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Choksi gets January court date in Antigua

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In just about three weeks, diamond dealing billionaire Mehul Choksi will know whether the court in Antigua and Barbuda will permit him to introduce his expert witness to challenge the validity of an extradition request from his native India, where he is accused of fraud.

Choksi’s lawyer Dr. David Dorsett confirmed that the hearing is scheduled to take place January 22, 2019.

Choksi, who is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda under the Citizenship by Investment Programme, is wanted for an alleged multi-million dollar fraud on the Punjab National Bank in India.

In recent months, Dorsett filed a suit against the state. The case was heard before High Court Justice Rita Olivetti on November 14 and again on December 12.

Dorsett said the case for extradition cannot go forward until there is a determination as to what evidence can be accepted as it relates to Section 9(4) of the Extradition Act.

The section, which addresses the procedure and authority for extradition states “On receipt of any such request the Minister may issue an authority to proceed unless it appears to him than an order for the return of the person concerned could not lawfully be made, or would not in fact be made in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

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Dorsett has already indicated that if the appeal fails in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, he will advance the case to the Privy Council which is Antigua and Barbuda’s final appellate court.

Choksi, the chairman of the Gitanjali Group, is accused along with his nephew, Nirav Modi, of the alleged crime against the bank.

In February, a Blue Corner Notice was issued against Modi and Choksi. Then in July, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Modi on the basis of money laundering charges levelled by the Enforcement Directorate.

Both men left India in the first week of January, weeks before the alleged scam was reported to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Choksi is currently in Antigua, where, according to his lawyer, he has been under medical supervision for a serious cardiac/heart-related issue and is thus medically unfit to fly.

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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]