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  • Audley Phillip | Bribery In Voting – Can We Ever Solve it? Election Fraud is A Serious Problem!

Audley Phillip | Bribery In Voting – Can We Ever Solve it? Election Fraud is A Serious Problem!

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As we head into the much anticipated by election in St. Mary’s South, there has been much talk about political inducement or bribes and the role it is  playing in this all important seat for both the ABLP and the UPP.

Sadly, inducements or bribes have long been a part of our political landscape   and it is something that has all been made normal and almost  acceptable in every election cycle.  The only reason why the spotlight is placed on it now, is because  we are concentrating  on a single constituency poll as opposed to a  broader general elections poll.  All focus and attention has shifted to St. Marys South and it is clear that the stakes are  enormously high as we go into the final days before voting takes place.
So what exactly is an inducement or bribe?  An indictment or bribe is an object , situation or an action that is used as a means to influence another person’s behaviour.  Inducements or bribes can range from minor acts, to acts that result in infringement of election laws and regulations.  Inducements or bribes can take many different forms, for example, gifts, hospitality entertainment, political or charitable donations, appeals to friendship and loyalty, employment or other commercial opportunity or preferential treatment, and so much more.
Whenever voting is involved, one question is ubiquitous.  How can one tell if the results have been skewed due to bribing  of the voters?   Democracy is a system where people vote for solving issues or to make governance decisions.  In the simplest cases, the majority wins, which has its own problem.
Money is power, freedom,  a cushion, the root of  all evil and the sum of blessings.  Money is power and king in voting schemes. The problem is that in most cases, and with most voting, the actors are not all honest.  When bribers target the right people,  especially those who are willing  to sell their votes, the party with the most money wins.  Regardless of what is being decided by a vote, there should be no room for any type of bribery.  But that is in the real world.
Instead of platforms, merit and credibility, cash has become a determining factor for who wins in most elections these days.  The influx of cash from all kinds of nefarious sources  and groups sways leaders regardless of what is in the public best interest.  The introduction of money into politics has allowed politicians to buy leverage that alters the fabric of our economy and country.
There is no easy or quick fix to this but if we do not do something about these political inducements and bribes as well as the overall influence of money in our politics, all our elected representatives would be tarnished now and into the foreseeable future.
Until we have meaningful electoral reform where handing out these inducement are made wrong  and punishable, money will continue to influence our elections.

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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]