Antigua Breaking News

Day: January 6, 2023

  • A scheme so well intentioned now so badly broken

    A scheme so well intentioned now so badly broken

    By Audley Phillip In 1965 the ruling ALP Government realized the need for more adequate provision for the nation’s poor and indigent. By July 1972, the Social Security Act was passed and Antigua became the first country in the OECS to have introduced a fully fledged Social Security System. Fast forward 50 years later, Social…

  • Child, 2, hospitalized after receiving electric shock

    Child, 2, hospitalized after receiving electric shock

    A probe is taking place to ascertain the circumstances that led to a young child receiving an electric shock at her Ottos residence – which has landed her in the hospital. Reports say the two-year-old was at home with a relative who left her playing in the living room. The relative was alerted to the…

  • ABLP: UPP minimum wage promise is a trick; majority of workers already earn more

    ABLP: UPP minimum wage promise is a trick; majority of workers already earn more

    “The UPP’s false promise to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour is nothing short of grandstanding because the overwhelming majority of public sector workers already earn more than $10 an hour.”  That is a statement from the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, E.P. ‘Chet’ Greene. Speaking shortly after the UPP…

  • Entertainment vs. Empowerment!

    Entertainment vs. Empowerment!

    By Dwyer Astaphan In the middle of this election campaign comes a mega concert — January 7th — with a star-studded line-up. This has long become par for the course in Caribbean politics. My guess is that this event could cost as much as $2 million. It is presented by the Government of Antigua &…

  • Jamaica Gleaner Editorial | Lovell should opt for free movement

    Jamaica Gleaner Editorial | Lovell should opt for free movement

    Cynics will probably cast the proposal by Antigua and Barbuda’s main opposition, the United Progressive Party (UPP), to eliminate work permit fees for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Dominican Republic nationals as a tactic to wrangle votes in this month’s general election. Which it may well be. The proposal, however, suggests that Harold Lovell, the UPP’s…

  • EC$312K worth of cannabis found at Deep Water Harbour

    EC$312K worth of cannabis found at Deep Water Harbour

    The Police and Customs Department have seized a sizeable amount of Cannabis at one of the main ports of entry on Friday. Both law enforcement agencies conducted a joint drug operation at the Deep Water Harbour and discovered 52 vacuum-sealed packages of Cannabis weighed 52 pounds. The substance is valued at EC $312,000, and is…

  • Guyana imposes travel restrictions on passengers from China

    Guyana imposes travel restrictions on passengers from China

    Guyana has become the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to impose new entry requirements for travellers coming from China where there has been an upsurge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. “Starting from 8th January 2023, all passengers two years and older, originating from the People’s Republic of China, will be required to get a COVID-19 test…

  • Taliban official criticises Prince Harry over Afghan killings

    Taliban official criticises Prince Harry over Afghan killings

    A senior Taliban official on Friday slammed Prince Harry after the royal disclosed he killed 25 people on military duty in Afghanistan and said it was like removing “chess pieces” from a board. In his memoir to be released next week, Harry reveals the exact number of people he killed during two tours of duty,…

  • LETTER: I love how ABS is pretending to be independent all of a sudden

    LETTER: I love how ABS is pretending to be independent all of a sudden

    DEAR EDITOR: Has anyone else noticed that ABS is suddenly interviewing independent and opposition candidates? Is that the same ABS that for the last 5 years did not play their role in our democracy? Is that the same ABS that only reported on the opposition when they were being portrayed in a bad light? Is…

  • Andre to undergo surgery today

    Andre to undergo surgery today

    Andre will undergo surgery later today, his family has announced. He had a complication due to Aspiration pneumonia. Doctors we’re trying less invasive methods to no avail. Thank you for your prayers at this time. Make a donation to help support ABN, via PayPal: [email protected]. Follow Antigua Breaking News on Twitter @ABNAntigua and Instgram @AntiguaBreakingNews…

  • ABLP boss targets independent candidate instead of UPP leader

    ABLP boss targets independent candidate instead of UPP leader

    Political Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne appears to be running a campaign against a former ABLP colleague instead of targeting the leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) – the main opposition party. Four term Member of Parliament Asot Michael says he is puzzled why Gaston Browne’s campaign for re-election is largely…

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]