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COVID-19 ‘successfully’ contained. Antigua in better position to address any 2nd wave

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne is praising the nation’s front-line workers who he said are the real heroes in stemming the spread of COVID-19 in Antigua and Barbuda.

“We have been successful in containing COVID and the health challenges that we anticipated did not quite materialize,” the prime minister said Saturday on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show

“We thought that our health system would have been overwhelmed and that is why we would have moved pretty quickly in order to strengthen the health infrastructure in the country, which means we are in a better position now to address any second wave of COVID.

“We also have the added experience in terms of protocols that we need to follow in order to contain the disease,” the prime minister added.

He said even though Antigua and Barbuda held out for several weeks before closing its border, no one could argue that the risk would have increased significantly.

“Today we are no worse than any country in the Caribbean in the sense that we are now in the position practically to announce that Antigua and Barbuda is now COVID free,” Browne said.

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“The two individuals who have been hospitalized for several weeks, they’re doing very well and they’re expected to make a full recovery … and that is extremely good news. It means that our fatality, if all goes well, will be kept at three.”

‘A need for greater personal responsibility’

According to the prime minister, the health situation in the country, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, clearly has not been that consequential.

But he said residents will have to remain very focussed.

“We have to remain vigilant. The last thing we want is any form of complacency and for there to be a second wave. That will be extremely consequential,” the prime minister noted.

“As we relax the restrictions, which we have been doing for the past several weeks, there will be a need for greater personal responsibility. So to some extent, the risk is being transferred to individuals now to be vigilant and to take personal responsibility to adhere to the various health protocols.”

(This article was written by 268 TODAY journalists)

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3 responses to “COVID-19 ‘successfully’ contained. Antigua in better position to address any 2nd wave”

  1. No we’re not! The first wave was a hoax(live exercise) to see how much our freedom we’re willing to give up. If the 2nd wave is a real biological weapon we’re doomed. How can we survive when all the information you give us comes from the very people who want to kill some of us and take away the freedom of the rest?

  2. Please, the test is flawed! Sheldon is right this was all a hoax and the sad thing is that the so called doctors and trained people who should be saying this aren’t!
    Mrs Deborah Birx said on live TV that the test will give 50% false positives and people who are dying from many other things will be tagged as died from covid because she using a relaxed approach. I’m very sceptical of Gaston’s tone like when he said that we will see no end to the Cerfew until we receive a vaccine, just like what the “OTHER” people and leaders are saying world wide! Tanzania’s president tested a pawpaw and a few other things for covid and they tested positive and the WHO doesn’t want anyone to use anything (effective or not) like madagascars natural antidote to treat the “Flu”! An upcoming doom and gloom vaccine as indicated as the “final solution” by bill gates, seems to be the only saviour by the money making elite and globalists.
    When will the world learn that we are run and controlled by big companies, crooked politicians and tyrants?!
    There is so much more I can say but I will not. All the information is out there but people love the convenience of an easy lie instead of seeking information and knowledge.
    To Gaston Browne we are watching !

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]