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PM Gonsalves writes to Putin; Vincentian students in Ukraine contacted

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The chief personnel officer (CPO) has been in touch with Vincentian students in Russia, amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has written to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister, speaking on local radio from Qatar, where he is on official business, said on Friday that there are seven or eight Vincentian students in Russia.

“…. And she [the CPO] has gotten in touch with the person who is the point person and everyone is in order,”  he said.

“There is no problem with them, certainly not at the moment. We have a link, a chain of communication, and I advised her to issue a statement in that regard so that the families’ minds and other Vincentians’ minds could be put at ease.”

Russian troops bore down on Ukraine’s capital on Friday, day two of the military operation, as the invasion fuelled fears of a wider war in Europe and triggered new international efforts to stop Moscow.

Prime Minister Gonsalves disclosed that he has written to President Putin but declined, at this stage, to disclose the contents of the correspondence.

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“I am pretty sure that he probably would have received it by now. I just want to indicate that. And we are doing work, diplomatic work, otherwise. I was just in touch with our Ambassador to the United Nations,” he said.

Asked if he planned to make a statement on the Russia-Ukraine conflict when he returns to Kingstown this weekend, Gonsalves noted that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the regional bloc of which this country is a member, has already issued a statement.

“We are part of CARICOM and we are doing what we have to do at the UN and I have written a letter to President Putin,” Gonsalves said. “….Each person will seek to make their best approach in all the circumstances, so I have to use my best judgment in all the circumstances…. Our diplomatic personnel are working… but I don’t have to conduct all of the diplomacy in public,” he said.

Prime Minister Gonsalves also spoke about the implications of the conflict on commodity prices, including wheat products and energy.

“We have a lot of social safety net issues [that we are] addressing and then the world doesn’t wait on us, nature doesn’t wait on us. We see the challenges in climate change, we see the issues in public health globally, and now we see what has happened with Russia and Ukraine and the price of fuel is going up,” he said, adding that Russia and Ukraine produce close to half of the world’s wheat. “So you know what that means for the prices for flour, for instance, and oil, energy? The price will go up.”

In a statement on Thursday, CARICOM said it “strongly condemns the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by The Russian Federation and calls for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in that country”.

It continued: “The hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community.

“CARICOM maintains that the principles of universal respect and adherence to these norms and principles of international law are fundamental to the maintenance of the international system and global peace and security. CARICOM calls on all parties involved to urgently embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards sustainable peace.”

A number of heads of government within CARICOM have issued separate statements condemning Russia’s aggression.

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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]