Antigua Breaking News

Day: July 5, 2021

  • COVID is back with 1 new case

    COVID is back with 1 new case

    The most recent report received by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment from the Sir Lester Bird Mount St. John Medical Centre has revealed one new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 case in Antigua and Barbuda as of Sunday 4th July 2021 at 6pm. This new case which was recorded on July 3 is out…

  • LETTER: ABS staff have not been paid overtime for 6 years

    LETTER: ABS staff have not been paid overtime for 6 years

    DEAR EDITOR: I read something alarming in the Daily Observer recently. Apparently ABS staff have not been paid overtime for six years? What a travesty! Imagine all those carnival two week periods in between, when staff are going home bone tired the following day, after starting their shift the previous day, and no compensation? I…

  • ‘The EPA has failed us,’ says Prime Minister Gaston Browne

    ‘The EPA has failed us,’ says Prime Minister Gaston Browne

    Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM) Gaston Browne has spoken out against the constant targeting of the financial services sectors of the region by developed nations through blacklisting. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the 42nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean…

  • 20 years fighting for a black presence

    20 years fighting for a black presence

    By Makeda Mikael After 31 year developing General Aviation in Antigua St. Kitts and Nevis, I had decided to retire in August 2021 and have been preparing the handover to a young team of Antiguan professionals. I never thought I would  face being unceremoniously challenged in my operations and on my own property by the…

  • Joanna Spencer is new Rotary Club of Antigua president

    Joanna Spencer is new Rotary Club of Antigua president

    The Rotary Club of Antigua has installed its 49th Board of Directors under the Presidency of Joanna Spencer, CEO of Digicel Antigua & Barbuda and Monserrat. Under the theme ‘We are More Impactful with More Hands,’ the Club will continue the nearly five decades of service to the community of Antigua and Barbuda; building on…

  • Jordin Sparks tells followers Antigua is ‘magical’

    Jordin Sparks tells followers Antigua is ‘magical’

    American singer, songwriter and actress Jordin Sparks has been telling her millions of followers about her trip to Antigua. “Antigua is magical & it was a trip full of love allllll the way around,” she wrote on social media. “I truly was able to relax (!!!) & came home feeling rejuvenated. “My favorite part? THE…

  • Item from boat found but still no sign of missing fishermen

    Item from boat found but still no sign of missing fishermen

    The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Coast Guard has confirmed the discovery of the fuel bottle from the boat which has gone missing with fishermen Lester Small and Leon Sears. Lieutenant Commander Elroy Skerrit, the head of the Coast Guard has confirmed a fisherman found the item about 10 miles offshore Boons Point, Antigua on…

  • Boggy Peak National Park Interpretation Centre awarded LEED Gold Certification

    Boggy Peak National Park Interpretation Centre awarded LEED Gold Certification

    The Department of Environment is pleased to announce that the recently completed Boggy Peak National Park Interpretation Centre at Christian Valley was awarded the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. This is the first building in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the OECS, to receive a LEED Gold Certification. LEED…

  • Hyacinth Mottley, the country’s oldest resident dies

    Hyacinth Mottley, the country’s oldest resident dies

    Hyacinth Mottley, the country’s oldest resident, has died. She was 107 years old. Mottley, who was born in Barbados, celebrated her last birthday in May 2021. Mottley lived in Antigua for more than 75 years. She leaves behind son Dr Marcus Mottley, two grandsons and a great granddaughter. Mottley was a long-standing member of the…

  • PM Browne hails top Grade 6 National Assessment Student as resilient and bright

    PM Browne hails top Grade 6 National Assessment Student as resilient and bright

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne has praised the top Grade 6 National Assessment Student as resilient and bright. “Job well done,” Browne said to Aliane Challenger, 11. Challenger, who is a student of the Grace Christian Academy originally from Dominica, topped the Grade 6 National Assessment. She left Dominica with her parents following Hurricane Maria in…

  • Lightning bolt kills two sisters, aged 18 and 12 in Norway

    Lightning bolt kills two sisters, aged 18 and 12 in Norway

    A lightning bolt has killed two sisters and injured a third sibling who were hiking on a mountain in Norway. Benedicte Myrset, 18, and 12-year-old Victoria Myrset from Oslo, were struck by lightning in the mountainous area of Hareid on Sunday. They were on the Melshorn mountain, a popular destination, when the accident happened. Officials…

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]