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  • Lake releases statement on encounter between PM and former airport CEO, but critics believe he has an ulterior motive

Lake releases statement on encounter between PM and former airport CEO, but critics believe he has an ulterior motive

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(REAL News) — Osmond Lake, a manager with Sunrise Airways (Dominica) Ltd., has put out a statement concerning an alleged incident between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Euletta Francis, the former chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA).

While his version of events appears to support Browne’s claim of a civil conversation between the two, a United Progressive Party (UPP) officer is wondering “what really turns on this statement.”

Francis, who tendered her resignation from ABAA on Monday, November 13, after coming under attack from Browne last Saturday, said Browne berated her in the presence of Lake, who later called her to apologize.

Lake says that in the meeting with Browne on November 9, he presented an overview of his business plans. In the course of the discussion, he claims the prime minister telephoned Francis, “and in a very businesslike manner queried the reasons for the delays.”

These “delays” are a reference to Francis’ decision to put off meeting with Lake for two weeks, since she reportedly was working on another project – specifically, the closing a US$100 million loan to the Government via the Airport Authority.

Lake alleges that Browne “accepted the point that the … application could not be more immediately addressed and the conversation ended cordially.”

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Following that discourse, Lake adds, he called Francis to reassure her that his meeting with the prime minister was not intended to undermine her position; but, rather, to brief him on the introduction of an airline into the region.

He says the former CEO was very enthusiastic about this proposal, since it fell within the scope of the development plan for the airport.

A source says there was no need for Lake to put out any statement on the rift between Browne and Francis, and it sounds like the press  release was orchestrated to make Browne’s version seem more
credible.

Meanwhile, the UPP officer says the statement appears to be more of a “gimmick to promote Lake’s airline and convince the public that Francis was obstructing a good business opportunity.”

Lake was Browne’s business partner in the Ebenezer housing project, the official says and, therefore, he would want to pressure Francis to “hop to it and help him to get his project going,” the officer claims.

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Аdvеrtіѕе wіth thе most visited news site in Antigua and Barbuda ~ Wе оffеr fullу сuѕtоmіzаblе аnd flехіblе dіgіtаl mаrkеtіng расkаgеѕ. Yоur соntеnt іѕ dеlіvеrеd іnѕtаntlу tо thоuѕаndѕ оf uѕеrѕ іn Antigua аnd аbrоаd via our One Signal push notifications! Соntасt uѕ аt [email protected].

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Make a donation to help support ABN, via PayPal: [email protected]. Follow Antigua Breaking News on X, formerly Twitter @ABNAntigua, and Instgram @AntiguaBreakingNews and on Facebook. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-268-779-3189 or email us at [email protected].

Click Here to Get the News Delivered Directly to You.

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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]