Antigua Breaking News

Day: September 3, 2021

  • 30 hospitalized as Antigua logs 9 new cases of COVID-19

    30 hospitalized as Antigua logs 9 new cases of COVID-19

    The most recent report received by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment from the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre has revealed nine (9) new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda as of Thursday 2nd September 2021 at 6pm. Eighty-seven (87) samples were processed at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. Two (2)…

  • Barbuda’s first COVID-19 related death identified as 64-year-old Moses John

    Barbuda’s first COVID-19 related death identified as 64-year-old Moses John

    Barbuda’s first COVID-19 related death has been identified as 64-year old Moses John. John, affectionately called Pastor Mo and Brother Mo, was the Pastor of the People’s Church in Codrington. He served as Head of Barbuda Council’s Agriculture, Lands, and Fisheries Division. John had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on August 26 and died shortly after…

  • Potential Excessive Heat Event from Monday to Wednesday next week

    Potential Excessive Heat Event from Monday to Wednesday next week

    Early next week, the winds will likely drop to light speeds while Tropical Cyclone Larry passes a very safe distance north of the area. However, this will likely allow for the combination of heat and humidity to cause the heat index or feels-like temperature threat level to rise to, at least, moderate. An excessive heat…

  • Pension payments delayed

    Pension payments delayed

    The Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB) wishes to apologise for the undue delay of pension payments for July 2021. The ABSSB is heavily dependent on current contributions to fund current benefit payments and operations. Further, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact economic activity which has implications for ABSSB operations. The months of…

  • China bans men it sees as not masculine enough from TV

    China bans men it sees as not masculine enough from TV

    China’s government banned effeminate men on TV and told broadcasters Thursday to promote “revolutionary culture,” broadening a campaign to tighten control over business and society and enforce official morality. President Xi Jinping has called for a “national rejuvenation,” with tighter Communist Party control of business, education, culture and religion. Companies and the public are under…

  • AOSIS Launches ‘Islands On Alert’ Podcast

    AOSIS Launches ‘Islands On Alert’ Podcast

    On Monday 6th September, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) will launch its first podcast, the eight-episode series – Islands on Alert, highlighting the realities facing Small Island Developing States as the climate change crisis erodes lives and livelihoods. The series features real-life stories from the frontline of the fight against climate change, with…

  • Kenya’s President wants ‘steadfast leadership’ by Commonwealth Secretariat

    Kenya’s President wants ‘steadfast leadership’ by Commonwealth Secretariat

    By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States.   He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.  The views expressed are entirely his own) It…

  • 1 in 4 people in the region fully vaccinated against COVID-19, says PAHO

    1 in 4 people in the region fully vaccinated against COVID-19, says PAHO

    Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne warned that 75% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean has yet to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and reported that PAHO is accelerating its drive to expand vaccine access throughout the region. “Three fourths of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have not…

  • Hospital suspends elective and non-essential services

    Hospital suspends elective and non-essential services

    In an effort to keep our patients, staff and communities safe, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is taking further measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be suspending elective and non-essential services at the hospital including surgeries and outpatient clinics. This change will go into effect as of Monday September 13, until…

  • DCA implements COVID vaccine madate

    DCA implements COVID vaccine madate

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]