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Government officials and members of the business community honour Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Wayne Mariette

Government Officials and members of the business community gathered at the Sir. V. C. Bird Sr. bust on lower Market Street on Monday, to pay homage to the late Father of the Nation, Sir. Vere Cornwall Bird Sr.

Sir V. C. Bird day, a public holiday in Antigua and Barbuda was designed to honour and celebrate the work of the nation’s most famous National Hero – politician and trade unionist.

The feature address at event was delivered by Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne who based his remarks on Sir V.C. Bird’s life of service for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and implored the audience, in the words of John F. Kennedy for them to ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. He spoke of the progress of Antigua and Barbuda from the days of Sir V.C Bird to today under the leadership of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. The Prime Minister also spoke of efforts by his government to make Antigua and Barbuda an economic powerhouse.

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The ceremony concluded with a march-past by military and police officers.

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We present a brief biography of Sir. Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. and photographs by Wayne Marriott from the ceremony.

  • Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, KNH, OCC (1910-1999)
  • In Antigua and Barbuda, Sir VC Bird is revered as the Father of the Nation. He holds the distinction of being the first premier and the first prime minister of the twin-island nation.
  • Sir Vere’s astuteness as a leader belied the fact that his formal education ended at the primary school level at what was then St. John’s Boys School now known as TN Kirnon.
  • Sir Vere’s work experience in both the Salvation Army and the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) laid the foundation for his interests in unionism and politics.

Incensed by the treatment meted out to black Antiguans and Barbudans by landowners, Sir Vere became a founding member of the AT&LU. He rose to the presidency of the now venerable organization in 1943 and, by 1945, he was elected to the Colonial Legislature.

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Sir Vere formed the Antigua Labour Party, which would become indivisible from the union. He became the first and only chief minister of the country, was the first and last premier, and led the country to independence in 1981. Sir Vere served as prime minister until 1994.

His fierce patriotism and commitment to the working class are legendary, as was his dedication to regionalism.

Sir Vere ardently supported the West Indies Federation, and when that collapsed in 1962, was at the forefront in negotiations for the “Little Eight” countries. In 1965, along with premiers Errol Barrow of Barbados and Forbes Burnham of Guyana, Sir Vere led the introduction of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). CARIFTA eventually led to the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).

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Sir Vere received the country’s highest honour, Knight of the Order of National Hero, in 1994. In 1998 he received the Order of the Caribbean Community, the region’s highest honour.

December 9, the day he was born, is set aside on the national calendar as a public holiday called Sir V.C. Bird Day.

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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]