Antigua Breaking News

Day: December 2, 2021

  • Lifting of State of Emergency and curfew will not affect restrictions on large gatherings, Tabor reminds residents

    Lifting of State of Emergency and curfew will not affect restrictions on large gatherings, Tabor reminds residents

    Because of the new Omicron variant, the Cabinet may have to reconsider lifting the State of Emergency (SOE) and curfew. But whenever the actual lifting takes place, residents will still be restricted in terms of large gatherings, cautions attorney-at-law Charlesworth Tabor. Many people are looking forward to December 23, the scheduled date of the lift,…

  • ‘A great sign of hope’: How SVG is bouncing back 6 months after the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano

    ‘A great sign of hope’: How SVG is bouncing back 6 months after the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano

    In April 2021, the La Soufrière volcano experienced explosive eruptions that damaged critical services, infrastructure, and agriculture, affecting the entire population of the island of St Vincent. The eruption also resulted in significant population displacement—approximately 22,400 people were evacuated from areas close to the volcano, many remaining in shelters for months. The natural disaster compounded…

  • The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters

    The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters

    NPR: The discovery of the omicron variant of the coronavirus — which has a high number of concerning mutations — has kicked off a frenzy of research. Scientists are racing to figure out how transmissible this variant is and how resistant to vaccines it is. They’re also grappling with a mystery: How did omicron get…

  • Colin Murdoch presents letter of nomination to Director-General of UN Office in Geneva

    Colin Murdoch presents letter of nomination to Director-General of UN Office in Geneva

    Colin Murdoch, the new Permanent Observer of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to the United Nations Office at Geneva, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, presented his letter of nomination to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Murdoch, who is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda,…

  • WATCH: Cabinet Press Briefing – Dec. 2, 2021

    WATCH: Cabinet Press Briefing – Dec. 2, 2021

  • Bishop gets audience with Cabinet

    Bishop gets audience with Cabinet

    CABINET NOTES: Bishop Charlesworth Browne of the Kingdom Leaders also presented himself to Cabinet, as one of the Kingdom Leaders who sought an audience with Cabinet. The Bishop explained that three other members of this new organization were to have joined him, but they are unvaccinated and are unable to enter the Prime Minister’s office…

  • Only 100 government workers can be tested per day

    Only 100 government workers can be tested per day

    CABINET NOTES: Up to 100 government workers returning to work today, December 1st 2021, can be tested; hence, should the number returning exceed 100, those workers will have to undergo the COVID-19 test on another day. However, they cannot return to their workplace until such time as they have been tested. The public is reminded…

  • Patrons can do COVID test at the door of fetes

    Patrons can do COVID test at the door of fetes

    CABINET NOTES: The organizers of fetes have indicated that they are capable of testing 300 patrons at the door of the event. The Cabinet accepted that offer, so that patrons to fetes do not have to be tested on the day prior to the event. However, the requirement that all patrons be fully vaccinated, show…

  • Antigua will only accept PCR tests from visitors as of Dec. 8

    Antigua will only accept PCR tests from visitors as of Dec. 8

    CABINET NOTES: The Covid-19 pandemic dominated the discussion and decision-making in the Cabinet. The Minister of Health advised that there are only six (6) active COVID-19 cases in Antigua and Barbuda at this time. Nonetheless, the OMICRON Variant is causing some concern since it may become necessary to reverse the Cabinet’s earlier decisions. The Cabinet…

  • CABINET NOTES: December 1, 2021

    CABINET NOTES: December 1, 2021

    The Cabinet convened its meeting at approximately 10:30 with a prayer, and with all but one member present. The Meeting was chaired by Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin since the regular chairperson, P.M. Browne, is out of state until December 7, 2021. 1. The Covid-19 pandemic dominated the discussion and decision-making in the Cabinet. The Minister…

  • MISSING: 16-year-old Jerkeem Jackson

    MISSING: 16-year-old Jerkeem Jackson

    The Police and family of 16-year-old Jerkeem Jackson of Bird Road, Ottos are seeking the assistance of the public in knowing his whereabouts. Jerkeem is a student of the Jennings Secondary School (JSS) and was last seen on Sunday 28th November 2021 at about 12:40 pm leaving home. He was wearing a navy blue mitted…

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]