A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 11 June to Sunday 17 June 2018.
Monday, 11 June 2018
Digicel rolls out $3m LTE network in Anguilla
Anguilla – Pan-Caribbean operator Digicel has launched its 4G LTE network on the island of Anguilla to meet the growing demands for improved wireless and broadband connectivity… more
Bahamas Paradise Gives Crew Free Internet
Bahamas – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line announced that it has rolled out high-speed internet services fleetwide for the shipboard crew, free of charge… more
Did B.T.L. Illegally Share Confidential Information?
Belize – B.T.L.’s attorney Magalie Perdomo tried to persuade the Court of Appeal panel, as they had failed to do in the lower court, that Swasey’s idea was never truly his own…more
Mek Mi Rich case heard by Court of Appeal
Belize – In 2015, Supreme Court Justice heard a civil suit brought against telecom giant Belize Telemedia Limited by Corozal businessman Curtis Dale Swasey… more
Scammers using CIG email to con people out of cash
Cayman Islands – The RCIPS has issued a public alert on the latest phishing email scam circulating in the Cayman Islands that is using a government address to defraud money from people… more
Electronic Funds Transfer now available in Dominica
Dominica – Clients of commercial banks in Anguilla, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are now able to send and receive funds same day, in Eastern Caribbean dollars between commercial banks operating in the countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU)…more
Gov’t aiming to have 200 services online by 2020 -Hughes
Guyana – With assistance and support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), along with civil society collaboration, the Government of Guyana is optimistic that by 2020, Guyanese will be able to access at least 200 services online… more
Electronic Funds Transfer now available in Saint Lucia
Regional – Clients of commercial banks in Anguilla, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are now able to send and receive funds same day, in Eastern Caribbean dollars between commercial banks operating in the countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU)…more
ICT expert: TT can be cyber-security hub
Trinidad and Tobago – TT can develop a huge and profitable cyber-security industry, a Joint Select Committee (JSC) on the Cyber Crime Bill learnt yesterday from ICT expert Dr Yufei Wu… more
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Two-step SMS verification not secure, OfReg warns
Cayman Islands – Getting a security code sent to a cell phone via a text message is one of the least secure means of verifying and protecting people’s online accounts, the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) has warned… more
Augmented reality and virtual tours of tourist sites
Haiti – On June 8, the Ministry of Tourism and the École Supérieure d’Infotronique signed a memorandum of understanding for the launch of an augmented reality program and virtual tour of tourist sites… more
Could Jamaica’s Data Protection Act shield politicians from journalistic scrutiny?
Jamaica – In the wake of the European Union’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation, Jamaicans are debating the implications of two new laws governing the collection and protection of personal data… more
CTU Re-Launches Its Caribbean ICT Roadshow In Guyana
Regional – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will hold the first edition of its updated Caribbean ICT Roadshow initiative in Guyana from 9th to 13th July 2018…more
Reporters Without Borders Concerned Guyana’s Cybercrime Bill Could Hurt Press Freedom
Regional – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging the Parliament in Guyana to amend its drafted Cybercrime Bill, which it said could have a damaging effect on press freedom… more
KM2 Solutions to hold ribbon-cutting ceremony for Massade facility; plans to double St. Lucia workforce
Saint Lucia – KM2 Solutions is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new facility in Massade, Gros Islet on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 2 p.m… more
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Columbus Business Solutions rebrands as C&W Business in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Columbus Business Solutions now operates as C&W Business in the Dominican Republic enabling the delivery of the full suite of C&W B2B services… more
Dr. Wheatley Looking to Increase Engagement with Diaspora in STI
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the Ministry is looking to increase engagement with the diaspora in the areas of science, technology and innovation (STI)… more
Cable & Wireless, Flow Ready For Active 2018 Hurricane Season
Regional – “The premature start to the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season on May 25 when subtropical storm Alberto formed East of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, serves as a stark reminder of last year’s devastating season… more
Annual Internet Forum Draws Regional Networks Operators to Belize
Regional – Today, the first day of the fourth annual Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum kicked off in Belize City… more
CarPIF held in Belize City
Regional – The Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum (CarPif) was held today in Belize City. It’s a first-of-its kind event for the region to specifically address the interconnection challenges and opportunities in the Caribbean… more
Official launch of Saint Lucia Open Data
Saint Lucia – A data revolution has begun in Saint Lucia with the launch of the Saint Lucia Open Data portal… more
DirecTV GM: Piracy threat to democracy
Trinidad and Tobago – Content piracy is sounding the death knell for free-to-air television, and possibly even threatening democracy, former TTT programme manager, now Direct TV TT general manager, Bernard Pantin has said… more
Govt starts online building approvals
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Government is hoping that the introduction of an automated construction permit project will alleviate some of the stresses currently facing the construction industry, such as long lag times between the pre-construction and project completion phases… more
Pirates of the Caribbean
Trinidad and Tobago – Time is of the essence when dealing with content piracy, says HBO vice president for Latin America Javier Figueres…more
Roxborough students warned about cyber-bullying
Trinidad and Tobago – Students of Forms Three and Four of the Roxborough Secondary School were on Tuesday warned against using social media to send threats to and post negative comments on others… more
TATT weighing Android Box ban
Trinidad and Tobago – Approximately $300,000 worth of possible tax revenue to the Government is being lost on a yearly basis because customers are buying Android boxes instead of becoming paid television subscribers, DirecTV general manager Bernard Pantin says… more
Thursday, 14 June 2018
Family Islands Urge: ‘Tax Web Shops To The Hilt’
Bahamas – Family Island businessmen yesterday urged the government to “tax the web shop industry to the hilt” because it has left many communities “in shambles”… more
No TV access to World Cup
Cayman Islands – I know that Logic has the exclusive rights to broadcast the World Cup, but what happens to those of us who aren’t subscribers? … more
How Dominican entrepreneur built a thriving website management platform
Dominica – Today on #HowTheyDidIt I talk to the award-winning Dominican entrepreneur Oudin Samuel. Oudin built a successful website management platform across the Caribbean region and North America… more
190 Giga of Internet connection for the incubator Alpha Haiti
Haiti – Jean-David Rodney, Director General of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) informs us that by express delegation of the Presidency the Ciné Triomphe complex has been equipped with high speed internet access, of over 190 giga connection, mobilizing three market operators allowing the incubator Alpha Haiti to have all the necessary Internet capabilities… more
SightLine launches research project on Internet Exchange Points at Caribbean Peering Forum
Regional – A new research project has been launched in the Caribbean to track the development of Internet Exchange Points across the region… more
BATT signal on financial technology
Trinidad and Tobago – As the world embraces cryptocurrencies and other financial technologies, how far behind or advanced is T&T? … more
Scotia opens first local digital branch
Trinidad and Tobago – For Scotiabank T&T Limited going digital is not a one business line initiatives but a cultural transformation designed to enhance customer experience… more
TATT, why not just ban the internet?
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: The Newsday article on Wednesday by Carla Bridglal, titled “TATT to go after Android boxes,” needs a response… more
Friday, 15 June 2018
Web Shop Pay Cut Threat Over Anti-Vat Demo
Bahamas – Island Luck employees were seemingly threatened with the loss of a day’s pay if they did not attend yesterday’s anti-VAT and gaming tax protest in Rawson Square… more
BTL appeals Mek Mi Rich judgment
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has appealed the decision of the Supreme Court in the well-known Mek Mi Rich case… more
ICT development must harmonize with Guyana’s culture – Former Advisor to Hillary Clinton
Guyana – As Guyana works with Estonia to develop a digital roadmap, a former advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned against ignoring local stakeholders in shaping the vision… more
Jamaica’s High Court compels SportsMax parent to provide E-Networks with FIFA World Cup games
Guyana – Jamaica’s Chief Justice, Justice B. Sykes has issued an injunction against the St. Lucia- based owners of regional sports broadcasting network SportsMax, International Media Content Ltd (IMC), preventing them from disconnecting a feed of FIFA World Cup to E-Networks… more
ISPs considering blocking streaming websites
Trinidad and Tobago – Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in this country are actively considering teaming up and blocking certain websites so customers will be prohibited from illegally streaming content… more
Saturday, 16 June 2018
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL, COROZAL BUSINESSMAN CURTIS SWASEY AND BTL BATTLE OVER MEK MI RICH
Belize – The Court of Appeal opened on Monday and the first case on its two-week calendar was the appeal of the Corozal businessman, Curtis Swasey, who won a claim in 2016 in the Supreme Court against Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL)… more
GPL, GTT pay out $24 million in rebates after complaints to PUC
Guyana – The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company were required to dole out over $24 million in credits and rebates last year after complaints against them were settled by the Complaints Division of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)… more
Sunday, 17 June 2018
Overseas-based Guyanese tech mogul investing in local ICT sector
Guyana – Impressed by the talents that exist within the local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, one overseas based Guyanese, who has demonstrated prowess on the world stage, has committed his efforts toward the development of the sector locally… more
‘App-Solutely’ Jamaican – UTech Graduate Creates One Of The Most Popular 10-Digit Converters Available In Google Play Store
Jamaica – Scores of Jamaicans are turning to the Google Play Store for help to convert the seven digit telephone numbers in their contact list to meet the new 10-digit dialling regime, but not many are aware that one of the most popular conversion applications (apps) is made by one of their countrymen… more
Caren Waugh | Why Your Social Media Footprint Matters
Regional – This is the time of year when graduations from educational institutions are taking place and graduates are superexcited to reach another milestone… more
Image credits: Free-Photos (Pixabay); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
