This is a roundup of the ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 14 May to Sunday 20 May 2012.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Digicel, Tax Administration Call Truce
Jamaica – Mobile service provider Digicel and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) have agreed to cooperate in an effort to complete an audit of the telecommunications firm’s general consumption tax (GCT) compliance… more
Flow Powers GOJ/World Bank Digital Job Generation Initiative
Jamaica – Young Jamaicans will soon be a step closer to accessing the lucrative business opportunities available on the worldwide web, thanks to a partnership between the Government of Jamaica, The World Bank, telecommunications service provider Flow and other multilateral partners… more
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Cellular repairman begs public to help police
Antigua & Barbuda – “I am begging anybody who is offered a computer or a broken phone to buy, call the police. If you do that, you can help the police solve this case or some other case.”… more
Gov’t Warned: ‘Don’t Renegotiate’ BTC Deal
Bahamas – The newly-elected Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government was yesterday warned not to renegotiate the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) privatisation, London-based financial analysts telling Tribune Business such a move would be “pretty negative” and a potentially chilling signal to other foreign investors… more
Tourism smartphone app for Dominica
Dominica – A local web development company on Tuesday is launching the first ever mobile app dedicated to Dominica’s tourism product… more
Dom. Rep. university team off to world programming meet for the 1st time
Dominican Republic – A Dominican Republic university will participate for the first time in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM-ICPC) world finals, where only 100 teams among the more than 4,000 applicants will classify… more
Court throws out Digicel petition against FTC
Jamaica – The Supreme Court this morning threw out a petition filed by Telecommunications company Digicel opposing the legal standing of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) who is challenging the merger between the Digicel and the now defunct company Claro… more
Jamaica to ban cellphones while driving
Jamaica – The Jamaica government says it will pass new legislation to deal with people who use mobile phones while driving… more
Lotto scammers thrown behind bars
Jamaica – A woman who is implicated in the lotto scam was today remanded into custody along with her husband after her bail was revoked in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court… more
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
BTC: Disruption Caused By Switch To New System
Bahamas – BTC officials apologized for the disruption in cell service in New Providence over the weekend, explaining it was caused by efforts to complete a step in the GSM network upgrade… more
BTC seals multi-year deal with Syniverse
Bahamas – In an effort to further enhance mobile performance, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has agreed to a multi-year contract with a Florida-based company specializing in roaming, messaging and networking solutions… more
PLP Warned: ‘Don’t Renegotiate’ BTC Deal
Bahamas – The newly-elected Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government was yesterday warned not to renegotiate the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) privatisation, London-based financial analysts telling Tribune Business such a move would be “pretty negative” and a potentially chilling signal to other foreign investors… more
GT&T launches ‘Switch It Up’ campaign
Guyana – Top local entertainers Adrian Dutchin and Jumo Primo of X2 have switched to Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) after promoting Digicel (Guyana) for seven years… more
Way cleared for FTC to challenge Digicel/Claro merger
Jamaica – The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) was yesterday cleared by the Supreme Court to challenge the controversial merger between telecoms giant Digicel and the now defunct Claro… more
UTS celebrates World Telecommunication Day
St. Maarten – UTS will be commemorating World Telecommunication Day, which is recognized yearly on May 17th, by giving back to the customers that have made the company’s success possible… more
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Cable Bahamas Closing On 10k Voice Subscribers
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is approaching 10,000 subscribers for its ReVoice fixed-line voice service, its vice-president of sales and marketing said yesterday, telling Tribune Business it had achieved good market penetration… more
Cable Bahamas In Vod ‘Breakthrough’
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) yesterday launched its video-on-demand (VOD) platform, the company’s vice-president of marketing and sales describing it as a significant “breakthrough” for the BISX-listed company in the television market… more
Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organization Awards
Belize – It’s World Telecommunications Day; the good news is that a Belizean student topped the region in a prestigious essay competition with a prize of one thousand US dollars plus a netbook computer… more
Gov’t wants community assistance for OLPF distribution
Guyana – The government says it will be narrowing its focus for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative to distribution as it contemplates the impact of the opposition’s budget cuts… more
World Telecoms Day: LIME Women Making A Difference
Jamaica – Today is World Telecoms Day and it is being celebrated under the theme ‘Women and Girls in ICT’. The Gleaner turns the spotlight on some shining lights at LIME… more
Friday, 18 May 2012
Belize Joins In Celebrating World Telecom Day
Belize – World Telecommunications and Information Society Day is being celebrated today by all countries that are members of the international telecommunications Union, a United Nations based organization… more
Cops apologise to DIGICEL
Jamaica – The Police High Command had issued an apology to telecommunications company Digicel for the level of force used in a raid by the tax enforcers on the company’s New Kingston office on May 4… more
DIGICEL accepts police apology
Jamaica – Telecommunications Company Digicel has accepted an apology from the Police High Command for its heavy handed tactics during a raid on the company’s New Kingston office earlier this month… more
Lotto scam accused goes free; husband remanded
Jamaica – A woman who was on Tuesday remanded into custody for her alleged involvement in the lotto scam on Wednesday walked free from the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court after the case against her was thrown out because of insufficient evidence… more
New computer lab puts Tucker Clarke on the edge of ICT success
St. Kitts & Nevis – The Tucker Clarke Primary School Recently re-opened the doors to its newly refurbished computer Lab – the result of a collaborative venture between Delphic Newtown United Football Club and Mr. James Cabourne of Ocean’s Edge… more
Saturday, 19 May 2012
CAB lifts curtain with video on demand
Bahamas – Break out the popcorn. Bahamians now have the option of going to the movies like never before, without even leaving their homes… more
Merger in danger of being overturned as FTC challenge goes ahead
Jamaica – Last year’s deal that allowed Digicel to increase its stronghold in Jamaica could be undermined if the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission (FTC) determines that the transaction could lead to anti-competitive business environment in the country… more
Say sorry to all – JFJ welcomes police apology to Digicel
Jamaica – Rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) yesterday commended the Police High Command for its apology to Digicel over the conduct of cops who participated in a raid by the tax authorities on the telecoms giant’s corporate headquarters two Fridays ago… more
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Jamaican Loyalty To Blackberry Wanes
Jamaica – Jamaicans adore BlackBerry smart phones, which are three times more popular than rivals, but since January, usage of Android devices and iPhones have spiralled and now account for half of the market for the first time, according to local experts as well as trend data from Google… more
Lottery scam mastermind among 28 arrested, say police
Jamaica – Police yesterday reported a major achievement in their crackdown on the lucrative lottery scam, saying that one of the masterminds was among 28 persons arrested during raids in St James and Hanover… more
Image courtesy of johnthurm, flickr
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