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CARICOM reaches out to LIAT

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The CARICOM Secretariat has signaled a desire to help resolve the issues that have erupted between Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines concerning the operation of LIAT into those territories.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Dr. Clarence Henry, reportedly first raised the matter with his Barbadian counterpart, David Commissiong, asking that authorities in Bridgetown be more cooperative with LIAT as the airline makes a comeback.

Dr. Henry described LIAT as a much beloved regional institution whose return has been welcomed and celebrated by the people of the Caribbean.

Other representations were made within the communications network managed by the secretariat that is shared by all ambassadors.

According to reports, out of these communications other ambassadors also raised concerns over Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ actions regarding LIAT.

Ambassador Henry is reportedly continuing to lobby and gather information and support from among his colleagues.

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Meanwhile, LIAT’s court appointed Administrator Cleveland Seaforth has confirmed that the secretariat has made contact with him through the airline’s Director of Flight Operations, Captain Arthur Senhouse, to seek clarity on the standoff between the two former major shareholders in the airline.

According to the administrator, the information has been forwarded to CARICOM with the expectation that the Secretary General, Erwin La Roque, will help bring about a speedy resolution of the matter.

Last Saturday, LIAT announced that it was forced to suspend flights into both Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines due to new conditions placed on the airline by authorities in the two countries.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described the actions of Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines toward LIAT as “unfortunate.”

He also remarked that the actions of the two CARICOM states is creating “artificial barriers” to the smooth operation of the airline. LIAT resumed regular commercial flights last week, its first since countries across the region closed their borders at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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]