Antigua Breaking News

Day: March 7, 2022

  • PM Browne says Dean Jonas, Michael Browne acted without Cabinet’s approval in actions taken against public servants

    PM Browne says Dean Jonas, Michael Browne acted without Cabinet’s approval in actions taken against public servants

    On the heels of former Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board (ABTB) general manager walking out of court last week freed of the twelve charges of fraud brought against him, and his lawyer, Dane Hamilton QC’s declaration that the entire matter was a politically motivated witch hunt, Prime Minister Gaston Browne is removing himself, and most…

  • Demands for National Sex Offender Registry as outrage over gang rape of preteen mounts

    Demands for National Sex Offender Registry as outrage over gang rape of preteen mounts

    Social media was awash with the testimonies of the survivors of sexual abuse over the weekend. The debate was triggered by the traumatic disclosure by Cabinet of the gang rape of a minor. More details have emerged however, that have only added to the disturbing nature of the case. Earlier, it was only disclosed that…

  • Antigua and Barbuda participates in ‘Caribe Wave’ Tsunami Exercise

    Antigua and Barbuda participates in ‘Caribe Wave’ Tsunami Exercise

    The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is encouraging participation in the annual Tsunami Exercise “Caribe Wave” on Thursday which tests aspects of tsunami readiness throughout the region. This activity is conducted by the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions associated with UNESCO, the…

  • UK-based author foresees West Indies win

    UK-based author foresees West Indies win

    Colin Babb, UK-based West Indian cricket author and pundit, foresees a close finish in the current Apex Test series – with West Indies winning by a narrow margin. Babb, whose current book “1973 and Me” sees his own life’s experiences reflected through the West Indies tour to England of that year, told Caribcommx online journal:…

  • APUA responds to LETTER from Employee about pay and working conditions

    APUA responds to LETTER from Employee about pay and working conditions

    The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) management says it is unaware of any individual employee or group of employees claiming discrepancies in the work environment. In a widely circulated letter on social media, there are claims of staff at APUA being overworked and underpaid. The unidentified writer also alleges mistreatment of staff by members of…

  • LETTER: We are overworked and underpaid at APUA

    LETTER: We are overworked and underpaid at APUA

    DEAR APUA: I am an APUA worker, I have been working at the establishment for 10 years, at the I honestly think management can do better, treat their staff better, pay their staff better. We are overworked and underpaid. APUA has good workers because all now no one has said anything about our salaries or…

  • LETTER: No way this Electronic Crimes Act is constitutional

    LETTER: No way this Electronic Crimes Act is constitutional

    DEAR EDITOR: I note recent reported arrests under the Electronic Crime Act. And let me be clear from the start. I am no fan of the two women who were recently arrested under the Act. It is clear to me however, that the Act imposes a restriction on Freedom of Expression that is not required…

  • No busting of sanctions against Russia

    No busting of sanctions against Russia

    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, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.  The views expressed are his own)  The Caribbean cannot escape the economic and…

  • Bramble held and charged with electronic crime for FB posts that smear Acting DPP

    Bramble held and charged with electronic crime for FB posts that smear Acting DPP

    Well-known social-meda personality Washington Bramble reportedly has been charged with an offence under the Electronic Crimes Act. REAL News is reliably informed that Bramble was taken in by the Police on Friday, March 4, charged that same night, and spent the weekend in custody. A source says the charges stem from posts Bramble made to…

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]