Antigua Breaking News

Day: October 1, 2021

  • Moderna crash wipes out $22B in value after Merck’s COVID pill triggers vaccine stock plunge

    Moderna crash wipes out $22B in value after Merck’s COVID pill triggers vaccine stock plunge

    Shares of Covid-19 vaccine makers collapsed Friday morning after pharmaceutical giant Merck announced it would seek regulatory approval for a first-of-its-kind treatment against the disease, sparking more than $30 billion in losses for a slew of stocks that headed up much of the market’s pandemic rally. Shares of Moderna plunged as much as 15% Friday…

  • 105 new cases of COVID-19; Hospitalizations at 48

    105 new cases of COVID-19; Hospitalizations at 48

    The most recent report received by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment from the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre revealed one hundred and five (105) new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda as of Wednesday 29th September 2021 at 6pm. One hundred and seven (107) samples were processed at Sir Lester…

  • Merck says experimental drug molnupiravir cuts worst effects of COVID-19

    Merck says experimental drug molnupiravir cuts worst effects of COVID-19

    Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental COVID-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus and that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize its use. If cleared, Merck’s drug would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19,…

  • Primary schools which were open must now revert to remote learning

    Primary schools which were open must now revert to remote learning

    CABINET NOTES:  The Director of Education and the Chief Medical Officer were invited to Cabinet to discuss the policy affecting the opening of schools and to provide advice. The Cabinet determined, after consultations, that all Secondary School students eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, or of ages 12 to 18 years, and all secondary school-teachers and…

  • BREAKING: Air Canada resumes Antigua service October 3

    BREAKING: Air Canada resumes Antigua service October 3

    Antigua and Barbuda will see a boost in airlift for the winter season, as demand for the destination increases amongst travellers seeking to escape the cold weather.  Air Canada announced the resumption of its flights on Sunday, October 3, to and from Toronto to St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism…

  • Hospital will now report whether COVID fatalities were vaccinated or unvaccinated

    Hospital will now report whether COVID fatalities were vaccinated or unvaccinated

    CABINET NOTES: The Chief Medical Officer surmised that virtually all Covid-19 deaths reported by the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center are likely to be people who were un-vaccinated. The Dashboard does not explicitly identify whether the deceased was or was not vaccinated. Although accompanying press releases point out that the dead person tested positive for…

  • Sir Clare pays tribute to John E. Fuller

    Sir Clare pays tribute to John E. Fuller

    Sir Clare Roberts said: The news of the death of John Fuller was met with, ”Oh No!!” by most of us. The expression was a mixture of immediate sadness and distress. Immediate sadness because John was a kind and empathetic soul; distress because his death leaves a gaping hole in the fabric of the legal…

  • Take the vaccine or resign, PM Gonsalves tells workers

    Take the vaccine or resign, PM Gonsalves tells workers

    NEWS784: October 15 is the deadline for chairpersons and members of boards of all statutory enterprises, state-owned companies, and public enterprises to take the COVID-19 vaccine or demit office. Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves made the announcement during a call to the Issues at Hand program on We Fm. The announcement would be the most…

  • Antigua reports 3 new deaths linked to COVID-19

    Antigua reports 3 new deaths linked to COVID-19

    Statement on behalf of Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC): Dr. Albert Duncan, SLBMC Medical Director said: “We can confirm that sadly, three patients, have died at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. They had tested positive for COVID-19. Sex: Male Age: 51 (with comorbidities) Admitted: September 6 (severe respiratory distress, requiring ventilation on admission) Date/Time…

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]