Antigua Breaking News

Category: Business

  • COVID exposure forces closure of ECAB Redcliffe Street

    COVID exposure forces closure of ECAB Redcliffe Street

    All employees of the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank Branch on Redcliffe Street have been quarantined due to potential exposure to Covid-19. According to a bank notice, the building will be sanitized in accordance with national Covid-19 protocols. It is unclear when the bank will reopen but customers are being advised automated and online systems and…

  • Government plans to apply ABST to online purchases

    Government plans to apply ABST to online purchases

    Residents in Antigua and Barbuda could soon be required to pay the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) when they make purchases online. The 15 per cent value-added tax is currently applied to most items purchased at local businesses. “The government is considering amending the ABST legislation to allow for the application of the ABST…

  • Governor Antoine reappointed, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

    Governor Antoine reappointed, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

    The Monetary Council has approved the reappointment of Timothy N. J. Antoine as Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The new five-year term commences on Monday 1st February. In conveying the Monetary Council’s decision, Chairman of the Monetary Council Dr. Timothy Harris remarked: “The Council commends the Governor for his stewardship over the past…

  • BUDGET 2021: Full presentation by Prime Minister Gaston Browne

    BUDGET 2021: Full presentation by Prime Minister Gaston Browne

    By Gaston Browne –  Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Corporate Governance and Public Private Partnerships.  To the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda  On Thursday 28th January 2021. “Maintaining a Healthy Nation and Restoring a Vibrant Economy” Mr. Speaker As I rise to present to this Honourable House my Government’s Budget for 2021,…

  • Agriculture stands as a bright light in the darkness — PM Browne

    Agriculture stands as a bright light in the darkness — PM Browne

    During the 2021 Budget Statement Presentation, Prime Minister Gaston Browne commended the growth and development of the agricultural sector during 2020. “A bright light in the nation’s economic activity – and one that illumes possibilities for the future – is agriculture,” PM Browne stated. The Prime Minister explained that although affected by the impact of…

  • Regional governments urged to help pay severance to former LIAT employees

    Regional governments urged to help pay severance to former LIAT employees

    Regional heads of government have been asked to help cover the cost of severance entitlements of over EC$70-million to former employees of regional carrier, LIAT. In a letter dated January 22, the Court-appointed administrator, Cleveland Seaforth, said that as of April 2020, the total unpaid entitlements to workers across the region, amounted to EC$119,006,962. Of this amount…

  • Gov’t will continue to meet debt commitments as they become due and payable

    Gov’t will continue to meet debt commitments as they become due and payable

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne has given his government’s commitment to make every effort to meet its debt commitments as they become due and payable. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Prime Minister Browne said that despite the downturn in the economy occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic, resulting in a cash-flow difficulties, the Government…

  • PM Browne Presents 2021 Budget: ‘Maintaining a Healthy Nation and Restoring a Vibrant Economy’

    PM Browne Presents 2021 Budget: ‘Maintaining a Healthy Nation and Restoring a Vibrant Economy’

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Thursday presented his government’s 2021 Budget to the Houses of Parliament tagged “Maintaining a Healthy Nation and Restoring a Vibrant Economy.” Against the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic that is affecting the world, Prime Minister Browne noted that his government is aware that many people are worried that their jobs…

  • Antigua records bumper season for corporate jets

    Antigua records bumper season for corporate jets

    By Makeda Mikael Antigua recorded a bumper season for corporate jets over the past month as the 1% of the world’s rich converged on the Caribbean with their mega yachts and following service boats with helicopter, sea toys and crew quarters, and their jets parked in Antigua. Photos show St. Bart’s almost hidden from view…

  • Bank donates books to Clare Hall Secondary School

    Bank donates books to Clare Hall Secondary School

    The Clare Hall Secondary School’s efforts to promote literacy has benefited substantially from a recent donation. The school had approached CIBC FirstCaribbean back in September, 2020 to support its reading programme but due to the problems created by the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a delay. Marcia Chatham, the school’s Literacy Specialist Teacher explained that the…

  • Ground broken for The Doctors Hospital and Medical Complex

    Ground broken for The Doctors Hospital and Medical Complex

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne, along with Sir Rodney Williams, on Tuesday joined and congratulated Dr. Joseph John on the groundbreaking of The Doctors Hospital and Medical Complex. While congratulating Dr. John on the multi-million dollar project, PM Browne remarked that Dr. John is a visionary, pioneer, and a successful entrepreneur in the field of medicine,…

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]