Antigua Breaking News

Category: Business

  • British Airways suspends all flights from Gatwick and will furlough ‘many more’ staff as new COVID lockdown bites

    British Airways suspends all flights from Gatwick and will furlough ‘many more’ staff as new COVID lockdown bites

    British Airways will suspend all flights from Gatwick airport and furlough ‘many more’ staff as the new COVID lockdown bites. In a letter to staff seen by Sky News, the airline warned that it will mean ‘moving many more colleagues, from both operational and support function areas onto the government’s extended Job Retention Scheme.’ BA,…

  • Antigua Cruise Port plans more cruise tourism events following webinar

    Antigua Cruise Port plans more cruise tourism events following webinar

    Antigua Cruise Port and Global Ports Holding (GPH) in collaboration with Destinations Together and the Antigua Tourism Authority recently hosted a well attended webinar focused on the restart of cruise tourism and enhancing the visitor experience. The event, entitled “Inspiring the Restart of Cruise Tourism,” featured opening remarks by the Minister of Tourism and Investment,…

  • LIAT owes workers millions in severance

    LIAT owes workers millions in severance

    Hundreds of former LIAT employees are owed about EC$80 million (US$30 million) in severance payments but court-appointed administrator Cleveland Seaforth says they will not get it anytime in the near future. He said Tuesday that the Antigua-based regional airline, which has so far terminated 500 employees, simply does not have the money. “Somewhere, as we…

  • CalvinAir Helicopters ready to lift off

    CalvinAir Helicopters ready to lift off

    A new helicopter service based in Antigua and Barbuda will soon start operations. The Calvin Ayre Group announced that CalvinAir Helicopters is poised for success, and will offer the highest caliber of safety, comfort and luxury in air travel. A press statement described the operation’s aircraft as state-of-the-art and never before seen in the Caribbean…

  • Gov’t revenues climbing

    Gov’t revenues climbing

    While the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the economy has continued to negatively impact the performance of the government’s revenue collections, there are signs that there will be improvement in the months ahead. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has reported that at the end of September, revenues totaled $235.4 million. This includes collections of Undeveloped Land…

  • Signature Flight Support appoints new GM

    Signature Flight Support appoints new GM

    Signature Flight Support, a fixed-based operator (FBO) that handles private aircraft at V.C. Bird International Airport has been operating in Antigua since 2014. After six years of operating the FBO, Signature Flight Support has been working towards investing in the local workforce for the General Manager role. Previously, Signature has had Bridget Cox and Cameron…

  • Administrator says cash flow is a major challenge to LIAT’s return

    Administrator says cash flow is a major challenge to LIAT’s return

    The administrator overseeing the return of air carrier LIAT to the region’s skies has underscored the difficulties in doing so. Cleveland Seaforth explained to Observer media that the major issues concern cash flow. “When I took over the airlines there was a complete absence of funds and so we had to obtain the funding which…

  • Dominica Gov’t could foot wage bill owed to local LIAT workers

    Dominica Gov’t could foot wage bill owed to local LIAT workers

    The Dominica Government could pay wages owed to LIAT employees in Dominica, Prime Roosevelt Skerrit said. The cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT owes its employees throughout the network approximately EC$94 million in severance and holiday pay, which it is unable to pay. Skerrit said Sunday that his Government is seeking ways to resolve some of the…

  • Cash-strapped LIAT spent $120K for Sunday’s ceremonial flight

    Cash-strapped LIAT spent $120K for Sunday’s ceremonial flight

    Cash-strapped LIAT, which is under Administration, reportedly spent $120,000 for Sunday’s ceremonial flight from Antigua to Dominica, Antigua Breaking News (ABN) has learned. Sources close to the situation told ABN that the airline, which has so far been unable to pay severance to employees who were sent home since March, dished out $60,000 for sector…

  • LIAT’s Bajan workers deserve better

    LIAT’s Bajan workers deserve better

    There are times when one has to take a stand even when it is quite clear that the outcome will likely offend those close to you. It is against this backdrop that we draw attention to the ongoing debacle involving the payments due to Barbados workers of LIAT, the regional air carrier that is preparing…

  • Increase in COVID-19 cases in the region likely to delay LIAT’s comeback

    Increase in COVID-19 cases in the region likely to delay LIAT’s comeback

    LIAT’s much talked about come back is likely to be delayed countries in the sub-region see an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The CARICOM “travel bubble” has burst. This was the declaration of Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne who on Saturday discussed the region’s struggle with the surge of new COVID-19…

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]