A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 12 March to Sunday 18 March 2018.
Monday, 12 March 2018
Scotiabank to consolidate branches at digital centre
Cayman Islands – Scotiabank is planning to close two of its branches and consolidate to a new digital centre at Camana Bay… more
Cybercrimes Act review on the cards — Andrew Wheatley
Jamaica – MINISTER of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says a review of the Cybercrimes Act which addresses computer-specific offences, is to be undertaken soon… more
‘Nuff nuff credit’ for Digicel customers this Easter
Jamaica – In a creative response to its “nuff data, more talk” plans, customers have dared Digicel to go farther by offering what they describe as “nuff nuff credit” for topping up their Prepaid service… more
Dangers of AI
Regional – Recently, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking have again warned of the dangers posed by AI (artificial intelligence)… more
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Aliv Launches In Long Island
Bahamas – ALIV says it has been making “excellent progress” with its service roll-out, a top executive saying it has more than 100,000 subscribers to-date… more
NIB’s It Woes Cause 43% Productivity Fall
Bahamas – THE National Insurance Board’s (NIB) information technology (IT) challenges have caused a 43 per cent decline in productivity, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday… more
Can service providers withstand the coming technological tsunami?
Belize – Several weeks ago when Belize and many Belizeans, for the first time in their lives, experienced an unprecedented tsunami warning,.. more
Poor internet access no limit to Cuban YouTubers
Cuba – Frank Camallerys paces Havana’s Malecon esplanade with a telephone at the end of a pole, seducing thousands of internet users with images of Cuba despite the communist island’s limited web access… more
BPO a key pillar of growth agenda —Vaz
Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, says outsourcing services remain a key pillar of the country’s economic growth and job creation strategy, and the Government has been proactive in promoting, engaging and securing investments in the sector… more
CWJ requests change of period for suspending trading of its shares
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica (CWJ) has requested a change of period for suspension of trading in CWJ Shares… more
CANTO Launches 12th Annual WTISD – Video Competition
Regional – World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be observed on Tuesday, May 17th 2018… more
TT hoteliers to benefit from C&W interactive TV
Trinidad and Tobago – CABLE and Wireless Business (C&W Business) says its suite of information technology (IT) solutions for the hospitality sector will boost the product being offered by TT’s hoteliers… more
CELLPHONE RESTRICTIONS FOR DRIVERS SOON
Turks and Caicos Islands – Restrictions on the use of cellphones while driving will soon be introduced in the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to officials from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and the Road Traffic Department… more
Digicel granted 50 year license to install fibre optic cables in TCI
Turks and Caicos Islands – Digicel has been granted a 50 year licence to install its underground fibre optic cables in a bid to upgrade and improve network services across the Turks and Caicos Islands… more
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Opposition Senate Says BTL Loan Guarantee Too Much Debt
Belize – And from debate over the Caracol Road’s loan motion, we turn now to the sovereign guarantee that the Senate has approved for BTL to get a 17.5 million US dollar loan from the Taiwanese Government… more
The True Value of B.T.L.
Belize – When the new budget was presented to the House of Representatives last Friday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow made claims with respect to the value and cost of B.T.L… more
Call centres feel scammed by labour ‘laws’
Jamaica – “Had I known that Jamaica’s labour laws were like this, I would have taken my business elsewhere… more
Data Protection Bill Comes With Undue Burden On Small Businesses
Jamaica – Software developers SlashRoots Foundation/Make Better Community said while the spirit of the Data Protection Act of 2017 was commendable, the scope of the bill in its current form would impose undue burden on small companies in all industries, entrepreneurs, and innovators… more
Why the Caribbean’s digital future depends upon the cloud
Regional – In 2018, many first-world countries are seeing the remarkable, disruptive impact of the digital economy. In the Caribbean, however, there is no consistent delivery of state-of-the-art information and communication technology (ICT) services from country to country, and the availability of online services to citizens can vary widely… more
Thursday, 15 March 2018
Digicel ends Cuba roaming service for U.S. customers
Cuba – Digicel, which provides wireless networks throughout the Caribbean, Central America and the South Pacific, is dropping its Cuba roaming service for U.S. customers on April 9… more
Haiti: Tech Incubator To Launch In Spring 2018
Haiti – Haitian Times tech contributor Henry Beaucejour interviewed Dr. Jean-Jacques Rousseau who serves as a Technical Advisor in Innovation, Science, and Competitiveness to President Jovenel Moise… more
Blockchain Technology Can Cut Mortgage Approval Times
Jamaica – Newly appointed president of the Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ), Howard Johnson Jr reckons that streamlining mortgage transactions through the blockchain technology system could reduce mortgage approval turnaround time to half the current 90-day waiting period… more
Digicel Customer Service Disaster
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: If you are a Digicel customer, then you know you have a better chance of receiving a telephone resolution by dialling 119… more
Government Reiterates Need to Maintain Wage-to-GDP Ratio
Jamaica – The Government is reiterating that in order to maintain the targeted wage to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio and remain fiscally responsible, it is unable to accede to the requests of the nation’s teachers… more
JamaicaEye to Utilise Network of CCTV Cameras in Crime-Fighting
Jamaica – A national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance programme, geared at improving public safety and disaster response, was launched by the National Security Ministry on Wednesday (March 14)… more
The Jamaican cook shop: on the frontlines of the new Data Protection Act
Jamaica – What does the humble Jamaican cook shop and the pursuit of being Jamaica’s own Mark Zuckerberg have in common? … more
Blockchain, Caribbean Style?
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean is home to one of the few examples of a regiona l monetary authority experimenting with blockchain technology… more
Cryptocurrency Firm Bitt Joins Eastern Caribbean Central Bank For Blockchain Pilot
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has partnered with Barbados-based cryptocurrency firm Bitt to conduct a blockchain pilot in the ECCB member countries… more
Digicel Caribbean and Central America CEO, Vanessa Slowey steps down
Regional – Total communications and entertainment provider, Digicel, today announced that Vanessa Slowey, CEO for the Caribbean and Central America, has decided to leave the business… more
Computer coding, programming to be rolled out in local primary schools
Saint Kitts and Nevis – An important component of information technology (IT), particularly computer code and coding/programming, is expected to be rolled out in primary schools across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the not too distant future… more
St Kitts and Nevis gets digital independence
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The government of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has become the first in the Caribbean to have its own unique identifier on the global Internet… more
Flow Recognises 25 Long-Serving Colleagues
Saint Lucia – The leading telecommunications service provider in Saint Lucia and the Caribbean, as well as one of the island’s foremost employers, recognised some of its most outstanding colleagues on Monday… more
Cudjoe: Nat Geo to do social media campaign for TT
Trinidad and Tobago – TOURISM Minister Shamfa Cudjoe has reported that Government has arranged with National Geographic to do a social media campaign to promote this country… more
Friday, 16 March 2018
IDB: Only 22% Of Local Companies ‘Innovative’
Bahamas – The Government is targeting the ‘Blue economy’ and agribusiness for economic diversification in an environment where just 22 per cent of Bahamian companies “innovate”… more
Given The Runaround By Digicel Automated System
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I have been a loyal Digicel postpaid customer since they entered Jamaica in April 2001… more
MC Systems Rolls Out Fraud Detection Tech Solution
Jamaica – MC Systems, the technology member company of The Jamaica National Group, has rolled out a payroll audit technology solution, that can detect areas of fraud and abuse in a company or organisation and flag it immediately… more
Outsource2Jamaica to Showcase Island as BPO Destination
Jamaica – The inaugural Outsource2Jamaica Symposium & Expo, to be held in Montego Bay in April, will provide a platform to raise the profile of Jamaica as a business process outsourcing (BPO) destination… more
Flow, SLHTA to help connect visitors to Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – Visitors to Saint Lucia will find it easier than ever to stay connected whilst enjoying the Helen of the West… more
CTU Continues 21st Century Government Thrust in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Following the successful launch of its 21st Century Government initiative at a Heads of Government Summit in Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will be presenting, in a workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in March 2018, a policy framework and guidelines for implementation of 21st Century Government… more
Solar fades affecting signals to TelEm Group Cable TV customers.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group is advising Cable TV subscribers not to adjust their TV sets if they should happen to experience some brief intervals of interruption of service during the course of the day – The reason could be seasonal “Solar Fades” that occur this time each year… more
TelEm Group to report theft of copper cables to police.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group says it will be reporting the theft of copper cables in at least two areas of the island in recent days to the police to head off a potential problem for the company and its customers… more
2 Tobago schools get tech clubs under Digital Citizen Programme
Trinidad and Tobago – Mason Hall and Roxborough Secondary Schools in Tobago will benefit from two newly formed Tech Clubs, courtesy Digicel Foundation… more
Saturday, 17 March 2018
Flow Repeats Call For Stronger Measures To Curb Vandalism
The management of telecommunications firm FLOW is once again calling for more severe penalties such as stronger fines and longer prison sentences for persons who vandalise its private property, including its equipment and that of other telecoms providers… more
Symposium to showcase Jamaica as BPO destination
Jamaica – THE inaugural Outsource2Jamaica Symposium & Expo, to be held in Montego Bay in April, will provide a platform to raise the profile of Jamaica as a business process outsourcing (BPO) destination… more
Sunday, 18 March 2018
Mark Ricketts | Emphasise Leadership And Technology
Jamaica – The current standoff between so many public-sector workers and Government, the extent to which negotiations have dragged, and promises made and not kept is a failure of leadership… more
The business of bitcoin….a shiny scam or a gold mine?
Jamaica – The first transaction involving bitcoin was reported on May 22, 2010, when a programmer identified as Laszlo Hanyecz said he “successfully traded 10,000 bitcoins for pizza… more
Coding 101: The Caribbean Potential
Saint Lucia – When someone says the word ‘programming’ at a dinner party, there are typically two responses… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
