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BA.2 sub variant of COVID-19 in Barbados

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Statement by Minister of Health and Wellness, Ian Gooding-Edghill, on the presence of the Omicron Ba.2 Sub Variant in Barbados.

You will recall that last week I brought the nation up-to-date on the state of affairs regarding the dramatic increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. On that occasion, the question of the existence of the new BA.2 variant in Barbados was raised.

I am now in position to inform you that based on the results of samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory in Trinidad for analysis, I am now confirming that the BA.2 sub variant of COVID-19 does exist in Barbados.

In fact, 90 per cent of the samples sent to CARPHA were found to be positive for this Omicron variant which is highly contagious, but which does not generally lead to serious illness.

The increase in the positivity rate started on March 28, 2022, and according to today’s dashboard for April 13, the Ministry of Health and Wellness recorded 428 new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,357 samples tested. This represents an unfortunate record high of a 28 per cent positivity rate. This is in keeping with science that shows that the more COVID spreads, the higher the positivity rate will be.

Our records show that since March 28, 5,104 new infections were detected. The Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is reportedly more transmissible than BA.1 by 50-80 per cent and this has been attributed to the increased transmission of COVID-19 globally.

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Let me remind you that COVID-19 is still with us and is likely to be with us for a long time. Be assured that we have the experience and scientific tools to help us properly manage the impact of COVID-19. The non-pharmaceutical interventions such as mask wearing, physical distancing, good hand hygienic practices and ventilation are critical to reducing the spread of this virus.

We also have COVID-19 vaccines for persons who need to be vaccinated for the first time and for those who needed to be boosted. I, therefore, join in strongly urging those Barbadians who for whatever reason have not yet been fully vaccinated or boosted, to seriously reconsider their position, seek medical guidance and take the necessary steps to correct their situation.

There is overwhelming proof internationally that vaccination and boosting remain crucial to minimizing chances of serious illness and possible death. We have testing facilities to diagnose persons who have possible symptoms of COVID and we have Isolation facilities and the Home Isolation Programme for persons who have COVID-19.

I wish to assure that we have been planning for this phase and, over the last two years, we have learnt and improved our techniques to address what is happening in the community.

As we head into our long Easter weekend, I once again advise that the tightening of any of the protocols is not being considered. But at the same time, I am sure that Barbadians as a whole will practice restraint, discipline and moderation with their social activities and interactions over the next few days.

The reality is that we have to grow accustomed to managing COVID with the same level-headedness and common sense that we exercise in managing other challenging areas of our daily lives.

In this regard, foremost in our minds as we observe the religious and other aspects of the all-important Easter season, will be our necessity to faithfully wash hands, sanitize, practice social distancing, wear our masks in public places and access proper ventilation. These well established and proven healthy practices will, at this time of the new variant, be as beneficial to us now as they have shown themselves to be in our past success.

Let me thank the members of the public for your high level of support that has been greatly encouraging and look forward to more of the same as we press ahead with our management of this pandemic.

Happy and responsible Easter to all.

Thank you.

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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]