Antigua Breaking News

Category: Health

  • We must leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ to counter the economic fallout of COVID-19

    We must leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ to counter the economic fallout of COVID-19

    By Patricia Scotland The world is bracing for a massive hit to the global economy in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Experts have warned of a US$1-2 trillion shortfall in global income this year, while world trade could contract by between 13 and 32 per cent. As countries take drastic measures to fight…

  • ‘I am on the job seven days a week,’ Martin says in response to PM

    ‘I am on the job seven days a week,’ Martin says in response to PM

    More than two weeks after Prime Minister Gaston Browne accused Chief Health Inspector, Sharon Martin of being missing in action during the COVID-19 crisis, Martin has fired back. Martin said she is in no way missing in action, as her workday begins way before 6 a.m. each day and, on most occasions, it ends at…

  • 100% recovery of COVID-19 cases in Saint Lucia, officials say

    100% recovery of COVID-19 cases in Saint Lucia, officials say

    Saint Lucia has a total of 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. To date, all the positive cases of COVID-19 in Saint Lucia have recovered, with the remaining two cases who were in isolation receiving negative COVID-19 test results and since discharged from hospital. This now places Saint Lucia at a 100 per cent recovery of…

  • Two pet cats in New York test positive for COVID-19

    Two pet cats in New York test positive for COVID-19

    Two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first cases in companion animals in the United States, federal officials said Wednesday. The cats, which had mild respiratory illnesses and are expected to recover, are thought to have contracted the virus from people in their households or neighborhoods, the…

  • Calvin Ayre Foundation to donate $4M worth of PPE to Antigua

    Calvin Ayre Foundation to donate $4M worth of PPE to Antigua

    The Calvin Ayre Foundation, a charity organization spearheaded by billionaire businessman Calvin Ayre, has purchased $4 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 face masks, surgical gowns and thermometers for Antigua. “As Antigua and Barbuda and many other small island developing states struggle to protect their citizenry from this highly contagious and deadly…

  • 2nd wave of coronavirus this winter will be worse, CDC director warns

    2nd wave of coronavirus this winter will be worse, CDC director warns

    A second wave of the coronavirus is expected to hit next winter and could strike much harder than the first because it would likely arrive at the start of influenza season, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Tuesday. “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on…

  • Message from Lt. Col Edward Croft, Chairman of CFATF on COVID-19 measures

    Message from Lt. Col Edward Croft, Chairman of CFATF on COVID-19 measures

    Greetings to Everyone. I hope that this message meets you all safe and healthy. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep our nations in its grip, it is important that we remain positive in our ability to overcome this global crisis. All CFATF Member jurisdictions have taken measures aimed at ensuring public safety and well-being,…

  • COVID-19 patients recovering quickly after getting experimental drug remdesivir: report

    COVID-19 patients recovering quickly after getting experimental drug remdesivir: report

    COVID-19 patients who are getting an experimental drug called remdesivir have been recovering quickly, with most going home in days, STAT News reported Thursday after it obtained a video of a conversation about the trial. The patients taking part in a clinical trial of the drug have all had severe respiratory symptoms and fever, but…

  • Minimize alcohol use, avoid drunkenness during COVID-19 pandemic, WHO warns

    Minimize alcohol use, avoid drunkenness during COVID-19 pandemic, WHO warns

    In a statement posted to the website of the European branch of the World Health Organization, the WHO warns governments that existing restrictions on the availability of alcoholic beverages “should be upheld and even reinforced” in countries that have enacted lockdown-like measures. Statement on WHO site: Alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general,…

  • HIV positive people brace for COVID-19

    HIV positive people brace for COVID-19

    If Mwanyika Thomas had a choice, she would lock herself inside her small home and not venture outside at all. “I have to leave my house to get money for food. But if I didn’t have to, I would never leave,” the 48-year-old said. “I’m very scared of this virus,” she added, referring to the…

  • The infectivity of COVID-19: Understanding its virulence

    The infectivity of COVID-19: Understanding its virulence

    By Eleanor Frederick, MSc, MPH COVID-19 is described as “insidious” because many infected people are well enough to go about their daily business unwittingly spreading the disease to others. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined four transmission scenarios: No cases Sporadic cases one or more locally or imported Cluster of cases Community transmission 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]