Antigua Breaking News

Top Trusted News Source in Antigua

Search
Previous slide
Next slide

  • Home
  • Local News
  • Antigua and Barbuda to develop Rat Island for cruise port extension

Antigua and Barbuda to develop Rat Island for cruise port extension

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Antigua and Barbuda looking to expand its capacity in the cruise and yachting sector.

The government on Wednesday took a decision to develop the north side of Rat Island as an extension of the cruise port.

A note from the cabinet meeting said while the cost of this project has not been determined “the return on investment is expected to justify the expenditure.”

When completed, the port extension is expected to facilitate berthing of yachts and small cruise ships.

At yesterday’s post cabinet media briefing, Information Minister Melford Nicholas said the project is expected to allow taxi operators, restaurant owners and other entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

He said the port extension falls in line with the government plans to repurpose the capital city, St John, to make it a more attractive place for both locals and visitors.

Be part of the conversation.

Let us know what you think by adding a comment below. Click here to start now!

When asked whether funds for the project will be borne by the government or a private investor, Nicholas did not answer the question directly but said the government wants to spur economic activity.

“I think it would be fair to look at it as the government’s continued approach towards economic development, and if you look at it from the way we’re looking at it, we’re looking at certainly enhancing the value of the land that is sitting there idle,” he stated.

“And the government often takes the view that it must lead, and it must create the opportunity and the incentives to attract investment.”

Nicholas noted that once the area becomes more “economically viable”, the government is willing to support by providing access to amenities to facilitate a hub for dining and entertainment.

The minister anticipates a “scramble for land” from persons hoping to tap into opportunities that will come from the expanded port.

Nicholas was also asked to provide an update on the stalled Fort James project, which was being carried out by Royal Caribbean Limited (RCL).

“The matter is up for review, and at some point in time, it will be either a green thumbs up for that particular project to execute it, or if RCL are not able to execute as planned, then we will consider that a closed issue and move towards another level of development,” Nicholas stated.

He noted regardless of what takes place, Fort James remains an “important nexus” for Antigua and Barbuda “to extract the maximum benefit from cruise tourism.”

Outside of the cruise industry, the government plans to dredge waters in Crabbs and the northern corridor to allow larger vessels to bring cement to Antigua to meet growing demands of the construction sector.

The cabinet note highlighted cement brought to Antigua on the current vessel cannot last more than one day due to the demand.

The dredging is expected to be completed in 120 days.

SOURCE: Loop News

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

Аdvеrtіѕе wіth thе most visited news site in Antigua and Barbuda ~ Wе оffеr fullу сuѕtоmіzаblе аnd flехіblе dіgіtаl mаrkеtіng расkаgеѕ. Yоur соntеnt іѕ dеlіvеrеd іnѕtаntlу tо thоuѕаndѕ оf uѕеrѕ іn Antigua аnd аbrоаd via our One Signal push notifications! Соntасt uѕ аt [email protected].

———————————————————————

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP

Make a donation to help support ABN, via PayPal: [email protected]. Follow Antigua Breaking News on X, formerly Twitter @ABNAntigua, and Instgram @AntiguaBreakingNews and on Facebook. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-268-779-3189 or email us at [email protected].

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Join the Conversation!

Comments are closed.

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]