A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 30 October to Sunday 5 November 2017.
Monday, 30 October 2017
Gov’t Told: Don’t Stall On $70m Aliv Sell-Off
Bahamas – The Government has been warned it will lose investors if it stalls for too long on the $70 million sell-off of its Aliv majority shareholding… more
Sign Or Sacked – BTC’s Jobs Threat
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company has threatened to terminate contracts with 147 workers if they do not sign a new agreement by today, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union President Bernard Evans said yesterday… more
Stronger laws coming to tackle cyber crime
Barbados – Barbados’ top judicial officer has warned about a growing class of sophisticated criminals in Barbados who is not only heavily armed but shoring up crimes with technology… more
Salary negotiations for GTT workers deadlocked; union still awaiting arbitration
Guyana – The Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GP&TWU) on Sunday said it wants the Ministry of Social Protection’s Department of Labour to invoke arbitration in a deadlocked pay dispute with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT)… more
TalkPool secures 5-year Haiti O&M contract
Haiti – Network service provider TalkPool has announced a new five-year contract for Operation & Maintenance of Digicel’s mobile telephony network in Haiti… more
C&W Invests in Innovative Hospitality Solutions to Support the Development of the Regional Tourism Sector
Regional – As a leading investor in innovative hospitality solutions Cable & Wireless Business brought its technological expertise to bear in the recent regional discussions at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), in Grenada… more
TSTT closes 9 of 10 retail stores
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) may be closing nine of its Trinidad retail outlets but no one is being sent home as a result… more
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Cable Unveils Dividend Restart Within One Year
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas expects its growth strategy to start paying off for shareholders in less than a year’s time, although it is “not fully satisfied yet” with the returns generated… more
Barbados Forming New Strategy to Fight Caribbean Cyber Crime
Barbados – The Barbados Government has announced plans to establish a national cybersecurity strategy to provide the island with “a robust cyber defence” as it seeks to deal with crime… more
Telecoms company brings relief to pregnant women
British Virgin Islands – Pregnant women and parents of infants are today expected to get relief from telecommunication providers CCT, which has launched a baby supplies distribution campaign… more
All it takes is fifty cents to activate Digicel’s newest offer
Dominica – Fifty (50) cents – that’s all it will cost Digicel customers to get one hour of Digicel unlimited talk and text plus unlimited Facebook and Whatsapp messaging! The remarkable offer is only available on the My Digicel app and is valid until November 05… more
Is your software UP TO PAR?
Jamaica – Quality oftentimes reflects how much time, effort and capital is put into a product and service. For instance, Facebook, Instagram, Google and even your favourite local banking app invests a lot in assuring the quality of its applications… more
Ja Can Be Silicon Valley Of The Caribbean – UTech Scholar
Jamaica – Jamaica has the potential to be the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean, with a knowledge, tech-savvy generation at its core to drive economic and industrial development, noted University of Technology (UTech) student, Orande Harris… more
CANTO and CARILEC MOU supports sustainable energy and ICT goals of the Caribbean
Regional – From May 2017, discussions have been ongoing between CARILEC and CANTO in the formulation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which included, inter alia, agreement on the joint promotion of the current CARILEC Smart Grid Symposium in Trinidad, October 23-26, 2017… more
Liberty Global Appoints New CEO for Latin American & Caribbean Operation
Regional – Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK, LILA and LILAK), the world’s largest international TV and broadband company, today announced that Balan Nair, currently Chief Technology & Innovation Officer for Liberty Global, will assume the position of President and CEO of its Latin American and Caribbean operation once the split-off from Liberty Global occurs, which is expected around the end of the year… more
Understanding RANSOMWARE
Regional – Pirate , bandit, raider, thief, hacker… as the times change so does the moniker, but the underlying concept is the same. They are all cyber criminals… more
PM Harris meets with Amazon execs to advance strategy in making government tech services more modern
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Following a successful meeting in the Canadian capital of Ottawa with the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris arrived in Toronto, Canada`s largest city, to participate in the Toronto Global Forum – International Economic Forum of the Americas… more
QuickBooks training workshop next week
Saint Lucia – The Training Sessions will be Held from Nov. 6 – 9 at the National ICT Centre… more
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
BTC Urged To Rethink Job Cuts
Bahamas – THE government is working with management at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company and union officials with the hope of resolving the conflict for more than 100 employees who are allegedly being forced to sign new contracts or face termination, according to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes… more
Week’s ‘Breathing Room’ For BTC Worker Dispute
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has given technicians an extra week to review their new employment terms, lifting – at least temporarily – its threat to terminate 70 workers… more
ST. JOSEPH PUPILS RECEIVE TABLETS
Barbados – This academic year approximately 700 Class 3 students from 15 Government Primary Schools will receive tablets… more
Belize Electronic Licenses and Permits System (BELAPS) to be Inaugurated tomorrow
Belize – Tomorrow, Taiwanese Ambassador H.E. Charles K. Y. Liu will hand over the Belize Electronic License and Permit System (BELAPS) to Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber and the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) of the government of Belize… more
C.C.J. Settles B.T.L. Dispute – US $78 Million for Ex-Owners
Belize – Eight years of costly legal battles between the Government of Belize and Dunkeld International Limited, a subsidiary of the Ashcroft Group, over the final payment for the 2009 B.T.L. acquisition, ended in an eight minute ruling handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice this morning… more
P.M. Proclaims B.T.L. Still Worth It
Belize – Notwithstanding the exorbitant cost that the people of Belize have ultimately paid for B.T.L., PM Barrow maintains that it was all worth the money… more
Slow Service From Digicel
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: On Monday, October 30, 2017 I went to Digicel in New Kingston to pay my Digicel bills… more
Liberty Global Reports Q3 2017 Results
Regional – Liberty Global plc today announced its Q3 financial and operating results for the Liberty Global Group1 and the LiLAC Group1… more
TSTT workers stage protests
Trinidad and Tobago – Although TSTT has already stated that they will not retrench any employee when closing their bmobile retail outlets, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said they have no faith in the company and is preparing for war… more
Thursday, 2 November 2017
BTB’s Online Portal effective November 1, 2017
Belize – Given the advent of the age of technological advances, the Belize Tourism Board has been working on an online portal to benefit stakeholders. While this will be executed in three phases, phase one of the portal was opened on Wednesday, November 1, 2017… more
CCJ rules GOB to pay Ashcroft group US$78.16 Million compensation for BTL nationalization
Belize – The Government of Belize lost its appeal before the Caribbean Court of Justice, which ruled on Wednesday, November 1, that GOB must pay US$78.16 Million to corporate partners of the Ashcroft Group by November 10, 2017, as compensation for the nationalization of Belize Telecommunications Ltd (BTL) in 2009… more
Is E-Government The Solution To Immigration Woes?
Belize – And while the endless Senate inquiry is all about a horse that left the stable so long ago, even the scent of dung is now faint….what’s the solution going forward? It should be obvious that e-government – the same kind we told you about in our last segment – is the solution… more
We have the money to pay for BTL
Belize – Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow called a press conference on Wednesday November 1 to brief the nation on a judgement handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice which will see the Government of Belize making a final payment to the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited of US $78,163,806.07… more
Jamaica government to start procuring CCTV for schools
Jamaica – Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator Ruel Reid indicated yesterday that the Government is currently seeking to procure closed circuit television (CCTV) systems for secondary schools… more
Cable & Wireless Reports Preliminary Q3 2017 Results
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications Limited (“C&W”) is a leading telecommunications operator in its consumer markets, which are predominantly located in the Caribbean and Latin America, providing entertainment, information and communication services to 3.5 million mobile, 0.4 million television, 0.6 million internet and 0.6 million fixed-line telephony subscribers2… more
Friday, 3 November 2017
BTC Only Revenue Faller As 19,000 Exit Mobile
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is the sole CWC asset that failed to increase revenues in the 2017 third quarter, as it lost 19,000 mobile subscribers… more
Takeover ‘Defective’, But URCA Approves Sebas’s Radio Deal
Bahamas – Regulators approved a radio station’s majority takeover by Sebas Bastian’s Brickell Management Group (BMG) despite the application being “ineffectual” due to its partners’ non-compliance… more
Digicel focused on making a difference in people’s lives
Barbados – Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Alex Tasker, says being a good corporate citizen is not only about financial support but also when team members give their time in creating great impact in long-standing relationships… more
Owen: Solution lies in smart communities
Barbados – Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur has called for the Warrens to UWI corridor to be developed as the island’s first smart community, laying the foundation to transform the stagnant economy on pillars of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship… more
23 million internet service for Kato School
Guyana – A whopping $23 million has been approved by Cabinet for the provision of internet service to the Kato Secondary School… more
Internet Society (Guyana Chapter) launched
Guyana – “The creation of the Internet Society Guyana Chapter comes at a critical time in Guyana where international issues, such as the .amazon TLD, net neutrality, internet governance, connecting the next billion users and Guyanese issues, such as liberalization of the telecommunication sector becomes paramount in national and international dialogues” Hinds said… more
Internet Getting Out Of Reach
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: On November 1, 2017, a major telecommunications service provider decided to raise its fee for its popular 300-megabyte two-day data plan. Its cost moved from $150 to $175… more
Rapid Growth of E-Commerce offers Opportunity for Region – Johnson Smith
Jamaica – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says the rapid pace of technological advancement and expansion of e-commerce globally provides opportunity for Latin American and Caribbean countries to increase trade and commercial ties and pursue their respective growth agendas… more
Cable & Wireless video subs fall across the Caribbean, Central America
Regional – Although Cable & Wireless has managed to keep video revenues afloat, subscriber numbers continue to drop across the Caribbean and Central America… more
Deep Blue Cable To Extend Network
Regional – Deep Blue Cable, the new telecoms operation backed by Irishman Denis O’Brien, plans to extend its fibre-optic cable project beyond the Caribbean into the Americas… more
Flow and Ave Maria Mark World Internet Day
Saint Lucia – On Wednesday November 1st 2017, the leading girls primary school in Saint Lucia celebrated International Internet Day with the nation’s and the Caribbean’s number one telecommunications service provider, Flow…. more
Flow, C&W Business Back Business Month
Saint Lucia – The island’s leading telecommunications service provider is joining the Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs to present November as Business Month… more
TelEm beefing up restoration efforts
Sint Maarten – New contractors have been added to work teams on the island already working with TelEm Group… more
TelEm Group Technicians working in Madame Estate and Arch Road areas Tuesday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians will be carrying out maintenance work in the Madame Estate area next week with interruptions in telecommunication services from 8:00 am in the morning until approximately 5:00 pm in the evening… more
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Drones ‘can fight praedial larceny’
Barbados – Pesky crop thieves could soon find themselves behind bars thanks to eyes in the skies… more
US$78 MIL IN 9 DAYS
Belize – The Barrow administration, and the country, suffered another devastating legal loss to Lord Ashcroft-related entities when the Caribbean Court of Justice, Belize’s highest court, on Wednesday, November 1, delivered a stinging judgement regarding the terms of the final payout of compensation for the government’s acquisition of Belize Telemedia Limited… more
Digital textbooks coming this month
British Virgin Islands – Public school students in seventh and eighth grade will start using digital textbooks after receiving training set to begin this month, Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn announced Thursday… more
911 system relaunched
Guyana – The 911 emergency system was recommissioned yesterday after several years of problems… more
Broadcasting Authority issues postdated radio licences
Guyana – Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) issued, yesterday, several postdated radio licences to operators who were deemed compliant up to the period ending 2016… more
Digicel’s owner plays up landing fibre-optic cable in Guyana
Guyana – Deep Blue Cable, the new telecoms operation backed by Irishman Denis O’Brien, plans to extend its fibre-optic cable project beyond the Caribbean into the Americas… more
UPDATED: Digicel launches new hub in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – In front of an enthusiastic crowd of business leaders, politicians and Digicel staff, the Prime Minster of Saint Lucia, the Honourable Allen Chastanet, declared Digicel’s new St. Lucia hub offices “open for business” on Thursday, Nov. 2… more
27 employees from Cable TV will be jobless on December 31st.
Sint Maarten – Some 27 employees from Cable TV will be without a job on December 31st, 2017 if the management of TelEm gets their way. The employees who have worked for Cable TV for more than 10 years are not at all satisfied with the information they received from TelEm CEO Kendall Dupersoy… more
Sunday, 5 November 2017
C&W buy-back backlash
Barbados – Cable & Wireless (Barbados Limited) could be facing a major legal battle in Barbados… more
Contract awarded for internet access at Kato school
Guyana – A $23 million contract has been awarded for the provision of internet services at the Kato Secondary School and according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon this is part of government’s plan to ensure that hinterland schools are on par with those on the coast… more
Digicel takes wireless telephone service to Coomacka
Guyana – Digicel Guyana yesterday commissioned its tallest tower at Coomacka, commonly called ‘The Mines’, a small village in the mining town of Linden… more
New Tech Platform For CPJ – Expansion Plans Drive Investment In Logistics
Jamaica – A one-day lockdown of Caribbean Producers Jamaica’s (CPJ) facilities near the end of October was for a systems upgrade… more
Thanks, TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: This letter is to thank TSTT for installing my bundled phone and internet service. After many months of waiting for connection my complaint was published in the Newsday on October 8… more
Image credits: Yukiko Matsuoka (flickr); Wikipedia; Logok; The Eleutheran; 721 News; Wikipedia;
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