A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 25 August to Sunday 31 August 2014.
Monday, 25 August 2014
MIIC state minister urges youth to choose careers in ICT
Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams says there must be a stronger effort to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among the youth, with particular emphasis on Information Communication Technology (ICT)… more
Digicel Offers GATE Students Internships
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Digicel has agreed to offer an internship to at least two graduates from the recent Government Assisted Technology Endeavour (GATE) programme… more
Cyber Crime Unit called in
Trinidad and Tobago – Cyber Crime Unit (CCU) police officers have visited the Office of the President of Trinidad and Tobago as part of an on-going investigation into the recently hacked email account of a senior staff member there… more
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
DotDM champions Internet Governance for Dominica
Dominica – The DotDM Corporation recently announced the deployment of a Domain Name Server Node in Dominica to improve internet security, speed and resilience for DotDM domain names through strategic partnership with Community DNS (CDNS) Limited (a world renowned leader in the area of cyber security)… more
NTRC donates to ICT knowledge expansion
Dominica – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, (NTRC) has contributed to information technology in two communities by tapping into a special fund designed to enhance Information Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge… more
‘Jamaican Girls Coding’ summer programme narrows gender gap in male-dominated ICT Sector
Jamaica – In an effort to close the significant gender gap present in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the Jamaica Coalition of Services Industries (JCSI) hosted a four week ‘Jamaican Girls Coding’ summer camp for twenty teenaged girls… more
Jamaican regulator still analysing VoIP blockades
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) said it is still in process to analyse whether VoIP services can be considered as illegal bypass before deciding whether local mobile operator Lime and Digicel can continue to block VoIP applications from its networks… more
OECS e-business and e-commerce workshops continue
Regional – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Export Development Unit will resume its e-business workshops for firms in the region during the week of August 26, 2014… more
CWC to spend USD10m on enhancing Saint Kitts & Nevis networks
Saint Kitts and Nevis – UK-based Cable and Wireless Communication (CWC) is said to have outlined plans to invest around USD10 million in upgrading the networks belonging to its Saint Kitts & Nevis subsidiary, which offers services under the LIME banner… more
T&T opposition leader knocks AG on Emailgate
Trinidad and Tobago – Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has descried as “laughable” claims made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan that the Emailgate scandal is now invalidated… more
TSTT $506M loss affects NEL profits
Trinidad and Tobago – THE National Enterprises Limited (NEL) has reported a decline in its profits from $511.1 million in 2013 to $200.9 million this year… more
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
LIME BVI commits USD7m for network upgrades
British Virgin Islands – Speaking at a press conference in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI) Phil Bentley, CEO of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), has confirmed that its local unit LIME BVI is set to benefit from investment of around USD7 million… more
LIME scam alert
Dominica – Local telecommunication giant, LIME, is alerting customers of a scam message being sent on its network… more
LIME to invest US$6-million in Dominica
Dominica – Telecommunication giant LIME is to invest US$1-billion in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America with Dominica getting a US$6-million slice of the pie… more
GT&T billing system not functioning efficiently in Essequibo
Guyana – Dear Editor, For the past three months Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has been disconnecting my telephone even although I am paying my bills promptly… more
Phone service in parts of city disrupted by excavation
Guyana – Wireline telephone and data services in several parts of Georgetown have been severely disrupted as a result of damage to GT&T’s buried facilities by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)… more
South G/town telephone services down after GWI excavation
Guyana – Wireline telephone and data services in Meadowbrook, Durban Backlands, Lodge Housing Scheme, Tucville, Stevedore and Postal Housing Scheme, and Guyhoc have been severely disrupted as a result of damage to infrastructure in the area… more
Tablets issued to 1200 Secondary school teachers – Paulwell
Jamaica – A total of 1,200 teachers across the public secondary school system have been issued with tablet computers as Government rolls out the pilot for its Tablets in Schools project, in time for the start of the 2014 academic year, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, says… more
Women Innovators For Venture Capital Conference
Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica Limited will host Venture Capital Conference 2014 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Tuesday, September 9. One of the highlights of the day is a panel discussion titled, ‘Backing Women Entrepreneurs’… more
Commentary: Towards a single Caribbean ICT space: Political will not technology needed for success
Regional – In the face of the mounting economic and social challenges, the Caribbean urgently needs to tap into new sources of growth… more
LIME to invest millions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – LIME’s newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Martin Roos visited St Vincent earlier this week to outline plans that head company Cable and Wireless has in store for St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the other territories where LIME operates… more
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Belize Police Department website directs to a porn site
Belize – In June 2012, twelve year old Jasmine Lowe was found dead on a lonely street in the Cayo District. Her death sparked unprecedented awareness and action, and in her name the Jasmine Alert was born a month later… more
Big Story: Telemedicine in Cayman
Cayman Islands – Telemedicine in the Cayman Islands is represented with a cutting edge robot, the RP-Sally, which allows doctors to interact remotely with patients from thousands of miles away… more
Cayman launches weather app
Cayman Islands – A new mobile app designed to provide residents with up-to-date weather forecasts and information while on the go has been launched by the Cayman Islands National Weather Service… more
Girls exposed to fun side of coding
Jamaica – TWENTY girls from schools across the Corporate Area have been exposed to the exciting world of computer programming at the inaugural Jamaican Girls Coding 2014 summer camp… more
Curacao To Host CaribNOG 8/LACNIC Caribbean 6
Regional – One of the largest gatherings of the Caribbean Internet community will take place in Curacao in a few weeks… more
Integrity body, DPP get Google info
Trinidad and Tobago – A lawyer for Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has written to the Integrity Commission (IC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions urging the two bodies to act decisively on new information from internet e-mail service provider Google Inc which could help them arrive at a “firm and correct” position in the now infamous E-mailgate probe… more
Telephone problems at primary schools
Trinidad and Tobago – Principals and teachers were expected to return to school yesterday in preparation for the opening of the new school term next week… more
Friday, 29 August 2014
BTC majority shareholding transfer final announces PM Christie
Bahamas – Just over two years ago my Party was overwhelmingly returned to government, in the general elections, to lead the course of our national destiny for the five years hence… more
Franklyn Wilson on the disbandment of the BTC Negotiating Committee
Bahamas – Remarks by Franklyn R. Wilson, CMG Occasion: Disbanding of the Committee Appointed by The Government of The Bahamas to Negotiate with Cable and Wireless relative to BTC… more
App developers must seize opportunities
Barbados – With over 307,700 mobile subscribers and more than 191,823 internet subscribers in Barbados as of December 31 last year, there are numerous opportunities for app developers here… more
Good news
Barbados – Minister of Industry, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss has promised that the much talked about e-commerce platform will be getting some attention over the coming weeks… more
See future with ICTs
Barbados – SEE the future of this country as being prosperous in the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs)… more
Disruption to 911 calls linked to network issue
Cayman Islands – A connection failure disabling emergency calls could happen again, warns the Department of Public Safety Communications… more
LIME to fix fibre broadband
Cayman Islands – LIME has announced plans to upgrade its fibre broadband Internet service after customers complained about service outages… more
Dominica will soon become the largest and highest-density bitcoin community in the world
Dominica – The group of Bitcoin enthusiasts who earlier this month announced their plan to create the largest and highest-density Bitcoin community in the world said Wednesday that the event will be taking place on the Caribbean nation of Dominica… more
Bitcoin News: 70,000 Residents of Caribbean Island to Have Bitcoins in 2015
Dominica – All 70,000 residents living on the Caribbean nation of Dominica will be eligible to receive bitcoin as part of The Bit Drop project, an upcoming collaboration between bitcoin businesses, interest groups and local government officials… more
Cable And Wireless Enters Three New Markets With Panama Acquisition
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) is entering three new markets and deepening its business in Panama via its acquisition of Grupo Sonitel, an IT and telecoms business… more
Typewriter nostalgia, thanks to the Hanx Writer app
Regional – The younger generation may not know this, but back in the day, just after the dinosaurs, there were things called “typewriters” that roamed the earth… more
St Kitts and Nevis to host Caribbean ICT Week
Regional – When a high-level group of Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) members meet in St Kitts and Nevis from September 22 to 26 September, the challenge of regulating over-the-top (OTT) Internet-based services will no doubt be a main point of focus… more
Phone card vendor: Telecome providers reduced commission
Trinidad and Tobago – One phone card vendor is expressing outrage over the suggestion of prepaid customers seeking out vendors who are selling, for instance, $20 bmobile at the suggested price of $23 and Digicel at $20… more
Saturday, 30 August 2014
BTC deal finalized
Bahamas – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) CEO Phil Bentley yesterday encouraged the government to be flexible with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) needs for certain duty reductions and foreign work permits… more
OPINION: Telecoms Bogeymen
British Virgin Islands – Poor internet and questionable cell phone services are simply part of a wider culture of poor customer service, and low service expectations, in the Virgin Islands… more
GT&T proposes hike in landline service charges
Guyana – In a bid to justify an application for a rate hike, representatives of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday appeared before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)… more
LIME-Digicel Duopoly Dangerous
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: Thanks for covering the silent war that both Digicel and LIME are waging against our choices as consumers… more
Scotiabank named World’s Best Consumer Internet Bank in Barbados
Regional – Scotiabank has been recognized by Global Finance Magazine as the Best Consumer Internet Bank in Barbados for 2014. In total, Scotiabank received recognition in 22 countries across the Caribbean and Central America… more
Technology demystified
Regional – Perhaps one way to start the discussion on IoT is to explain the first internet appliance, a soda machine at Carnegie Mellon University in the early 1980s, where programmers could connect through the web and determine if there was a soda of their choice available before leaving the comfort of their dormitory room… more
LIME’s EC $2.7b. Fight Back
Saint Lucia – TELECOMMUNICATION giant, LIME, is currently rolling out a US$ 1.05 billion (EC $2.7 billion) plan to upgrade its operations within the Caribbean region… more
Sunday, 31 August 2014
BIR woes delay TSTT VSP payout
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago’s (TSTT) Voluntary Separation and Voluntary Early Employment Retirement Plans (VSP/VEERP) have hit another snag—several former employees have received no payout since leaving their jobs in June… more
CTO head: We need more local ICT products
Trinidad and Tobago – More ICT (information and communication technology) entrepreneurs are needed in the Caribbean, according to Professor Tim Unwin, secretary general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)… more
Digicel applies for pay-TV licence
Trinidad and Tobago – Mobile operator Digicel is applying for a subscription broadcasting service via a telecommunications network, which is believed to be a cable licence, according to a Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) notice dated August 18 posted to its Web site during the week ending August 29… more
Number portability coming to T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority also announced last week that mobile to mobile number portability would start in T&T on February 26, 2015 and that fixed to mobile number portability would start on May 1, 2015… more
Image credits: NS Newsflash (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; CaribNOG; Wikipedia; The West Indian News
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