A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 5 December to Sunday 11 December 2016.
Monday, 5 December 2016
Port’s Ultimatum To Freeport Web Shops
Bahamas – The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has issued an ultimatum to Freeport-based web shops, after the Government allegedly “hijacked” and “ambushed” the trial to determine who is the industry’s primary regulator in that city… more
Web Shops Urged: ‘Put Skin In Game’ Over Gbpa Case
Bahamas – The attorney for Chances Games has urged rival web shops, such as FML and Island Luck, to “put some skin in the game” given that they are totally exposed to the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) threat to cancel their licenses to operate in Freeport… more
C&W profits at $99.4m
Barbados – PROFITS ARE FLOWING at Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Limited (C&W)… more
Talks ‘to start’ on Guyana monopoly
Guyana – The government of Guyana is expected to begin talks this month with Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) about ending the republic’s telecoms monopoly. The government passed a law to end GTT’s position in July and originally said talks would begin in September… more
US ‘comes to defence’ of Guyana telecoms monopoly
Guyana – In a surprise intervention, a US embassy official in Guyana has called for telecoms liberalisation but said that existing contracts should not be violated… more
Caricel takes issue with US official stance on being granted third mobile licence
Jamaica – Loop News published an article last week where a US government official made it clear that his government was not made aware that the Jamaican government had decided to grant Caricel the third mobile licence… more
Digicel keen on ICT collaboration
Regional – Digicel yesterday said it welcomes the move by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) to establish a Caribbean ICT Collaboration Committee (CICC) responsible for shaping and aligning the strategic ICT agenda for the Caribbean… more
TSTT secures US$300mn for broadband rollout
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago’s state-run telco TSTT has secured a 2bn-Trinidadian dollar (US$297mn) financing package to partially fund the company’s 3.7bn-Trinidadian dollar … more
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Bahamas needs to introduce a strong Freedom of Information Act
Bahamas – Transparency International, the global anti-corruption movement, and its partner organisations in the Caribbean, including Citizens for a Better Bahamas (CBB), call on the government of the Bahamas to introduce strong Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation… more
Flow giving away $200 000 in cash and prizes
Barbados – SOME LUCKY Flow customers could be in for a very merry Christmas… more
Marion’s new IT mission
Barbados – SHE EXCELLED IN economics and diplomacy, now Dr Marion Williams is out to leave her mark in the information technology (IT) field. And she hopes that Barbados will earn some foreign exchange in the process… more
ICTA Head to attend regional infrastructure forum
Cayman Islands – Finance and media leaders are convening in the Bahamas on December 6 and 7 to discuss and launch a new infrastructure forum for the Caribbean… more
OECS Statistical Services Unit aids in transition to computer-based surveys
Regional – Staff members of the Statistical Services Unit (SSU) at the OECS Commission teamed up with the Enumeration Officers of Saint Lucia’s Central Statistical Office (CSO) yesterday, to conduct the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS) with the use of electronic tablets… more
Digicel launches second wave of recruitment for sales people
Trinidad and Tobago – The company is offering competitive packages for confident and customer-focused candidates to join their sales team… more
TSTT: Rally around new brand
Trinidad and Tobago – Later that night, with surprising swagger before an audience that generally and tragically ignored his short speech—the price of admission for the telecommunications company’s annual media Christmas party—Dr Walcott would amplify those sentiments… more
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Guyana govt prepares to battle GT&T to end monopoly
Guyana – Guyana’s government will begin negotiations on Friday to end a 26-year old monopoly on the fixed line market, the last one in the English-speaking Caribbean… more
VAT on Internet data “necessary” – Public Telecoms Minister
Guyana – Value Added Tax (VAT) on Internet data will be used to help fund the Guyana government’s Information Communication Technology (ICT), Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes said Wednesday… more
Experimental Digital TV Channel late…
Jamaica – On Monday, Jean Marie Altéma, Director General of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL), accompanied by André Lubin, Deputy Director of Broadcasting at CONATEL, made a follow-up visit to the National Television of Haiti (TNH) as part of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) experimental project… more
How online maps are helping Haiti rebuild after Hurricane Matthew
Jamaica – Since Hurricane Matthew swept through Haiti last month Paul Uithol and a team of volunteers have been using online maps to help rebuild devastated communities, as he explains to Moira Holden… more
Digicel Group Earnings Hit By Currency Movements
Regional – Digicel Group reported a marginal dip in revenue and earnings in its September second quarter, due in part to currency fluctuations in key markets, according to an investor release from UK bank Barclays… more
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Teachers trained in the use of modern technology
British Virgin Islands – The Ministry of Education and Culture is continuing its drive to modernize the Virgin Islands education system by investing in training for educators in the use of modern classroom technology to enhance the teaching and learning experience… more
VAT on internet required to fund ICT programmes – Hughes
Guyana – As day three of the 2017 National Budget debate continued yesterday, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes defended the application of Value Added Tax (VAT) to internet service, saying the tax would provide the monies needed to fund the Government’s Infor-mation and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes… more
bmobile relaunches as TSTT and RBL conclude major financing agreement
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT CEO Dr Ronald Walcott recently announced that the company’s technology convergence strategy also fed into a decision to simplify TSTT’s diverse brands and bring all products under an umbrella refreshed “bmobile” brand which now spoke to TSTT supporting the mobility of the lifestyle of the company’s customers with the tagline “Life is On”… more
Friday, 9 December 2016
Cable Bahamas Still Working On Restoration After Hurricane
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas teams have been working around the clock to advance restoration efforts on Grand Bahama since Hurricane Matthew left the island devastated in October, the company said, adding that it hopes to have all areas restored by the end of this month… more
Cable Bahamas updates on service restoration on Grand Bahama
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas teams have been working around the clock to advance restoration efforts on Grand Bahama… more
Maynard-Gibson to ICT for Persons with Disabilities Workshop
Bahamas – Remarks by Sen. the Hon. Z.C. Allyson Maynard Gibson, QC Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs at The ICT for Persons with Disabilities Workshop Melia Nassau Beach Hotel on 8th December, 2016… more
Businesses warned to keep up or die
Barbados – Keep up with technological changes or face extinction! … more
Job hunting app available soon
Barbados – A NEW REGIONAL mobile app will make job hunting easier for Caribbean nationals… more
Chris Dehring’s ReadyTV to launch in the first quarter of 2017
Jamaica – Former chairman of LIME (Jamaica), founder and conceptualiser of Sportmax Chris Dehring is all set to launch his new project ReadyTV in the first quarter of 2017… more
Jamaica moves up two places on ICT Development Index
Jamaica – Jamaica has been ranked 99th of 175 countries on the 2016 ICT Development Index (IDI), an improvement of two places from the 2015 rankings, the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology announced today… more
LIME, NWC irk consumers
Jamaica – Consumer complaints against utility companies jumped by 23 per cent, the latest annual report of the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) indicate… more
How The Caribbean’s Top Court Is Going High-Tech
Regional – A suite of new high-tech court management systems are to be adopted by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)… more
T&T’s tech entrepreneur wins PitchIT Caribbean Challenge
Trinidad and Tobago – Local entrepreneur Kelly-Ann Bethel won US$5000.00 at the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge 2016 for her technology solution app SKED… more
Saturday, 10 December 2016
CCJ rules in favour of private telecom company in Belize
Belize – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday ruled in favour of the private telecommunications services provider, Speednet Communications Limited, reversing a Belize Court of Appeal ruling that had favoured the regulator, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)… more
PM Expects More BPO Investors
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said he is expecting to see expansive growth in the business processing outsourcing (BPO) sector and, as a consequence, the Government will be seeking to create more space to accommodate investors expected in the coming year… more
TSTT goes high speed…but
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) yesterday launched its super high speed internet for mobile, 4G LTE (Long- Term Evolution). However TSTT says it cannot provide nationwide coverage until the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) allocates it the 700 megahertz spectrum… more
TSTT launches 4G LTE
Trinidad and Tobago – Majority state-owned telecommunications provider, TSTT, yesterday launched a 4G LTE mobile broadband service in T&T, even as its chairman, Emile Elias, criticised the sector’s regulator for not making the spectrum for 4G LTE available to the company… more
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Govt, GTT begin negotiations to end landline, int’l calls monopoly
Guyana – Government has begun talks with Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GTT) and its US parent company, ATN International (ATNI) to end the current monopoly on landline and international voice and data services… more
BPO Market Energised – More Jobs Coming As Operators Expand
Jamaica – Sutherland Global will roll out two new call centre operations in six months… more
Digicel problems in Trelawny
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I have been a Digicel 4G postpaid customer since 28th August 2010, and — living in Duncans, Trelawny — have always had some issues with the speed of the Internet that I receive… more
Mark Wignall | Caricel, USA And The Power Of Innuendo
Jamaica – First, there was the lumbering giant known as Cable & Wireless (C&W). Then it became known to Jamaicans simply as Telephone Company… more
Minett Lawrence | Caricel’s Response To Media Publications
Jamaica – On December 1 and 2, 2016, two articles were published in LoopNews and The Gleaner, respectively. Both articles included quotations from United States (US) Embassy officials, purporting to comment on the legitimacy of the grant of a spectrum licence to Symbiote Investments Limited (operates as Caricel)… more
Profits dialled down at Digicel
Regional – DIGICEL, the Caribbean and Central American mobile operator owned by the billionaire Denis O’Brien, was hit by a 14% slide in earnings in the three months to the end of September, figures show… more
Image credits: GotCredit (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia
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