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  • MP Lewis Calls for Urgent and Wide-Reaching Relief Measures to ‘Ease the Gaston Browne Squeeze’

MP Lewis Calls for Urgent and Wide-Reaching Relief Measures to ‘Ease the Gaston Browne Squeeze’

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As we approach the end of the tourist season, I call on Gaston Browne to ease the squeeze on the people of Antigua and Barbuda, by addressing the damage caused by his broken election promises. In particular, the Prime Minister promised to lower the cost of living, then mercilessly presided over record increases in the cost of goods and service, after the January 18th, 2023 elections.

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The economic hardship, high unemployment and soaring crime which are plaguing Antigua and Barbuda, make the need for relief a matter of great urgency, as citizens and residents still cannot feel the so-called economic growth of which the Prime Minister boasts. This is especially true for our youth and our pensioners.

Many citizens and residents who are already suffering, will see their income drop as we enter the tourism off-season. In order to bring urgent relief to the widespread suffering of individuals and struggling businesses, I call on Gaston Browne and his administration to immediately implement the following measures:

  1. Reduce Customs Duties on essential foods, to bring down the high prices on store shelves.
  2. Raise the maximum household income eligibility for the People’s Benefit Assistance Programme from $800 to $1,500, so that more vulnerable households can benefit.
  3. Ensure that the reduced amount of discretionary waivers is prioritised to support the most vulnerable businesses, to ensure their survival and ability to keep their staff employed.
  4. Strengthen the oversight of the Prices and Consumer Affairs Division, so that unjustified and exploitative increases in the price of many goods and services can be addressed.

MP Lewis observes, “It is a plainly obvious fact that this Gaston Browne-led government has already yielded enough new revenue to implement these relief measures. We can be certain of this based on the government’s own boasts about improved compliance in the payment of existing taxes, the revenue saved by reducing discretionary waivers, and the 21% increase in the collection of customs duty in January and February, compared to the last fiscal year.”

“I therefore call on Gaston Browne to find a heart, and move with haste to implement these commonsense relief measures to reduce the cost of living, protect vulnerable households, increase consumer spending, and provide a stimulus to small businesses,” Lewis concludes.

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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]