This is a roundup of the ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 30 April to Sunday 6 May 2012.
Monday, 30 April 2012
– nil –
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
US$100,000 grants available for innovative Caribbean business ideas
Barbados – If you have an innovative business idea, here is your opportunity to secure up to US$100,000 in grant funding. Compete Caribbean is inviting applicants from the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora in the USA, Canada and the UK to apply for the Caribbean Idea Marketplace (CIM). Successful applicants can receive the above mentioned funding to develop their innovative projects… more
CARICOM: Secretary General Advocates for One Regional Information Technology Space
Regional – Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque continued his busy round of meetings in Washington DC, USA on Wednesday holding discussions with the World Bank, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Organisation of American States (OAS)… more
ITU seeks next generation of social entrepreneurs
Switzerland – ITU has launched the second edition of its Young Innovators Competition, giving young, talented social entrepreneurs the opportunity to attend its key global networking and knowledge sharing event, ITU Telecom World 2012, and the chance to win funding, mentorship and ongoing support…more
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
URCA blocks FNM ad
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday temporarily banned a political ad sponsored by the Free National Movement (FNM) that Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell threatened to sue the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) for airing… more
Barbados bridging the digital divide
Barbados – While telecommunications has been designed to bring us together, it has often divided us… more
LIME gets licks from Bajan consumers
Barbados – Barbadians’ satisfaction with the service provided by telecoms giant LIME appears to be souring, judging from data obtained by the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE)… more
US wants independent Guyana broadcast authority ; disagrees with self-censorship
Guyana – The United States on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day- Thursday- welcomed Guyana’s move to end the decades-old government monopoly on radio broadcasting but called on government to ensure a fair system in granting radio station licenses… more
Call Rates To Drop
Jamaica – Government is pushing to have amendments to the Telecommunications Act established into law by weekend, enabling the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to set interim wholesale and retail telecommunications rates… more
Call rates to plunge
Jamaica – Parliament yesterday sanctioned amendments to the 11-year-old Telecoms Act, signalling the end to any possibility of monopoly in the telecoms market and paving the way for “a massive decline in rates locally and internationally”, according to Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell… more
DIGICEL to inform successful VSP applicants on Friday
Jamaica – Telecommunications Company DIGICEL will inform successful applicants of its Voluntary Separation Programme (VSP) on Friday… more
Entertainment services company begins Caribbean operations
USA – TiVUS, Inc., a technology entertainment services company providing Internet-based TV and cable programming, interactive game content, and goods and services to the hotel/hospitality industry, has expanded operations into the Caribbean, a rich source of hotels and resorts, and has completed a site survey of its first property in Puerto Rico… more
V.I. Next Generation Network approves contracts
US Virgin Islands – The V.I. Next Generation Network approved two contracts at its board meeting Tuesday… more
Thursday, 3 May 2012
New consultant to deal with end of phone monopoly
Antigua & Barbuda – The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science & Technology is increasing the human resource capacity in its Telecommunications Division with the appointment of Daryl Jackson as Telecommunications Consultant… more
BTC Brings Hi-Speed Internet To Cat Island
Bahamas – Over the past weekend BTC took its Neighborhood Connect program to Old Bight, Cat Island where hundreds of Cat Islanders were treated to a street party complete with local entertainment, local cuisine and giveaways, while browsing the latest technology and services from BTC and being among the first to sign up for high-speed internet service… more
BTC to complete $44M network this summer
Bahamas – The CEO of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) plans to launch the firm’s 4G network in Bimini next week, followed by the Berry Islands and Abaco… more
LIME: Still committed
Barbados – LIME says it remains committed to the negotiating process with the Barbados Workers’ Union… more
LIME workers walk off job
Barbados – LIME staffers took major industrial action yesterday that crippled the company’s operations, and it seems Prime Minister Freundel Stuart will once more play a part in the long running dispute… more
Global rights watchdog says journalists face increased threats in Cuba
Cuba – The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has used Thursday’s World Press Freedom Day to highlight what it said were increased threats and intimidation facing independent journalists and bloggers in Cuba for publishing information critical to the authorities… more
Congrats, Minister Paulwell — way to go on the Telecoms Act
Jamaica – For over a year now my articles on the telecoms market in Jamaica have reflected a position which was congratulatory to Digicel for its mighty rise to the top of the mobile phone market but which also recognised that stipulations in the law gave Digicel, as a monopoly, an unfair advantage in setting termination rates and putting a chokehold on the only other viable player, LIME… more
Police Close In On Web Extortionists
Jamaica – Police investigators say they are close to making an arrest in an extortion case in which sexually explicit pictures and videos of several Jamaican women were posted on the Internet… more
Caribbean entrepreneur unveils organ and blood donation mobile app
St. Vincent & the Grenadines – I guess Facebook has let the cat out of the bag,” says Herbert (Haz) Samuel, explaining why he’s taking the wraps off his new mobile app project today, even before he’s built anything… more
Friday, 4 May 2012
Court orders new hearing in case involving former Marpin director
Dominica – The Dominica High Court has set aside a judgement against the former managing director of Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting, Ron Abraham, who had been ordered to pay EC$16.2 million (US$6 million) to the company’s liquidator after the court had ruled on March 2 that he carried out the company’s business with reckless disregard to its obligation to pay its debt… more
Jamaican Youth To Show Off Technology Skills In Mobile Apps Contest
Jamaica – The Government of Jamaica and the World Bank have sponsored a mobile application contest to encourage and inspire youth to develop their information technology skills… more
LIME keeps $59m in unclaimed dividends
Jamaica – Cable and Wireless Jamaica, which trades as LIME, has retained $59 million in dividends left unclaimed for 12 years… more
New Telecoms Act sets new playing field
Jamaica – Amendments to the new Telecoms Act will undoubtedly lead to yet another fall in cellphone rates and a more competitive landscape… more
Saturday, 5 May 2012
LIME smiles
Barbados – Hundreds of LIME workers should be smiling once more… more
DIGICEL staff upset at police action
Jamaica – Telecommunications company DIGICEL said staff at its New Kingston office was upset by the conduct of officials of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and police personnel which resulted in them being inconvenienced… more
‘Short-Sighted!’ – Senator Questions Move To Give Our More Powers
Jamaica – Arguing that consumers do not have much confidence in the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Opposition Senator Tom Tavares-Finson said yesterday that giving the body more powers in the amended Telecommunications Act is short-sighted… more
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Ministry/LIME conclude training for teachers
Antigua & Barbuda – The Ministry of Education on Friday completed training for 100 teachers who are to return to the classroom and better utilise technology in their work… more
Media Challenges – Internet Use In Jamaica Troubling
Jamaica – To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), the Media Association of Jamaica and UNESCO Caribbean launched the PAJ’s Hall of Fame and hosted a forum under the theme, ‘New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies’. Veteran broadcast journalist and managing director of Nationwide News Network, Cliff Hughes, was among the presenters. This is an edited version of his presentation… more
Review tax collection policy, Opposition tells Gov’t
Jamaica – The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday called on the Government to review its tax collection policy, arguing that the heavy-handed raid on two New Kingston offices operated by telecoms giant Digicel on Friday afternoon risked sending a bad signal to investors… more
Images courtesy of johnthurm, flickr.
___________
