Antigua Breaking News

Category: Commentary

  • Reversing the tourism low-season

    Reversing the tourism low-season

    By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert Seasonality is a reality in the tourism industry in the Caribbean, bringing less demand and lower revenues. The low-season calls for a diversification strategy targeting a different customer segment than the traditional vacationing tourists to drive the business activities and sales. CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP CLICK HERE…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | Embassy Raid Sparks Outcry: Urgent Healing Action Needed

    Sir Ronald Sanders | Embassy Raid Sparks Outcry: Urgent Healing Action Needed

    On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) passed a resolution firmly denouncing the government of Ecuador for authorising an intrusion of the Mexican Embassy in Quito by Ecuadorian police and for the use of force against diplomatic staff. CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP CLICK HERE TO…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | Thirsty future? Urgent action for Caribbean and Latin America

    Sir Ronald Sanders | Thirsty future? Urgent action for Caribbean and Latin America

    In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and water stress have emerged as critical issues that threaten the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people. CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP Nowhere are these challenges more acute than in the Caribbean and Latin American regions, where countries grapple with the…

  • OPINION: Integrity or Farce? The ABLP’s Legacy of Corruption Unmasked

    OPINION: Integrity or Farce? The ABLP’s Legacy of Corruption Unmasked

    In an audacious display of political satire that would leave even the most seasoned satirists gaping, Regis Burton’s recent letter lavishing praise on the Antigua and Barbuda Labor Party (ABLP) for their “standard of integrity” has undoubtedly become the comedic highlight of the year. One could be forgiven for thinking Burton, a figure who has…

  • Gleaner Editorial | Don’t delay free movement

    Gleaner Editorial | Don’t delay free movement

    After last year’s manoeuvrings by its political parties to win the votes of CARICOM nationals living there, the decision by Antigua and Barbuda’s government to opt out of fully free movement of labour in the community is surprising. CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP Hopefully, this backsliding by St John’s is not a…

  • Lennox Weston | CARICOM Free Movement Agreement Flawed In Theory, Practice And Common Sense

    Lennox Weston | CARICOM Free Movement Agreement Flawed In Theory, Practice And Common Sense

    CARICOM Free Movement of labour is flawed in theory practice and common sense and is dangerous to the continued growth, social stability, and economic progress of member states. The recent announcement that CARICOM Member States will move to free movement of all Caricom nationals with the right to move and live in any member state…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | The Indispensable Need for Free and Fair Elections

    Sir Ronald Sanders | The Indispensable Need for Free and Fair Elections

    In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela, are pivotal events that will shape the internal dynamics of these countries. Because these elections will determine the future stability and prosperity of these influential countries, they  are important to the region as a whole, emphasizing…

  • RAMESH LUTCHMEDIAL | Is LIAT 2020 set for takeoff?

    RAMESH LUTCHMEDIAL | Is LIAT 2020 set for takeoff?

    Recent announcements by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne suggest that LIAT 2020 is set for its takeoff roll. Speaking on the Browne and Browne show on February 17, PM Browne said regional shareholder governments of the now defunct LIAT (1975) Ltd and the Caribbean Development Bank have agreed to the sale of…

  • MAKEDA MIKAEL | Antigua aviation keeps getting it wrong

    MAKEDA MIKAEL | Antigua aviation keeps getting it wrong

    It all started going wrong when Antigua started operating Aviation by their own opinion instead of Rules, Regulations & Transparency. When the individual opinions in Security & Safety overrule the International Organizations of which we are members in an international space where all members are equal, coded and expected to operate in unison and consideration…

  • Sir Ronald Sanders | France and the US broke Haiti; they should be the first to mend it

    Sir Ronald Sanders | France and the US broke Haiti; they should be the first to mend it

    When the Foreign Ministers of the world’s wealthiest nations gathered in Brazil from February 21, 2024, Haiti’s dire situation found a brief moment of attention—not in the main agenda but on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. This sidelining is emblematic of the low priority assigned to Haiti by…

  • Op-Ed: Too weak to fight, uh-huh

    Op-Ed: Too weak to fight, uh-huh

    By D.Gisele Isaac: Back in 2022, shortly after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, a born-yah Antiguan called my radio show to say he wanted to marry a Ukrainian woman. I was taken aback at his vehemence, until he explained how – as a patriot, himself – he had been so impressed by the Ukrainian women, who…

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]