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UPP calls for protest action against withdrawal of Christmas ABST-reduction

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The United Progressive Party (UPP) condemns the Gaston Browne Administration’s heartless and cowardly announcement that there will be no ABST-reduction weekend this Christmas Season.

That decision is unconscionable a time like this – when the Statistics Division has just confirmed a second consecutive hike in bread and flour products and a 5.6% increase in inflation for the year ending September 2023; when the Administration is planning a 2% hike in the ABST; and when the period for importing Christmas barrels has been shortened.

The UPP began this tradition of “giving back” to the people at Christmas time, and residents have long grown accustomed to planning their major purchases around the annual sales-tax reduction.

The business community also looks forward to the reduction, as it is the peak season for sales, especially of large items like vehicles, equipment, building supplies, and furniture.

Therefore, to abruptly remove it without consulting the buying public or the businesses they patronize, again, is a unilateral decision by an increasingly insensitive government.  And to do so while the Minister of Finance is conveniently out of the country is nothing short of cowardly.

We have little doubt that, on his return, Prime Minister Gaston Browne will claim that his hands are tied by the curiously timed statements of Comptroller of Customs Raju Boddu.  But we have no doubt that this abuse of the people’s trust was carefully orchestrated.

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To add insult to injury, Government spokesman Lionel Hurst has feebly stated that the Government will hold consultations on the ABST increase at some unspecified time – but that it will not consult with the UPP, whom he accuses of making mischief.

For the record, and to expunge Mr. Hurst’s barefaced lie, the UPP has called for consultations with THE PEOPLE since we are a people-first institution; not with the Party.

And, clearly, the mischief being made is with the people’s ability to save while they spend this Christmas Season after this cruel act by the Browne Administration.

It is time for the people – both businesses and consumers – to take protest action in the face of such disadvantage, and the UPP again calls on the public to support such action when it is called.

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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]