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Antigua and Barbuda calls for continued political dialogue in Venezuela

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Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders, today rejected the notion that the time for dialogue has passed in Venezuela.

Sir Ronald was speaking during a debate in the Permanent Council of the OAS on the situation in Venezuela.

Yesterday there was a massive demonstration in Caracas organized by the opposition parties, after which Juan Guaidó, the President of Venezuela’s national assembly formally declared himself as the country’s interim president.

The bold move by Guaidó was immediately supported by the majority of Venezuela’s neighbours, including the US and the so-called Lima Group of 12 Western Hemispheric countries.

Speaking at the OAS meeting this morning, all 13 of these countries declared that they recognized Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela and the opposition-held National Assembly as the only legitimate, democratically elected body in the country.

In his contribution to the debate, Ambassador Sanders said: We continue to believe that the member states of the Organization, collectively and individually, must do all in their power to encourage dialogue between all parties in Venezuela. We do not accept, as has been said by representatives of some delegations today, that the time for dialogue and diplomacy has passed”.

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In keeping with positions taken by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Foreign Minister, E P Chet Greene, Ambassador Sanders told the OAS meeting: “My delegation discourages each member state and every official of this body, at all levels, from taking sides in the internal political situation in Venezuela by any public statements, including tweets”.

“Taking- sides emboldens one side or the other to eschew dialogue and to intensify conflict”, Sir Ronald said, adding that “Taking sides is very unhelpful in resolving the political impasse in Venezuela in a peaceful manner. It simply prolongs the situation that now endures”.

In calling for continued efforts to promote peace, stability and dialogue, Ambassador Sanders declared that “At the end of the day, no external involvement in Venezuela’s political impasse will be sustainable, unless it is an invited involvement of a political nature to help to promote peace, stability and dialogue among the parties”

“Peace and stability”, he said, “will only emerge and be sustainable from a settlement reached by the Venezuelan parties themselves”.

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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]