A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 18 June to Sunday 24 June 2018.

Monday, 18 June 2018

Bahamas Blockchain BBCC 2018 Cryptocurrency Conference: June 20-22

Bahamas – On June 20th, the Bahamas will be hosting a cryptocurrency and blockchain conference, which will be at the Grand Lucayan resort… more

Government It Lead In Control Woes, 25% Understaffed

Bahamas – The government unit charged with implementing its $30m digital transformation is 25 percent under-staffed and plagued by “numerous internal control deficiencies”… more

Cable & Wireless addresses “radiation” issue

Grenada – Cable & Wireless Communications, registered owner of the High Court Building on the Carenage in St. Georges categorically refutes recent claims made in the media citing possible harmful ‘radiation’ levels in the building… more

ICT/Knowledge Services Accounts for 58 per Cent of Jobs Created in 2017/18

Jamaica – The Information Communication Technology (ICT)/Knowledge Services sector accounted for approximately 58 per cent of  jobs created during the last financial year… more

Initiatives being implemented for digital society

Jamaica – CHIEF executive officer at eGov Jamaica Limited Maurice Barnes has highlighted various initiatives being implemented towards Jamaica’s thrust of becoming a digital society… more

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Clarke pushes for greater attention on agriculture resilience, BPO

Jamaica – FINANCE and the Public Service Minister, Nigel Clarke, has called for improved focus on initiatives aimed at building Jamaica’s agricultural resilience and business process outsourcing sector as the country continue its pursuit of economic independence… more

Growth & Jobs | Jamaica Computer Society Growing In Canada

Jamaica – Organisers of The Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) believes that the successful launch of a chapter in Canada recently signals an effort to encourage key partnerships to sustain innovation and growth… more

Wednesday, 20 June 2018

Garfield Sinclair Appointed CEO of BTC

Bahamas –  Inge Smidts, CEO of Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W), today announced the appointment of Garfield (Garry) Sinclair as CEO at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) effective August 1st, 2018… more

Minister Thompson: Gov’t. to launch High Tech Summer Training Program

Bahamas –The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, will launch a program that will allow 150 students in Grand Bahama and Nassau to take part in an innovative High Tech Summer Training Program… more

PM says Bahamas is uniquely positioned to quickly become jurisdiction of choice for Blockchain companies

Bahamas– Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis says Grand Bahama is the ideal location in The Bahamas to support the establishment and growth of a technology cluster of blockchain, and other software companies that can jumpstart the technology industry in The Bahamas… more

PM Barrow on B.T.L. Advertizing Ban on Kremandala

Belize – In 2011 after its re-nationalization, Belize Telemedia withdrew all advertising from us here at Great Belize Productions, Channel Five… more 

Oh, No, FLOW!

Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir:I have to tell my friends at FLOW that you have dropped the ball and dropped it seriously… more

Technology crucial to moving economy forward — IDB official

Jamaica – General Manager of the Country Department, Caribbean Group, at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones, has underscored the importance of technology in creating sustainable and vibrant economies in the region… more

Telecom Sector Subscriptions Fall, But Revenue Grows

Jamaica– The telecoms sector, whose largest players are Digicel and Flow, reported increased revenues at $21.4 billion for the quarter ending December 2017 despite reduced calling minutes and subscriptions, according to the latest regulatory data from the Office of Utilities Regulation, the OUR… more

Digicel Group To Sell 450 Cell Towers Across The Caribbean

Regional – Digicel Group Limited plans to sell hundreds of its Caribbean cell towers in a bid to reduce its leverage… more

IDB launches call for proposals from startups in the Caribbean

Regional – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a call for proposals that will reward the most disruptive ventures in Latin America and the Caribbean that are using innovation to improve lives… more

Free Wi-Fi available in Dennery

Saint Lucia – The Government Island Wide Network (GINET) Wi-Fi Zone for Dennery has officially been launched…more

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Caribbean Elections in the Age of Cambridge Analytica: External Interference – Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda– PM Gaston Brown has fingered the likes of Cambridge Analytica in failed efforts to influence regime change in his country through external interference… more

$1m Budget For Freedom Of Information

Bahamas– THE government has allocated just over $1m to assist in defraying the cost of bringing the Freedom of Information Act into effect, Attorney General Carl Bethel announced yesterday… more

Bahamas pegged to be ‘silicon capital’ of the Caribbean

Bahamas– Prime Minister of The Bahamas Dr. Hubert Minnis officially opened the first Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference in Grand Bahama yesterday where he indicated that The Bahamas has the potential to soon be the “Silicon Capital” for technology in the Caribbean region… more

PM: Grand Bahama Ideal For Tech Industry

Bahamas– Prime Minister Doctor Hubert Minnis  says “Grand Bahama is the ideal location within The Bahamas that can support the establishment and growth of a technology cluster and block chain and other software companies that can jumpstart the technology industry in The Bahamas… more

New Telecoms Company in Barbados Facing Possible Takeover by FLOW

Barbados – Less than a year after setting up shop in Barbados, telecommunications company Ozone Wireless is facing possible takeover by its competitor Flow… more

BUSINESS BYTE: Flow prepares to launch advanced mobile technology in market

Dominica – Flow Dominica is preparing to make major improvements to the customer mobile experience in Dominica with the launch of 4G LTE in the market in July… more

Flow prepares to launch advanced mobile technology in Market

Dominica – Flow Dominica is preparing to make major improvements to the customer mobile experience in Dominica with the launch of 4G LTE in market in July… more

Caribbean Elections in the Age of Cambridge Analytica: Grenada’s Seismic Eruption

Grenada – On May 2nd, CA and SCL announced they were closing down – and yet another seismic eruption had taken place, far from Grenada’s shores… more

Cumberland, Cane Grove online

Guyana – Residents of Cumberland, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) and Cane Grove, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) are the newest beneficiaries of the E-Government Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said yesterday… more

GTT could give a little free WiFi

Guyana – Dear Editor,Please permit me a few lines in your newspaper to ask the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) to do more… more

Meeting around the Strategic Plan of CONATEL

Haiti – At the beginning of the week, Fritz Caillot, Minister supervising the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL), made a working session with Jean David Rodney, the Director General of the Council on the Action Plan of the institution… more

Businesses Utilising COJ Electronic Registration

Jamaica – A total of 130 entities have utilised the Companies Office of Jamaica’s (COJ) Electronic Business Registration Form (eBRF) since the online facility was piloted on April 4… more

Intelligent banking

Trinidad and Tobago – Scotiabank recently launched its first local digital branch at Price Plaza, Chaguanas… more

TSTT reaches into rural homes with WTTx

Trinidad and Tobago – With the introduction of cutting edge WTTx technology, TSTT is extending the reach of its high-speed broadband services… more

U.S. Virgin Islands Deploys Everbridge to Power New Mass Notification System

United States Virgin Islands – Everbridge, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVBG), the global leader in critical event management and enterprise safety software applications to help keep people safe and businesses running, today announced deployment of Alert VI, the new emergency notification service for the U.S. Virgin Islands… more

Friday, 22 June 2018

Bahamas Urged To ‘Set Standard’ Over Crypto Regulation

Bahamas – The Bahamas can “set the standard” for blockchain and cryptocurrency regulation by establishing an appropriate supervisory framework now, an industry specialist said yesterday… more

Bahamas Will Pilot State-Backed Digital Currency

Bahamas – The Central Bank of The Bahamas is to introduce a pilot digital currency. The announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest was made at the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference taking place this week… more

Blockchain conference participants invited to invest in Grand Bahama

Bahamas – During the opening day of the first Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, presenters and visiting guests were invited by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest to invest in the island… more

Blockchain digital IDs can resolve Caymanian status question

Cayman Islands – The solution to the growing problem of Caymanians needing to prove their status is most likely to be found through the use of blockchain technology, Premier Alden McLaughlin told an industry conference in Cayman Thursday… more

Gov’t Transforming Jamaica into Digital Economy – PM

Jamaica –Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government has taken steps to transform Jamaica into a truly digital economy… more

Jamaica moving to become a digital economy, says PM

Jamaica – THE Jamaican Government says its is taking steps to transform Jamaican into a digital economy… more

KM2 Solutions opens second call center in St Lucia, plans to add 400 new jobs

Saint Lucia –  KM2 Solutions, a leading US-based, contact center services provider has opened a new facility in St. Lucia, expanding their footprint of service locations to 9 centers in 6 countries… more

Saturday, 23 June 2018

Bahamas Central Bank To “Pilot Digital Currency,” Use Blockchain To Weed Out Corruption

Bahamas – The central bank of the Bahamas has announced that it will issue a “pilot digital currency” to be used throughout the country. Kevin Peter Turnquest, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, made the announcement while speaking at The Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference held in Freeport, Grand Bahama on June 20… more

Facebook Romance – Think Before Committing

Jamaica – They have been talking on Facebook for what seems like ages. They have shared their deepest secrets and the more they communicate, the more they realise that they have so much in common… more

ITU wraps up Global Symposium on skills for digital economy and society

Regional – The 2018 ITU Global ICT Capacity Building Symposium (CBS-2018) took place 18-20 June 2018 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with a special focus on “Developing Skills for the Digital Economy and Society” … more

Govt to provide13,600 laptops soon

Trinidad and Tobago – REFERRING to teachers as a precious commodity, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said many years ago a teacher was one of the most respected people in a community… more

People with intellectual disabilities benefit from Digicel workshop

Trinidad and Tobago – One hundred educators and caregivers are closer to understanding the dynamics of Behaviour and Occupational Therapy for people with disabilities, after participating in a two-day workshop hosted by the Digicel Foundation Trinidad and Tobago, in partnership with the A&C Foundation out of Ireland, last month, at Signature Hall, Chaguanas… more

Sunday, 24 June 2018

TelEm Group Bush Road location set to re-open Wednesday following fire at Carrefour supermarket.

Sint Maarten–  TelEm Group is set to re-open its Bush Road location Wednesday, following last week’s fire at the Carrefour supermarket, where the branch office is located… more

TelEm says everyone benefits from TelCell’s new “Want more Get more” campaign.

Sint Maarten– TelEm Group’s mobile voice and data provider TelCell, is throwing the spotlight on the company’s pre-paid and post-paid data services in a brand new campaign to attract new customers and reward current customers more… more

Image credits:  carterse (flickr);  Eleutheran News;  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia