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  • Hindus urge King Charles to retire the outdated title ‘Defender of the Faith’

Hindus urge King Charles to retire the outdated title ‘Defender of the Faith’

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Hindus feel that it is time for the British monarch to drop the “Defender of the Faith” title, which was coined in the 1500s.

Britain was a multi-religious, multi-denominational and pluralistic society now and there were a substantial and growing number of non-believers. For a monarch, all subjects should be equal, while titles like this seemed to create a class structure and were highly irrelevant in 21st century; Hindu statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA) today.

Moreover, monarchy should not be in the business of defending the faith. If some still thought that there was need to defend the faith, it should be left to individual religions and denominations and organizations of non-believers; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated.

If King Charles III sincerely felt that all belief systems needed to be endorsed and shielded in an inclusive society, he should invite and allow equal time at his coronation to various religions and denominations to say prayers and conduct sacred rituals; and to non-believers to say appropriate greetings; Rajan Zed noted.

Zed further said that monarchs were fully entitled to their personal beliefs and religious practices, but they should not proclaim religious preferences in the public domain and promote one denomination over the others or give preferential treatment or unfair privileges. Charles III was the king of all subjects, diverse believers and non-believers alike.

If the monarch declared public allegiance to one denomination, did it not send the signals that subjects who did not belong to that denomination were less than full-fledged citizens or step-citizens? Rajan Zed asked.

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We were no longer in the 1500s. It was reportedly a drastically different faith landscape right now: people with “no religion” were rising, the number of worshippers was dropping, and many religious buildings had gone out of service. If monarchy wanted to remain relevant in the current multi-religious and non-believer society, it had to move with the times and reflect the aspirations of all subjects; Zed pointed out.

Faith or non-belief or spirituality of each citizen was equally valuable and pertinent, and monarchy should respect that; Rajan Zed emphasized.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Most Reverend Justin Welby, who was a learned person well aware of the religious landscape of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, should advise King Charles on this issue accordingly; Zed suggested.

“Defender of the Faith” term should also be taken out of the coinage, Rajan Zed added.

British and Commonwealth Hindus were a hard-working, harmonious and peaceful community and had made a lot of contributions to their nations and society and continued to do so. They wished King Charles III the best and offered their wholehearted support to him as he embarked upon his journey as a King, Zed said.

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One response to “Hindus urge King Charles to retire the outdated title ‘Defender of the Faith’”

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]