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  • UPP denies financial relationship with Mehul Choksi; Asks which party had access to him in 2018

UPP denies financial relationship with Mehul Choksi; Asks which party had access to him in 2018

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UPP Press Release: In yet another desperate attempt to stem the tide rising against him, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, once again, is resorting to blatant lies about the United Progressive Party (UPP).

The UPP is fully conscious that Mehul Choksi’s purported wealth is the subject of criminal accusations in his native India, and the Party categorically denies Browne’s fabrication that Mr. Choksi funded its 2018 elections campaign.

Further, the Party refutes any allegation that it solicited or received any gifts from Mr. Choksi and his family.

Political Leader Harold Lovell has never met or even had a conversation with Mr. Choksi, and has never designated anyone to solicit or receive funds from him, in the past or present.

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has had no interaction with the Choksi family and has never promised any representation of their interests in Parliament.

It is public knowledge that Mr. Choksi received Antigua & Barbuda citizenship in 2017 under the Gaston Browne Administration and took up residence here in January 2018, just two months ahead of the General Elections.

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Accordingly, the Party asks the public:

  • Who, and which political party, would have been in the position to solicit and receive campaign funds from a reputed billionaire businessman?
  • Was the granting of Mr. Choksi’s citizenship timed to coincide with the Antigua Labour Party’s election campaign?
  • And how many times did Prime Minister Browne and Mr. Choksi meet ahead of the 2018 polls?

Having amended the legislation governing the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his Executive have ensured that the names of persons who receive status by this route remain secret.

In fact, by a 2020 amendment – and using the excuse of the COVID-19 pandemic – the Browne Administration made it possible for applicants to become Investment citizens without having to show themselves in person at all.

Given these realities, the UPP asks:

  • Who and which political party are in the position to identify and access wealthy individuals and receive campaign contributions?

The United Progressive Party’s advocacy in the Choksi matter is not for the individual facing accusations in India.  Rather, the UPP is advocating – and will continue to advocate – for respect of the rule of law and the Constitution, which, together, protect citizens from abuse by the State.

Accordingly, we will resist all efforts by PM Browne and others to “spin” our good-governance position into fabrications to shore up their political slippage.

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One response to “UPP denies financial relationship with Mehul Choksi; Asks which party had access to him in 2018”

  1. How does Gaston think political parties around the world get money for their campaigns? Businesses and the people contribute to all the political parties. It is something that happens in all cointries worldwide during election campaigns. I guess Gaston party was not on Choksi list this time around so he a cry.

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]