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PM Gonsalves speaks on LIAT and severance pay for former workers

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(Loop News) — Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has responded to concerns regarding the issue of severance for former employees of LIAT (1974) limited.

This follows issues raised by the St Vincent LIAT Workers Union in a letter published by SEARCHLIGHT in last weekend’s issue where it expressed dismay over the lack of concern, lack of compensation or any official response to the collapse of the airline three years ago.

Speaking over the weekend on WEFM, the Prime Minister noted that since 2020 he has not been contacted by the Union.

Gonsalves recalled a letter being written to him in 2020, and calling the head of the union, Jerry Howard, to explain that the government was unable to do anything until the administrator indicated in a definitive way, “the things which LIAT (1974) limited can and cannot do, and authoritatively for the administrator to sign off on if LIAT were not insolvent, what would be the workers’ entitlement”.

The Prime Minister said he is awaiting a final position from the administrator in relation to all these matters.

He also pointed out that at different times the administrator sent him different numbers, and he needs to know what is the final situation.

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Gonsalves noted that he did say the government will give consideration to making whatever reasonable payment it may be able to make ex gratia. He also made it clear that the union in SVG has not written to him about wanting an audience, as far as he is aware, since 2020.

The Prime Minister said the commitment he gave still stands and he is prepared to meet with a delegation of the former LIAT workers any time after Easter. On Thursday he will be heading to St Lucia to discuss regional transportation.

Gonsalves reminded that when the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines had put money inside LIAT and was receiving ‘licks’ from the Opposition, the nominal leadership of the LIAT union in SVG never supported the government in its attempts to keep LIAT in the air. He said the unions in Barbados and Antigua would make statements supporting what the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines was doing for LIAT.

The Prime Minister also recalled that in 2020, when he went to Parliament with $2.7 million in the COVID package supplementary estimate to put into LIAT, it was opposed.

“The commitment I gave to LIAT workers still stands and we could have the discussion,” Gonsalves reassured.

The Prime Minister said right now, governments which did not want anything to do with LIAT are prepared to have a crack at putting money into regional air transportation.

“What I said from the beginning is what is happening. If there is no LIAT you have to invent something called LIAT.”

Gonsalves said from 2001 to 2020 (19 years), St Vincent and the Grenadines was a central cornerstone in LIAT and “we carried for many years LIAT”.

He ended by saying, “We soldiered with this thing and in the midst of COVID I was going to put $2.7 million to help LIAT over a hump, but when the plug was pulled what could I do.”

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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]