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  • PM says there’s no conflict of interest as he ventures into commercial farming

PM says there’s no conflict of interest as he ventures into commercial farming

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne is challenging his political opponents who have an issue with him venturing into commercial farming to bring proof of a conflict of interest.

According to Prime Minister Browne, for him it is a matter of food security and leading by example.

“I’m now looking at developing a commercial farm that has created some level of consternation for my political opponents … but I don’t know that they can dictate to me where to invest my money,” Browne said.

“If they’re saying to me that there’s some conflict and they can point out where the conflict is then I will certainly correct it. 

“But if I’m incorporating a company of which I am the shareholder and I am employing people to work on a farm, I’m funding it, I’m funding my dam, I’m funding all the equipment, the irrigation, etc., and that I go to work, I concentrate on government’s work, I do not leave my work to go on a farm, and there’s no conflict, I’m not selling anything to government — what is their issue?”

According to the Prime Minister, his understanding is that “they are concerned of the fact that I’m building a large water catchment to ensure that I have some water sustainability.”

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5 responses to “PM says there’s no conflict of interest as he ventures into commercial farming”

  1. I wish the media would refrain from printing stuff from that show, it’s not an official platform and I wonder sometimes if persons are under the influence of some lower being or higher plant.
    Guilty conscience needs no Accuser.

  2. Browne got to be kidding. Does he not know when he became prime minister. Investing into Business is conflict of interest which provides an opportunity to further his private interest for financial gain!
    First he should not have held the position of financial minister and Prime minister at the same time. I have never in my life heard of that any where in the world. It is also conflict of interest and ethics, there is no ACCOUNTABILITY to anyone but himself.I have no idea why the opposition part never challenge that under ethical rules. Browne have broken so many ethical codes and conflict of interest laws. He should be behind bars.

    • You have to be joking…. Almost all the prime ministers in the Caribbean are ministers of finance. Only Balwin Spencer wasnt finance Minister

  3. Gaston Browne it has to be conflict of interest when I cant get a piece of land from the Land Division to do some Commercial Farming myself. You were not elected to go into Commercial Farming, but then you say it is not conflict of interest. Everything you get into is conflict of interest.

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]