Antigua Breaking News

Top Trusted News Source in Antigua

Search
Previous slide
Next slide

Sir Lester Bird – Not too big to right a wrong

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

By Makeda Mikael

As a business owner operating at V. C. Bird International Airport in General Aviation, my company Ports Services Ltd. was granted permission to establish a Fixed Base Operation on the Dis-Used Runway 10, namely, FBO 2000 Antigua Ltd.

After only three months of operation, on March 3rd, 2003 investor Allen Stanford was granted possession by sale of lands at Runway 10 which included the proposed area which was promised by lease to FBO 2000 Antigua Ltd. Three Ministers Hon. Molwyn Joseph, Hon. Gaston Browne and Hon. Steadroy Benjamin  given the responsibility to facilitate the Cabinet Decision.

When I realized my 1/4 acre lease was included in the lands sold to Stanford, I appealed to Hon. Lester Bird, then Prime Minister, who was unaware that our property was in peril. He immediately sought a remedy by telling me to find an acre of land anywhere on Runway 10 and the Government would sell it to FBO 2000 for the same peppercorn price as Stanford.

In gratitude I explained that as an Operator I could not buy land inside the airport because it is not done, but I could accept a lease, which was immediately executed by Cabinet Decision.

P. M. Lester Bird was not too big to right a wrong.

The sale of Airport lands was wrong, but it was ignorance of ICAO Rules and the persuasive marketing powers of R. Allen Stanford which persuaded the Cabinet that lands as part of our sovereignty established sale was in order. There are those whom to this day consider the sale of Airport lands within the International Airport to be a good thing, however, thankfully before he passed, Sir Lester Bird, recorded his change of opinion, admitting that Airport Lands should not have been sold. Further he requested that the Government seek to have the lands returned to the original Airport footprint.

Be part of the conversation.

Let us know what you think by adding a comment below. Click here to start now!

Sir Lester Bryant Bird was not too big to right a wrong.

In an attempt to comply with the wishes of Sir Lester Bird, we are publishing his last wishes regarding the Sale of Airport lands, and as the owner of 90% of the said lands which were sold, we commit to continuing our discussions with the Government for a fair methodology for Sir Lester’s wish to right a wrong!

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Join the Conversation!

Comments are closed.

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]