, The Browne and Browne Show, on Pointe FM 99.1. “I notice, too, that it is primarily…

  • Lovell welcomes commission of inquiry into airport runway loan

    Lovell welcomes commission of inquiry into airport runway loan

    A seemingly unperturbed UPP party leader Harold Lovell says he is ready for the fight, following an announcement by Prime Minister Gaston Browne that a probe will be carried out into a US$94 million loan given to the former UPP administration. Browne said over the weekend that the Cabinet had agreed that a forensic audit…

  • Government hints at legal action re PV Energy deal

    Government hints at legal action re PV Energy deal

    It appears that the government may follow through on plans to file a legal challenge against the management of PV Energy. Government officials are attempting to get the British energy company to supply batteries that are needed to power various solar projects, including the one at the international airport, which the company was contracted to…

  • COVID vaccines: some fully vaccinated people will still get infected – here’s why

    COVID vaccines: some fully vaccinated people will still get infected – here’s why

    The development of several COVID vaccines in less than a year has given us all hope of a release from the pandemic. Now the goal has shifted to ensuring widespread vaccine coverage is achieved as quickly as possible around the globe. However, it is unlikely that any of the vaccines will be 100% effective at…

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]