Antigua Breaking News

Top Trusted News Source in Antigua

Search
Previous slide
Next slide

Are you a smoker?

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Tuesday 31st May 2022 is World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) with the theme for this year being: “Protect the Environment.” CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.

WNTD is perhaps the only day of the year when the tobacco industry and its danger to humans and the environment come under intense scrutiny. Experts have long spouted that tobacco is dangerous to the environment as cast-off cigarettes signify the first source of plastic pollution in the world.

Tobacco cultivation requires a huge volume of water along with pesticides which damage the ecosystem and decrease climate resilience. Statistics indicate that tobacco companies contribute 84 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide which is equal to greenhouse gases.

WNTD is that time when agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) attack the tobacco epidemic which is said to be a contributor to roughly eight million deaths annually and kills half of its users. The Day was first recognised in 1987 by the World Health Assembly, thereafter it was celebrated in 1988 which coincided with the 40th anniversary of WHO.

The organisation continues to be an advocate by drawing attention to things people can do to safeguard future generations and allow everyone a chance to claim, “the right to health” The “right to health” is a human right of Article XII (12) of the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Each year, WNTD is utilised as a platform to address specific topics related to the tobacco industry.

Be part of the conversation.

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

Tobacco is a plant that is grown mainly for its leaves which are dried and fermented before being injected into tobacco production. It contains the highly addictive substance, nicotine which is released and absorbed into a person’s blood after use. Nicotine instantly rouses the adrenal glands and produces the hormone epinephrine.

Epinephrine then stimulates the central nervous system, increases blood pressure levels, breathing, and heart rates. Dried tobacco leaves are the main component in cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Other substances are added for flavour to make smoking more enjoyable.

The smoke from tobacco contains many chemicals including hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, arsenic, ammonia, and benzene. The smoke emanating from tobacco also contains cancer-causing compounds known as carcinogens. Those harmful substances come from the burnt tobacco leaves themselves.

They cause heart disease, lung disease, and other serious health-related problems. In addition, tobacco use affects oral health as smoking also increases one’s risk of mouth cancers. Other oral health issues attributed to tobacco use are: gum or periodontal disease, teeth discolouration along with bad breath or halitosis.

Studies have also shown that there are chemicals in tobacco smoke such as acetaldehyde that heighten nicotine’s effects on the brain as well. The danger of cigarette smoking is written in each carton yet the industry remains a big business that is always thriving, why? Are humans addicted to their own death? Don’t we desire good health?

The Antigua and Barbuda Tobacco Free Initiative Committee is fighting to assist the process through legislation. The ABTFI is an inter-departmental group chaired by a Focal Point. This group has been responsible for planning and conducting anti-tobacco initiatives since it was established in 2000. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.

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]