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National Solid Waste launches major environmental initiative

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The ongoing campaign to phase out mercury and eliminate its threat to human life and the environment in Antigua and Barbuda received a major boost on Tuesday, July 6.

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), supported by stakeholders and several partners, held its official handing over ceremony of specialised bins designed for the safe disposal of used and intact fluorescent light bulbs.

Mercury is a component of fluorescent light bulbs that are safe when in use. However, if they break accidentally or through improper waste disposal, mercury vapours release into the atmosphere potentially harming human life and the environment.

In speaking to the initiative, Daryl Spencer, General Manager of NSWMA noted: “The Waste Management Authority always seeks to find ways to keep our population safe and recognises the importance of managing this type of waste, which is considered to be hazardous. One challenge is to collect, transport, and dispose of this type of waste that is usually comingled in our general and residential waste streams.” Spencer further stated:

“This project will now enable source separation, allowing residents to take their used, intact fluorescent bulbs to depots where they can be safely stored until collected by the Authority.”

Daryl Spencer, NSWMA General Manager.

At least 40 of the specialised storage bins will be available at several locations across Antigua and Barbuda, including most major supermarkets and hardware stores. The bins are all specially marked for easy identification and signage will point persons to where they are located at the depots.

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The official ceremony, held at the Multi-Purpose Centre, was attended by stakeholders and guests.

Other speakers were Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment; Dr. Nicola Bird, PhD, Executive Director of Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) and Project Manager of the Mercury Phase-Out Project; Dr Linroy Christian, Minimata Focal Point and Head of the Department of Analytical Services; Natalya Lawrence, National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants, and NWSMA Landfill Manager Mr. Emmanuel Dubois.

The speakers stressed the importance of reducing and eventually eliminating the mercury footprint in Antigua and Barbuda to safeguard lives and the environment.

One speaker, Dr. Bird, also spoke of her personal experience when she suffered mercury poisoning. Attendees at the ceremony were also given a demonstration of used fluorescent bulbs being placed into a ‘bulb-eater’.

This specialised machine pulls the mercury content from the bulbs, safely containing it for eventual shipment out of the country. All residents are being asked to discontinue the unsafe and improper use of placing discarded mercury-added fluorescent light bulbs in their residential garbage bins or otherwise tossing them away in open spaces.

Please make use of the specialised storage bins at the various designated locations. A full list of locations where the specialised bins will be placed will shortly be announced to the public. Persons can also call the NSWMA hotline number at 562-1347 or 562-1349 for information.

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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]