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Significant achievements made in 2022 says outgoing Caricom chairman

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The outgoing chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi, says that as the region prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, significant steps were made in 2022.

In his end of year statement, the Surinamese President, reflecting on the year, said as the regional body continued to pursue measures to advance the integration movement – a very important decision was made to amend the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

“This allows us, for the Member States that are ready to implement decisions to proceed with these, while the others can join when they are able to do so. This is particularly significant with respect to accelerating the progress with the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).”

He added that the movement of skilled workers received a boost as the Heads of Government agreed on definitions of and qualifications for, household domestics, agricultural workers and private security officers.

The outgoing chairman said in the case of agricultural workers, it was a timely move.

“That work is being spearheaded by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Lead Head in the Caricom Quasi Cabinet for Agriculture, who guides the Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Security (MTF), in advancing the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda.

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In addition, a new portfolio of Industrial policy was added to the Caricom Quasi-Cabinet of Heads of Government.

“Suriname was assigned the portfolio, and is in dialogue with the CARICOM Secretariat and specialized institutions, in preparing a draft action plan, in respect of Industrial Development in the Community, for presentation to the Conference of Heads of Government at the earliest opportunity.”

Concerning Haiti, Santohki said the challenges continued to demand attention and the Caricom leadership group on Haiti – including leaders from Suriname, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, has been focused on several issues.

“In pursuit of a resolution, Heads of Government have held discussions with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, while Ministers and technical teams have been engaged with their counterparts in Haiti, Canada and the United States. A high level political mission is being organised to meet with Haitian stakeholders.”

The Caricom Chairman also pointed to international conferences and stated that the outcomes were not entirely satisfactory to the regional body.

He said that as the end of the year approaches, Caricom is starting to emerge slowly “from the shadows of the adverse social, and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He added that although the threat of COVID-19 has not evaporated, along with the debt crisis, a climate crisis and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there is still great determination within Caribbean peoples.

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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]