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COVID-19 second dose to officially commence this week

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This week, Antigua and Barbuda will officially commence vaccinating thousands of citizens and residents with their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This roll-out will see senior health officials, including the Chief Medical Officer and Cabinet members take centre stage as they receive their second jab.

By all indications, the end of June will see over twenty four thousand citizens and residents fully vaccinated from the dreadful COVID-19 disease.

According to health experts, the COVID-19 vaccine prevents serious illness, hospitalisation and death if one contracts the virus.

However, health authorities are encouraging residents to come out to receive their first dose, soonest. With continued speculation on whether the COVID-19 vaccine will become mandatory, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has intensified its public education campaign, launched a mobile vaccination unit and engaged major stakeholders in the private sector, bar and entertainment industry, seeking to collaborate on ways to encourage the public to turn out, to be vaccinated.

Last week, doctors, nurses, and ministry officials took to the airways, imploring citizens to turn out to get their vaccine. Concurrently, the COVID-19 mobile vaccination unit continued its island-wide coverage last week.

The mobile unit was seen in full swing at the Woods Center parking lot, vaccinating a total of seventy-one residents during the one-day operation. On Friday, the unit was in the Falmouth area in the vicinity of Baileys Supermarket, while on Saturday 8th May, the mobile unit set up camp at the Cedar Grove playing field. Both days, the mobile unit vaccinated approximately two hundred residents.

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“These three mobile COVID-19 vaccination events  allowed citizens and residents to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly those with transportation issues and those who are unable to access the established vaccination centers during the 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. opening hours,” ministry officials indicated.

Minister of Health, Sir Molwyn Joseph, reiterated that it is important to bring the COVID-19 vaccination programme into the community and the familiar spaces of the people to facilitate ease of access to the vaccines.

Whereas ministry officials have engaged in public education, private entities have also joined the call in encouraging residents to take the jab. Earlier last week, Arton Capital, a global financial advisory company with bases in Dubai and Antigua, launched a “Vaccinate and Win” campaign. Similarly, Epicurean supermarket is offering shopping vouchers when residents vaccinate. On Thursday, Neverland Toy store announced a ten per cent discount storewide when a customer turns up with their fully vaccinated card. – PointeExpress

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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]