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  • Anti-vaxxers’ attempted assassination of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves — Buried Caribbean democratic innocence with a ‘brick’?

Anti-vaxxers’ attempted assassination of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves — Buried Caribbean democratic innocence with a ‘brick’?

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By Arvel Grant Political and current Affairs Analyst

When I read Reuters’ report of this tragic attempt on the life of the Vincentian Prime minister,  I was stunned by the negative global effect which this act of brutishness could have on our civilization and our leaders’ attempt to combat the COVID pandemic.

Those: Politicians, union leaders and media activists,  who are fueling the anti-vaccination campaign, should use the apparent,  attempted assassination of The Right Hon, Ralph Gonsalves )Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines) as a harsh reminder that, they have the right to  lawful speech, not freedom to inspire  criminal violence.  Indeed, some may well argue that certain  leaders of the Anti-vaccination campaign,  should examine  the palm of their hands,  for blood stains from this murderous attempt,  to assassinate the dean of Caribbean Prime Ministers

Anti-vaxxer: politicians, union leaders and media activists, should  not  be  too naive to know that some  of their followers may  be  people with low IQ and or mental or emotional conditions,  which limit their  thinking and related cognitive skills.

Some may  wonder if  they are aware of  that, and are cynically,  herding their loyal supporters  toward the kind of action unleashed against the Right Hon, Ralph Gonsalves, in a selfish grasp  at  political advantage?

And why was this savage attack performed against the life of Prime Minister Gonsalves? Perhaps, because he is leading the effort to have (at least) frontline workers in his country,  vaccinated against the COVID  virus. A pandemic condition which is killing millions of people around the World including, in St Vincent, The Grenadines and the rest of the Caribbean.

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For that, almost any Caribbean head of Government could be the assassin’s next target.

Strangely, the actions of the anti-vaxxer: Politicians, union leaders and media activists, suggest  they  are not aware that  if COVID kills their unvaccinated supporters, they die with their: Votes, union dues and media support.

Perhaps, the worst insult to injury, is the fact that many of those who are leading or inspiring the anti-vaccination campaign, may  (themselves) be  fully vaccinated, and protected  against  serious illness and death from COVID or its family of diseases. Yet they boldly discourage public policies designed to give   their followers the same   protection from the virus Strange, indeed?

I expect that Prime Minister Gonsalves (being the outstanding statesman) will avoid utterances, which will imply recrimination. Rather, “let the law take its course”.

In the meantime, Caribbean leaders must double-down on efforts to save our civilization from this dangerous and deadly COVID virus.

As is the case with the recent assassination  of the President of Haiti, the security gaps which allow such a crude and medieval head  injury to  a  Prime Minister,   suggests real weaknesses in the  protective  detail of the Vincentian leader.

The assassination of the President of Haiti, killed Caribbean democratic  innocence; The  (more recent) attempted assassination of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, buried it. Furthermore, both murderous acts are loud calls for enhanced security for our national and regional leaders. Walk good until next time.

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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]