Antigua Breaking News

Category: Regional News

  • Former Jamaica security minister Dwight Nelson dies

    Former Jamaica security minister Dwight Nelson dies

    Former Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson is dead. Nelson died at home last night surrounded by family members. He was 72. Nelson, who held the national security portfolio during the May 2010 West Kingston massive operation to apprehend strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, had been ailing for some time. Nelson’s death was confirmed by a senior…

  • End of Year Message by the Secretary-General of CARICOM Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

    End of Year Message by the Secretary-General of CARICOM Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

    As we end another year in this festive season, it is a time for peace, joy and reflection. In the past year the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has made some significant advances. Agreements have been reached and legal instruments have been signed as the Member States demonstrated their commitment to strengthening integration. As is to be…

  • Guyana PM appeals for calm after government falls

    Guyana PM appeals for calm after government falls

    Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has appealed for calm after the coalition government of President David Granger failed to defeat a motion of no confidence brought against it by the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), general secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday. Government backbencher, Charandaas Persaud, voted with the opposition in ensuring the success of the…

  • FLOW files lawsuit against regulators in Grenada

    FLOW files lawsuit against regulators in Grenada

    The telecommunications company, FLOW has filed a lawsuit against the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) in a bid to revoke the 700-spectrum license granted to the Irish-based company, Digicel. Public Utility Minister, Gregory Bowen, told Parliament Wednesday that the lawsuit has also includes the National Telecommunications and Regulatory Commission (NTRC). Bowen did not provide details…

  • PM wants Caribbean to remain zone of peace

    PM wants Caribbean to remain zone of peace

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace after Russia deployed two TU-160 supersonic bombers, known as “White Swans” in Venezuela. “This hemisphere must remain a zone of peace. We abhor any conflict or military provocation that could lead to warfare, destabilise our region and bring harm to…

  • Sandals denies allegations made on US television

    Sandals denies allegations made on US television

    The Jamaica-based Sandals Resorts has categorically denied allegations that it is covering up allegations of sexual assault on two American female guests insisting that it stands ready to “vigorously defend itself in court.” In a statement, Sandals said “recent allegations of cover-ups by our organisation are false and are gross misrepresentations of not only the…

  • CDB provides funds to Dominica to help island build back better

    CDB provides funds to Dominica to help island build back better

    The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is providing Dominica with funds to “build back better” following the island’s devastation by Hurricane Maria last year. The CDB said that it is extending the implementation timeline for projects under the Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and that it has approved a proposal to allow US$1.9 million…

  • BVI and Airbnb partner to expand tourism sector through home sharing

    BVI and Airbnb partner to expand tourism sector through home sharing

    Airbnb continues to deepen its roots in the Caribbean, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to collaborate on areas of common interest. This strategic partnership aims to drive local, authentic, and sustainable tourism to the islands, democratize the tourism economy, and directly benefit Virgin Islanders. The British Virgin Islands…

  • $10,000 bail for Vincentian in Barbados

    $10,000 bail for Vincentian in Barbados

    After spending three months on remand, a Vincentian walked down the steps of the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court Thursday with his adoptive mother after being granted bail. Curtis Bernard Bute will be enjoying Christmas on the outside after he was released from HMP Dodds on $10 000 bail by Magistrate Douglas Frederick. The 48-year-old Bute…

  • TSTT sends home more workers

    TSTT sends home more workers

    The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Wednesday announced the dismissal of 51 of its employees as the head of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) Clyde Elder said he was physically removed from the company’s headquarters by force. In a statement, TSTT said that it had completed its “staff rationalization exercise” with the non–unionized…

  • Do away with heavy travel taxes, Grenada PM tells neighbours

    Do away with heavy travel taxes, Grenada PM tells neighbours

    Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has called on Caribbean countries to make sincere efforts to encourage easier intra-regional travel and do away with the heavy taxes that discourage free movement of the region’s population. “We have to have more transport, sea and air transport. But if we have it and it is too costly,…

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]