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  • British High Commissioner’s statement: UK introduction of visa requirement for Dominican nationals

British High Commissioner’s statement: UK introduction of visa requirement for Dominican nationals

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The UK government has announced today (Wednesday 19 July) that, with immediate effect, all Dominican nationals will require a visa before travelling to the UK, including to visit. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

The changes, which come into effect immediately, will apply to all Dominican nationals seeking to enter the UK. However, there will be a four-week transition period until 15:00 BST on 16 August. During this window, only visitors who booked their travel before 15:00 BST on 19 July, will still be able to enter the UK without a visa.

The decision to bring in a visa regime on Dominica is in response to concerns relating to its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) scheme. Visit visas are an important tool in reducing illegal migration, tackling organised crime and protecting national security, and this decision has been made to ensure that the visa system continues to operate as effectively as possible.

Acting British High Commissioner to Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Lucia and St Christopher & Nevis, Charley Williams said:

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“The UK and Dominica enjoy a close relationship and our governments work together on a range of international issues. The UK is proud of the important role we have played in Dominica’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Maria, including through the United Kingdom Caribbean Investment Fund and Climate Resilience Execution Agency Dominica.

“Today’s announcement is a response to our long-standing concerns about Dominica’s Citizenship By Investment programme and the risk it poses to the UK. The changes will bring Dominica in line with many other visa-national countries around the world with which the UK has strong and friendly relations. They do not change our commitment to the relationship between our countries or to Dominica’s future. Visas provide access to the UK while helping to secure the UK border.”

Visa applications are submitted and paid for online at VFS Global, after which applicants book an appointment to provide their biometrics and hand over their passports.  The UK Government aims to process applications within 15 UK working days of receipt of the passport and biometrics. Applicants can apply up to three months in advance of travel.

A temporary UK Visa Application Centre where travellers can submit their passports and provide biometrics will operate regularly in Dominica. The first session is scheduled to run at Fort Young Hotel, Victoria Street, P.O. Box 519, Rosseau Dominica on 26 and 27 July, 1, 2, 8 and 9 August, depending on demand, with the aim of allowing applicants to receive their visas before the end of the transition period on 16 August, and with further sessions planned.

The cost of a six-month multiple entry visa for the UK can be found at Visa fees – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Longer validity visas are also available.

Dominican nationals who booked travel to the UK before 15:00 BST on 19 July will still be able to enter the UK without a visa until 15:00 BST on 16 August. Any passengers arriving after 15:00 BST on 16 August will require a visa to enter the UK regardless of when their travel was booked.  Anyone booking their flight after 15:00 BST on 19 July will also need a visa, even if they arrive before 15:00 BST on 16 August.

Dominican visitors already in the UK will not be affected by the new requirement for the remainder of their visit, but once they leave the UK, they will need a visa in order to enter the UK again.

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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]