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UPP Chairman D. Gisele Isaac Skeptical of Dominican Republic’s Promise to Build School in Barbuda

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Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) D.Gisele Isaac is scoffing at yet another promise by a foreign government – the Dominican Republic – to construct a school on Barbuda.

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently held bilateral discussions with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader about deepening the cooperation between both countries, given their strong historical and economic ties.

Reportedly, during their talks, President Abinader reiterated to Prime Minister Browne that his government will move swiftly to allocate funds for the construction of a school in Barbuda.

Over five years ago – after Hurricane Irma had devastated Barbuda in September 2017 – it was reported that the Government of the Dominican Republic had agreed to build a new school on the sister- island to replace the damaged Holy Trinity School.

However, Isaac says the only primary school operational on Barbuda is the same one – which the Council had been forced to repair after the Government dragged its feet on a new facility.

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Accordingly, she says she does not put much faith in this project getting off the ground, since, allegedly, monies were spent already on preliminary work and no school was constructed.

The UPP chairman believes the meeting between the two heads was just another talk shop, which will not produce any results.

During the Category 5+ Hurricane Irma, a number of buildings at Holy Trinity were destroyed.

Two government officials, an architect and engineer from the Dominican Republic, had suggested constructing a new primary school at a different location on Barbuda – not as close to the lagoon, since flooding would likely occur during hurricanes and storms.

As a result, a new site – 15 feet above sea level and very close to the Sir McChesney George School – was selected.

It was noted, then, that construction would last for four months, and the new school was scheduled to be completed by Christmas 2018. At that time, the Browne Administration also said that the school to be built by the donor government would double as a hurricane
shelter, accommodating as many as 600 people.

Allegedly, the Dominican Republic had spent US$1.5 million on drawings, soil testing, purchasing of building supplies, and readying the materials for shipment to Barbuda.

Reportedly, consultations had already been undertaken with the Barbuda Council, and a town hall meeting had been held with the people.

After the Council saw that it was taking too long for construction to take place, and the primary school children remained displaced, it undertook the repair of the Holy Trinity School, which was completed and opened in January 2020.

The Browne Administration had made strong objections to the Council effecting repairs on the school.

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One response to “UPP Chairman D. Gisele Isaac Skeptical of Dominican Republic’s Promise to Build School in Barbuda”

  1. I don’t know why sensible people keep calling a woman, “chairman”…call her her “chairperson” which, to me is better.

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]