Antigua Breaking News

Category: Regional News

  • US announces online tool for Caribbean noncitizens to provide change of address

    US announces online tool for Caribbean noncitizens to provide change of address

    (CMC) — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has announced an online change-of-address form for Caribbean and other noncitizens, giving them the option to update their information online in addition to the existing options of doing so by phone or in-person. “It will enable noncitizens to comply with their immigration obligations more…

  • Caribbean aviation of the future

    Caribbean aviation of the future

    By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert Just imagine. A small island, or a short runway, or just a resort with ample open space. Out of the blue sky comes an airplane and lands right there, like a helicopter, and brings forty passengers. You will think that this is not just imagination, but rather hallucination pure. It would…

  • Here are the hurricane names for the 2023 Atlantic season

    Here are the hurricane names for the 2023 Atlantic season

    We’re less than 100 days from the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and it’s not too early to prepare now after a violent and deadly barrage of storms that spun across the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico in 2022. What are the storm names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season? There are 21 names on…

  • CDB approves US$29.8 million to build up health-care systems in the Caribbean

    CDB approves US$29.8 million to build up health-care systems in the Caribbean

    Almost three years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic first breached the shores of Caribbean countries, causing severe economic and social dislocation and putting immense strain on health systems throughout the Region. Now, as the Region continues its recovery, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has committed US$29.8 million to strengthen health systems in Grenada, Saint Lucia and…

  • Former Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller hospitalised

    Former Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller hospitalised

    (Jamaica Gleaner) — Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has been hospitalised. Simpson Miller was rushed to a Corporate Area hospital last night. The condition of the 77-year-old is not known. More details to come. Make a donation to help support ABN, via PayPal: [email protected]. Follow Antigua Breaking News on Twitter @ABNAntigua and Instagram @AntiguaBreakingNews…

  • FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited Has Announced St. Kitts Sale Will Not Go Ahead

    FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited Has Announced St. Kitts Sale Will Not Go Ahead

    FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited has announced today that the sale of its assets of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited in St. Kitts to St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) will not now go ahead. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (‘ECCB’) provided conditional approval for the sale of the assets and banking business of FirstCaribbean International…

  • Royal Family hit by new payout demands over slave trade links

    Royal Family hit by new payout demands over slave trade links

    King Charles’s backing for research into links between the monarchy and slavery risks fuelling calls for Britain to pay compensation, critics warned last night. Buckingham Palace yesterday announced it was cooperating with a landmark study into the monarchy’s involvement with the transatlantic slave trade and said the King took the issue ‘profoundly seriously’. The research…

  • PM Gonsalves speaks on LIAT and severance pay for former workers

    PM Gonsalves speaks on LIAT and severance pay for former workers

    (Loop News) — Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has responded to concerns regarding the issue of severance for former employees of LIAT (1974) limited. This follows issues raised by the St Vincent LIAT Workers Union in a letter published by SEARCHLIGHT in last weekend’s issue where it expressed dismay over the lack of concern, lack…

  • Jamaican man gets 3 years for knowingly infecting UK woman with HIV

    Jamaican man gets 3 years for knowingly infecting UK woman with HIV

    A Jamaican man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment in the United Kingdom for knowingly infecting a woman with HIV. A Chester Crown Court handed down the sentence against Jamaican-born Jermaine Scott, 39, on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm. Scott was reportedly diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus in 2005…

  • Jamaica looking for closer relationship with Africa

    Jamaica looking for closer relationship with Africa

    Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has called for closer relationships between Africa and the Caribbean saying it would provide “a wonderful opportunity for a reverse Diaspora experience”. Speaking at the African Tourism Investment Summit, which is a part of Africa Travel Week, Bartlett said that he believes that “we, from the new world, can give…

  • US customs agents seize drugs, nab suspects in Caribbean Sea

    US customs agents seize drugs, nab suspects in Caribbean Sea

    (CMC) – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says law enforcement intercepted a vessel in the Caribbean Sea transporting 3,051 pounds of cocaine and arrested three non-citizens from Venezuela. CBP said the arrests and seizures took place near Palmas de Mar, off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast and that the estimated value of…

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]