Antigua Breaking News

Category: Commentary

  • A third way for global peace

    A third way for global peace

    By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States.  He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.  The views expressed are entirely his own) If developing…

  • Modern Day Soap Opera Involving Politics, Police, a child and Warring Parents

    Modern Day Soap Opera Involving Politics, Police, a child and Warring Parents

    By Audley Phillip I am sure we all remembered the soap operas which kept women in particular glued to their television in the early days of these drama series on television in Antigua.    Love of Life, Secret Storm, Days of our Lives, As the World Turns and more,  were some of the more memorable…

  • No disrespect intended but swearing allegiance to The King is ridiculous

    No disrespect intended but swearing allegiance to The King is ridiculous

    By Audley Phillip At the  swearing in of members of the House Of Representatives and the Senate, members have to swear allegiance to the King of England and his heirs as part of their Oath. Our Constitution says every member of Parliament must swear an oath or affirmation to the monarch and their heirs and…

  • End sexual violence against women in the interest of mankind

    End sexual violence against women in the interest of mankind

    By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States.   He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.  The views expressed are entirely his own) Rape,…

  • Improving the conduct of our elections

    Improving the conduct of our elections

    By Audley Phillip The late George Rick James would forever be a name synonymous with General Elections in Antigua. He almost single handedly  led a  fierce and sometimes acrimonious battle to see changes in our electoral process for many years.  He was truly an unsung hero in my book. I am glad to see that…

  • Regional air transport: myths, dreams and reality

    Regional air transport: myths, dreams and reality

    By Ramesh LatchmedialThe matter of intra-regional air transportation has been talked about for decades by regional governments and yet there are no tangible plans to positively address this matter that seriously impacts social and economic development, particularly in the eastern Caribbean. There have been numerous studies done on air connectivity in the Caribbean region containing…

  • Being homosexual is not a crime – Pope Francis

    Being homosexual is not a crime – Pope Francis

    By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States.  He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) “Being homosexual is not a crime. We are all…

  • Economic inequality at the root of protests: Police brutality not the answer

    Economic inequality at the root of protests: Police brutality not the answer

    By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States.   He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) Many countries in South America are now in…

  • Election is over — the people won bigtime

    Election is over — the people won bigtime

    By Audley Phillip What an election!  Marked by low turnout but clearly was a referendum on the ruling ABLP.  And though the ABLP  retained government by the slimmest of majority, they suffered major casualties, some of which were unexpected.  Some of the results were so close that this contest could have gone either way.. We…

  • Redefine How We Select Boards In The Interest Of Good Governance

    Redefine How We Select Boards In The Interest Of Good Governance

    By Audley Phillip In just a little over a week, the people of Antigua and Barbuda will be going to the polls to elect a government to run the affairs of state for the next five years.  It is a crucial election for more reasons than one. Good luck to all the candidates. Regardless of…

  • UPP Op-Ed: One Nation…Unity…But Twisted Priorities

    UPP Op-Ed: One Nation…Unity…But Twisted Priorities

    Antigua and Barbuda prides itself as being a multi-cultural melting pot with representation in significant numbers of nationals born and breed or migrated from within the realm of CARICOM, the OECS or even further afield. It is customary for the current administration to stage what has been dubbed as a ONE NATION unification Concert featuring…

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]