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‘Ignorant’ PM has no respect for local authors and honest earners, MP says in response to criticism of his textbook

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“Ignorant” is how MP Richard Lewis describes Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s criticism of an Information Technology (IT) textbook that he co-authored.

Browne has implied that Lewis’ text received preferential treatment under the United Progressive Party Administration and asked whether the book had been put out to tender.

However, Lewis has rejected these implications, saying the information Browne put out about the textbook shows his ignorance.

Lewis tells the public that he is an author – not a bookstore –and that his textbook was recommended by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for use in the curriculum, just like texts published by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Pearson Longman, and others.

However,  the MP says the prime minister could not  be suggesting that these international publishers go through the tender process to provide particular textbooks recommended by CXC when the textbooks can be procured only from these sellers.

Whether bookstores submit bids to the Board of Education (BOE) to purchase his textbook is irrelevant in his case, the MP says. What is required, at the end of the day, is that the bookstores or the Board of
Education is required to procure the text.

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He says it is also very sad that the prime minister has such contempt for local authors and others who earn their money legitimately given that he has denigrated the CXC-approved textbook as being
“third-rate.”

“Unlike the printing of many thousands of copies of my textbook since 2001, which represents actual value for money,” Lewis tells Browne, “we still have no evidence that this suspicious [rental]
arrangement with your son is anything but another creative enrichment scheme.”

Accordingly, he concludes, “perhaps [the prime minister] only has respect for creative enrichment.”

Ironically, Lewis’ textbook was introduced into the IT curriculum under the Lester Bird Administration, when Rodney Williams, the current governor-general served as minister of education.

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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]