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  • UPP Leadership condemns provocation of MP Michael and calls his suspension a ‘fiction’

UPP Leadership condemns provocation of MP Michael and calls his suspension a ‘fiction’

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The Leadership of the United Progressive Party condemns the recent behaviour of Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney-General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin and the clear bias of House Speaker Sir Gerald Watt – which led to the ejection and subsequent “suspension” of St. Peter MP Asot Michael.

The breaches of the Standing Orders – unparliamentary language, threats/intimidation, imputing improper motives – that took place in the sitting of Thursday, May 18, were ignored or overlooked by Sir Gerald and created an environment that was, at best, hostile to MP Michael and, at worst, a naked abuse of power.

The recent political animus between the prime minister and the St. Peter representative is well known.  However, we do not believe that it should be played out in the Lower House – especially not by the Government side, whose members continue to appeal for maturity in the conduct of the People’s business.

In this regard, it is noteworthy that, during the Division called for on the Motion to acquire the Cancer Centre, MP Michael voted with the Government. Unfortunately, the prime minister, in particular, could not elevate his behaviour and – despite the Speaker’s earlier caution – persisted in his distasteful conduct.

Therefore, it is unfortunate and unfair that Sir Gerald then chose to victimize MP Michael for his human response to gross provocation.

The UPP’s Leadership does not condone the remarks made by MP Michael since, clearly, we cannot support blatant disrespect of the Speaker or the House.  However, we recognize that the Member had been unreasonably pushed to the limit of his tolerance.

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Apart from the Division referred to earlier, the Speaker left no room at any time in that sitting for a “No” vote and declared, in every other instance, that “the Ayes have it” – without the benefit of a count.

Accordingly, it is not known which Members of even the Government Bench voted for the fictional suspension of MP Michael.

We say “fictional” because the Standing Orders governing the naming and suspension of a Member were not followed.  The Speaker cannot move the motion; and, so, everything that transpired in that rushed procedure is of no effect.

Accordingly, the UPP distances itself from this unfortunate episode in the history of our Parliament and calls upon these senior Members of the Government Bench and the presiding officer to uphold the Rules they promote and allow the House to model the democracy for which we all strive.

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One response to “UPP Leadership condemns provocation of MP Michael and calls his suspension a ‘fiction’”

  1. Opposition members will continue to fall victims of the Speaker of the House.

    The Speaker is a spiteful menace to democracy. He will continue to abuse his position and support Gaston’s corrupt agenda.

    Also, his replacement, if appointed by ALP would not make a blind bit of difference. Opposition members should collaborate a workable mandate on how to dealing with those parlimentary menaces.

    Gaston and Cutie should be regarded in the house as dysfunctional and should be treated as such. Evidently, the opposition present a formidable threat to them, hence their disruptive behaviour.

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]