Antigua Breaking News

Category: Commentary

  • LIAT is the real MVP of Caribbean integration

    LIAT is the real MVP of Caribbean integration

    Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete Introduction Conceptualised in 1956, LIAT predates the Caribbean Independence movement, although it became operational in 1974. Presently, it is comprised of a mere 10 aircraft, 5 ATR42s with 48 seats and 5 ATR72s with 68 seats which service 15 destinations among the English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking Caribbean around the clock. My…

  • Attacking Golding does not change demand for credible Guyana elections result

    Attacking Golding does not change demand for credible Guyana elections result

    By Sir Ronald Sanders In the wake of a report to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) on the Guyana general elections of March 2, the Head of the Electoral Mission (EOM), former Jamaica Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has been accused of being “exceptionally partisan” and “hostile to the nation and…

  • MUST READ: CAL must prepare for turbulence

    MUST READ: CAL must prepare for turbulence

    With the global aviation industry traumatised by the chilling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government’s guarantee of a $445 million loan for Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is a lifeline that gives the airline some breathing space as it faces an uncertain future. For at least the next three months while borders remain closed, CAL has…

  • Tied to no one’s apron strings: The Caribbean in an emerging new world

    Tied to no one’s apron strings: The Caribbean in an emerging new world

    By Sir Ronald Sanders Developing countries, including Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, would make a grave mistake if, in the wake of the economic crisis they now face, they decide to diminish their foreign affairs budgets. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created huge challenges for advanced economies, but those challenges are even more daunting…

  • Comedy of Legal Errors Resulting from COVID-19

    Comedy of Legal Errors Resulting from COVID-19

    By Charlesworth Tabor The fallout from the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the weaknesses in the health, social, economic and political infrastructure in countries around the world. Our little island of Antigua and Barbuda is no exception. However, my focus in this article with respect to Antigua and Barbuda will not be on the health, social,…

  • The impact of COVID-19 on individuals with sickle cell disease

    The impact of COVID-19 on individuals with sickle cell disease

    By Amy Vanessa Frederick Globally the numbers of confirmed cases and resulting deaths due to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes, COVID-19 are increasing daily.  In an article in the British Journal of Hematology (BJH), Hussain, F, et al. (BJH, 16734, April 2020) stated that “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also…

  • Urgent work needed to rebuild Caribbean tourism

    Urgent work needed to rebuild Caribbean tourism

    By Sir Ronald Sanders To be among the first beneficiaries of a restarted global tourism industry, the present enforced downtime should be used by all actors to position Caribbean countries to compete immediately. Hoteliers, restaurant owners, shops catering for tourists, should now be considering the protocols they need to institute to make themselves ready for…

  • Medical Musings: Is COVID a Chameleon?

    Medical Musings: Is COVID a Chameleon?

    By Dr. George Roberts The sudden unexplained deaths of a number of young men locally, albeit with possible reasonable causes, must be a cause for deep concern for us all. The likelihood that they may be directly or indirectly associated with COVID must be considered. The suggestion that they may be precipitated by curfew-related inactivity…

  • Out of the Mountain of Despair, A Stone of Hope

    Out of the Mountain of Despair, A Stone of Hope

    By Linda Taglialatela Like you, I miss getting out of the house and visiting with friends and colleagues.  I missed the kites at Easter and the bazaar that showcases the talents of Grenada’s artisans.  My thoughts are with my brothers and sister in the United States, where the epidemic has ravaged communities and pushed my…

  • Prepare for a long haul: The storm is not fully formed

    Prepare for a long haul: The storm is not fully formed

    By Sir Ronald Sanders COVID-19 is destroying the prosperity that several Caribbean countries anticipated at the beginning of 2020. The growth projections by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for Antigua and Barbuda of 6.5%; Dominica 4.9%, Dominican Republic, 4.7%; Grenada 4%; and St Kitts-Nevis 3.5%, evaporated overnight as COVID-19 walloped…

  • CARICOM Summit must support PM Browne, go for marshall plan

    CARICOM Summit must support PM Browne, go for marshall plan

    When Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders hold their virtual summit tomorrow, an important outcome would be to add regional heft to Gaston Browne’s call on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to make it easier for regional countries to access their financial resources. But the heads of government must go further. They should…

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]