A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 June 2017 to Sunday 2 July 2017.
Monday, 26 June 2017
AG knocks technology dependency
Barbados – PARENTS ARE giving up their responsibility of raising their children to technology… more
Windows XP danger lurking
Barbados – AS A BAJAN and international cyber/information security consultant I urge my fellow countrymen and women to take the global Windows XP cyber weakness seriously and upgrade to a supported platform immediately, whether at home, work or play… more
EDITORIAL – PUT TECHNOLOGY TO GOOD USE
Barbados – OVER the last two decades internet technology has developed at such a rapid rate that one can hardly keep up with it… more
First robot exhibition off to fantastic start
Guyana – Guyana’s first robot exhibition got off to a fantastic start yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall… more
Guyana wants to end GTT monopoly by end of July
Guyana – The Guyanese government’s talks with the incumbent Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) over the end of its fixed line monopoly are “going well” but may not meet the end of July deadline, reports local agency Kaieteur News, citing public telecommunications minister Catherine Hughes… more
PRESS RELEASE: Why cybersecurity is critical in business risk management?
Regional – The cyber threat picture becomes more challenging with attacks against both public and private sectors organization. Cyber threats are continually evolving, becoming more sophisticated and harder to both prevent and detect… more
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Putting A Target On Cyberbullying
Belize – As technology and the internet continue to play larger roles in our daily lives, ensuring the safety of everyone online is becoming a higher priority. Already cyber bullying has presented itself as a huge threat to the well being of students, as well as adults using social media… more
Online classifieds Corotos adds features to boost auto sales
Dominican Republic – The online classifieds Corotos, recently participated in the auto-fair hosted by the car dealers grouped in ANADIVE, where it provided information on its new website to buy and sell of all types of vehicles… more
Cabinet focus should include Information Technology
Guyana – Dear Editor, The media reports of June 26 quoted our President’s “vision of a more efficient Guyana” in the context of procurement spending and greater supervision of projects, etc, and that in his scheduled meeting with Cabinet on the 27th June, he plans to include the permanent secretaries and accounting staff to “discuss the adoption of cost-cutting measures within their spheres of operation”… more
Digicel Being Questioned by OUR
Jamaica – … more
Seaga Counters BPO Anxieties
Jamaica – The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) has rubbished claims that fees and regulations under the SEZ Act are already having a negative impact on the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, a sector earmarked to spearhead economic growth… more
A school manual to fight cyberbullying
Regional – With an estimated one in three of all internet users in the world today being below the age of eighteen, children and young people are facing increased safety risks when going online… more
Cyber-Bullying Gets Regional Manual to Combat
Regional – A regional manual to tackle cyber bullying is being developed by agencies across the Caribbean… more
Putting A Target On Cyberbullying
Regional – As technology and the internet continue to play larger roles in our daily lives, ensuring the safety of everyone online is becoming a higher priority… more
Flow and C&W Business Boost Cyber-Security
Saint Lucia – MORE and more, it is becoming difficult – if not impossible – to do business without access to the internet, whether fixed, home, office wireless, or even a mobile connection, with the proliferation of smartphones and other similar devices… more
PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Excel – Intermediate to Advanced Training
Saint Lucia – Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool essential for managing and presenting data in today’s working environment. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software has become an integral part of most business organizations across the world… more
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Belizean team dominates regional programming competition
Belize – LXJ Code Belize, a team of programmers from Corozal Junior College, has taken first place in the (Caribbean Organization of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) C.O.D.E 3.0 Virutal Hackaton, which was held from June 17-25,2017… more
Dominicans urged to use technology ‘wisely’
Dominica – A Dominican, who resides in the US and was the featured speaker at the Pierre Charles Secondary School’s graduation, has highlighted the need for technology to be used wisely… more
Dominican Republic cenbank issues cryptocurrencies warning
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic’s central bank (BCRD) issued a statement clarifying its position on cryptocurrencies, becoming the latest nation in Latin America… more
Lucky GTT customers win trip to Jamaica, new phones
Guyana – GTT yesterday afforded lucky customer George Mc Intosh, of Bartica Housing Scheme, the opportunity to fly to Jamaica to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip for two to the beautiful Ocho Rios, Mammee Bay Estate Resort, Jamaica… more
NFMU beefs up spectrum monitoring capacity; illegal frequency use confirmed
Guyana – Guyana’s National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) on Thursday officially commissioned three high-tech spectrum monitoring stations that will allow the country to effectively police that natural resource… more
OUR Demands Explanation Of New Fee From Digicel
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has written to telecommunications PROVIDER Digicel requesting that the company explains its decision to start charging a Prepaid Maintenance Fee (PMF) to customers whose monthly spend is under J$50… more
OUR, Digicel at loggerheads over new fee for prepaid customers
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) says it has written to Digicel requesting an explanation on the company’s decision to start charging a prepaid maintenance fee (PMF) to customers whose monthly spend falls below $50… more
Scams, scam attempts continue to plague locals
Jamaica – While local residents have yet to fully experience summer’s increased temperatures, they have experienced another area in which things have really heated up… more
Bernadette Lewis honoured for contribution to C’bean’s ICT sector
Regional – SECRETARY general of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Bernadette Lewis has been honoured for her contribution to the Caribbean’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector and to internet governance… more
CANTO Chair Discuss CANTO 2017 and Telecoms Issues on Regional TV Show: Time to Face the Facts
Regional – Chairman of CANTO, Mr. Julian Wilkins joined telecom experts from the Caribbean to discuss regional telecom issues and the upcoming CANTO 2017 event… more
Thursday, 29 June 2017
Microsoft and GOB sign MOU to minimize corruption
Belize – Belize’s 10 year relationship with Microsoft has recently experienced an additional new feature… more
Dominicans must adopt a cybersecurity culture: official
Dominican Republic – Dominican Telecom Institute (Indotel) president Jose del Castillo on Wed. announced an executive order to launch a national cybersecurity policy in September, as the baseline for response, design and define actions to prevent cyber crimes… more
Guyana government acquires spectrum monitoring systems
Guyana – Guyana’s telecoms ministry has purchased three spectrum monitoring systems costing some 100mn Guyana dollars (US$482,000) to better manage and trace frequencies… more
Not So Fast Digicel: Jamaican Regulator Wants Explanation on New Fee
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant Digicel has until tomorrow to explain to Jamaican regulators its introduction of a new charge to some customers… more
Tech Hopefuls Share US$25,000 at PitchIT Caribbean Challenge 3
Regional – Tech start-ups from five Caribbean territories scored big at the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge mobile app entrepreneurship competition on June 17, each winning US$5,000 in seed funding to develop their businesses… more
Flow admits customers not getting “100 percent” service
Saint Lucia – Telecommunications provider Flow has admitted that St Lucian consumers are not receiving 100 percent of the service for which they are paying… more
Flow taking “proactive steps” to address customer complaints
Saint Lucia – Telecommunications company Flow has assured customers that it is taking proactive steps to smooth out glitches in its system due to a recent upgrade in its broadband and television networks… more
CTU Secretary General Addresses Regional Governors in Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten – Ms. Bernadette Lewis, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union delivered the Keynote address at the 6th Annual Governor’s Symposium which had as its theme ‘ICT Governance – Shaping our Future’… more
Friday, 30 June 2017
BTC Northern Bahamas Hit by Copper Thieves
Bahamas – At around 1am on June 29th, a BTC substation in Lewis Yard became the target of copper thieves who severed wires resulting in widespread service outages for area residents including the communities of Pinder’s Point and Hunters, as well as portions of the Hawksbill area on Grand Bahama… more
BTC Outage Caused By Copper Thieves
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) suffered widespread service outages in several Grand Bahama areas yesterday, after its Lewis Yard sub-station was hit by copper thieves around 1am… more
Please bring back the payphones
Barbados – BARBADOS SEEMS to be the only country in the Caribbean where a landline phone outside of the home (pay phone for individuals) is now unavailable… more
URCA Hit By 30% Staff Attrition In ’16
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) lost nearly 30 per cent of its staff in 2016, its chief executive conceding this had impacted its ability to deliver on projects… more
GTT sacks 15 more workers
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has terminated the services of 15 more workers, according to head of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (PTWU) Harold Shepherd, who says the company breached a court order requiring that it meaningfully consult with the union before proceeding… more
Internet connectivity for ambulances and the police
Guyana – The desire for progress is something intrinsic to human beings, both at the individual level and collectively speaking. So, when the Government of Guyana makes certain pronouncements such as telling of plans to make online access to public services possible, the response by the general public is usually positive… more
Local company launches new website builder
Guyana – Guyanese Tech Engineer Miguel Gurchuran has introduced a state-of-the-art website builder which he says will challenge the manner in which websites are managed in Guyana… more
STEMGuyana success leads to calls for more community STEMClubs
Guyana – Perhaps to a greater extent than their participation in Guyana’s first ever National Robot and Technology Exhibition last Saturday, I took my cue from the decision by an empowered group of STEMGuyana team members to spend the previous evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall readying the venue for what was to be an unprecedented experience… more
Digicel To Refund Prepaid Customers Unannounced Maintenance Fee
Jamaica – Telecommunication company Digicel is to refund prepaid customers the unannounced monthly maintenance charge it began imposing on some of them on June 22… more
Flow Jamaica Gets Reprieve On Fixed-Line Cost Cuts
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited (C&WJ), which trades as FLOW, has urged its regulator to reconsider plans to slash fixed-line charges, saying it could have a deleterious effect on its cash flow… more
Scotiabank Rolls Out Free Wi-Fi At Its Oxford Road Branch
Jamaica – Scotiabank has started the roll-out of free Wi-Fi to its network of 32 branches across the island. The launch of this initiative took place at the Oxford Road branch in St Andrew on Friday, June 16… more
PRESS RELEASE: Team Saint Lucia prepares for Robot Olympics (see photos)
Saint Lucia – Team Saint Lucia (Team 758), Saint Lucia’s representative in the inaugural Robot Olympics to be held July 16-18, 2017 in Washington D.C. are making excellent progress with the construction, programming and functioning of their robot… more
Saturday, 1 July 2017
THE GODFATHER OF INTERNET INVENTIONS IS A BELIZEAN-AMERICAN, ANDRE GRAY
Belize – Before the internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) became public modes of modern communications, its precursor was some dial-up telecommunications nodes. Every state in the US had them… more
Digicel Slaps Low-Spending Customers With $15 Charge
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant Digicel is charging its customers $15 under its new scheme, which seems to penalise those who spend less than $50 per month on their prepaid account… more
Digicel to increase prices on next bill
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Less than a year after Digicel Play increased its cable prices by $5.85 and its Internet prices by $10, another increase will be seen on its customers’ next month bill… more
Collin Greenland | Preparing For Cyber Attacks
Regional – This May and June have seen unprecedented levels of cyber attacks internationally that are now forcing security experts, and indeed all of us, to strengthen our preparatory and preventative efforts of our computer systems… more
CariGamers show skills
Trinidad and Tobago – CARIGAMERS in collaboration with Papa John’s Pizza and Flow, hosted their third Hearthstone Gaming event on June 25… more
Sunday, 2 July 2017
CONSUMER CONCERNS…Consumers welcome the new PUC chairman, look forward to quick liberalization
Guyana – On Wednesday 21st June Ms. Della Britton, a well-known attorney-at-law and serving Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was sworn in as Chairman of the PUC by President Granger… more
Cyber-crime training to tackle emerging threats- Harmon
Guyana – In light of several malware attacks on local companies’ Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Government is sending two persons to participate in a cyber security and grill programme in Suriname… more
Digicel says sorry
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Digicel has sought to mend its relations with customers following its decision to charge a $15 Prepaid Maintenance Fee (PMF) on customers who spend less than $50 for the month of June… more
Facebook threat to Rowley and family: Cops detain man
Trinidad and Tobago – Police have detained Rayad Mohammed, the Rio Claro man who wrote a Facebook post directed at Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, his wife and daughter… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Bahamas News; Wikipedia
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