Antigua Breaking News

Category: Commentary

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | The Indispensable Need for Free and Fair Elections

    Sir Ronald Sanders | The Indispensable Need for Free and Fair Elections

    In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela, are pivotal events that will shape the internal dynamics of these countries. Because these elections will determine the future stability and prosperity of these influential countries, they  are important to the region as a whole, emphasizing…

  • RAMESH LUTCHMEDIAL | Is LIAT 2020 set for takeoff?

    RAMESH LUTCHMEDIAL | Is LIAT 2020 set for takeoff?

    Recent announcements by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne suggest that LIAT 2020 is set for its takeoff roll. Speaking on the Browne and Browne show on February 17, PM Browne said regional shareholder governments of the now defunct LIAT (1975) Ltd and the Caribbean Development Bank have agreed to the sale of…

  • MAKEDA MIKAEL | Antigua aviation keeps getting it wrong

    MAKEDA MIKAEL | Antigua aviation keeps getting it wrong

    It all started going wrong when Antigua started operating Aviation by their own opinion instead of Rules, Regulations & Transparency. When the individual opinions in Security & Safety overrule the International Organizations of which we are members in an international space where all members are equal, coded and expected to operate in unison and consideration…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | France and the US broke Haiti; they should be the first to mend it

    Sir Ronald Sanders | France and the US broke Haiti; they should be the first to mend it

    When the Foreign Ministers of the world’s wealthiest nations gathered in Brazil from February 21, 2024, Haiti’s dire situation found a brief moment of attention—not in the main agenda but on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. This sidelining is emblematic of the low priority assigned to Haiti by…

  • Op-Ed: Too weak to fight, uh-huh

    Op-Ed: Too weak to fight, uh-huh

    By D.Gisele Isaac: Back in 2022, shortly after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, a born-yah Antiguan called my radio show to say he wanted to marry a Ukrainian woman. I was taken aback at his vehemence, until he explained how – as a patriot, himself – he had been so impressed by the Ukrainian women, who…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | Red Sea Crisis: Houthi Attacks raising prices worldwide

    Sir Ronald Sanders | Red Sea Crisis: Houthi Attacks raising prices worldwide

    CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP Up until a few weeks ago, the Red Sea and Yemen held little significance for the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. However, an unexpected turn of events thrust these regions into the spotlight—the relentless attacks on commercial shipping by a group known as the “Houthis.”…

  • LENNOX WESTON | Privatisation Of Cancer Care Could Be A Death Sentence In Antigua Barbuda

    LENNOX WESTON | Privatisation Of Cancer Care Could Be A Death Sentence In Antigua Barbuda

    The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda issued a statement indicating that it will decide on governments policy for the treatment of cancer on Wednesday the 17th of January. The Cabinet of Antigua Barbuda had received an offer from Doctor Joey John and a group of American investors to purchase the Cancer Center in Antigua and…

  • ARVEL GRANT | In Skipping the 2024 Budget Debate Did Antigua’s UPP Hand the ABLP the Golden Goose

    ARVEL GRANT | In Skipping the 2024 Budget Debate Did Antigua’s UPP Hand the ABLP the Golden Goose

    Did Antigua’s  UPP Hand the ABLP the Golden Goose for the Holiday or Was the Government Just Fast and Loose In Its Haste To Get Away? In a quick read of Antigua-Barbuda’s Cabinet notes of Wednesday Nov. 22nd, 2023, this writer noted (back then)  that the budget debate would  commence on the 15th of December.…

  • Audley Phillip | Banks must do more to build resilience and redundancy into their network

    Audley Phillip | Banks must do more to build resilience and redundancy into their network

    In today’s banking environment,  commercial banks are expected  to process credit card transactions in real time as more and more people resort to using credit cards as opposed to cash when they make purchases.    This is especially true of tourists who seldom travel with excessive cash but often use their credit cards when they…

  • Migration: a solution, not a problem

    Migration: a solution, not a problem

    By Michele Klein Solomon It is common knowledge that social, political, economic and environmental challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean push people to migrate. However, it is less well known that the potential of migration itself can serve to address these same challenges collectively and constructively. Migration should not be seen as a problem,…

  • Caribbean Heavenly Beauty on Earth

    Caribbean Heavenly Beauty on Earth

    By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert Paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight, and the eye doesn’t get tired looking at the surroundings. Beautification is the process of creating a near paradise by improving the appearance of a location. The objective is to create a thriving environment that anyone loves spending time in. This most…

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]