A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 July to Sunday 14 July 2019.
Monday, 8 July 2019
Jitney Drivers ‘Hold Off’ On Cashless Payments
Bahamas – Jitney drivers have held-off on introducing cashless payment mechanisms into the bus system due to the costs associated with maintaining them… more
UB professor: Young people must prepare for workforce automation
Bahamas – The labor market will undergo a radical transformation during the next 20 years, according to Natasha Turnquest, adjunct professor in the School of Social Sciences at the University of The Bahamas (UB)… more
Establishing a Cyber Security Strategy
Belize – G.O.B. is in the process of establishing a policy that specifically addresses the issue of cyber security… more
New BVI Ministry of Natural Resources social media accounts manager named
British Virgin Islands – Karyn Alexander has joined the BVI Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration and will serve as Minister Vincent Wheatley’s social media accounts manager… more
CEC LAUNCHES TECH TALKS
Cayman Islands – As the tech industry grows globally Cayman’s local industry needs to keep up with those trends… more
Shetty sees digital future for healthcare
Cayman Islands – From a suite at Grand Cayman’s Marriott Beach Resort, Dr. Devi Shetty does the rounds… more
PIOJ Report on science, tech and innovation
Jamaica – THE Government of Jamaica invested more than $5 billion or 0.7 per cent of the total national budget in science, technology and innovation (STI) for the 2018/2019 financial year… more
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court implement e-Litigation portal
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) objective for creating and implementing an e-Litigation portal is to provide an efficient, cost-effective, transparent and reliable platform for submitting and processing court documents electronically… more
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Seminar To Focus On Harnessing Fintech
Bahamas– The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) has partnered with Aliv to host its annual Fintech (financial technology) seminar on July 26 at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel… more
Cayman Tech City holds Tech Talks
Cayman Islands – A live series of monthly tech talks by Cayman Tech City, a special economic zone by Cayman Enterprise City, begins Thursday, 11 July, at South West Collective… more
Haiti Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Drivers, Trends, Opportunities and Industry Key Players – Natcom, HaiTel, Digicel | 2019
Haiti – Haiti again turns attention to digital broadcasting. Haiti’s economic and social indicators remain far lower than the average for Latin America and the Caribbean… more
The first fifty – CBU
Regional – I assumed the job I was offered as the second full time Secretary General (SG) of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) in December 1982 after the first SG, Jones Madeira, had left office after less than a year… more
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
No-no to online threats in Barbados
Barbados – The word must go out – the Internet was not developed for issuing threats and death wishes on others, Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch declared on Monday… more
Letter from B.T.L. Chairman to FinSec – “an outrageous lie”
Belize – At a press conference held by the People’s United Party last Wednesday, Area Representative Kareem Musa attested to the existence of a letter in which the chairman of B.T.L.’s Board of Directors is purportedly requesting a tax waiver from the Financial Secretary… more
PM Barrow – “B.T.L. pays its files and pays its G.S.T.”
Belize– Prime Minister Barrow, during his press conference this afternoon, also touched briefly on Telemedia’s G.S.T. issue… more
Technology In Focus | Jamaicans In A Fast-Paced Online World
Jamaica – Those old enough will remember the sound of a dial-up Internet modem, the anticipation felt as it played like the introduction to your favourite song, albeit where the selector made you wait too long for the drop… more
Technology minister pledges to fast-track digital switchover
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Fayval Williams is pledging to make the national digital switchover (DSO) a reality before 2021… more
WeXchange invites female entrepreneurs to apply to pitch competition
Regional– WeXchange, the largest forum in Latin America and the Caribbean connecting high-growth entrepreneurs with mentors and investors is inviting applications from Latin American and Caribbean start-ups for its pitch competition… more
Thursday, 11 July 2019
40 Cable Staff Gain Leadership Awards
Bahamas – More than 40 supervisors and high performers at Cable Bahamas have graduated from with college-level certificates in leadership from the National Cable Television Institute (NCTI)… more
2019 Future Of Belize Telecommunications Market- Trends
Belize– The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Belize to 2025 is detailed in the report… more
Prime Minister: “BTL owes no taxes”
Belize – In recent weeks, one of the major news stories had to do with Belize Telemedia Limited and their alleged tax debt coupled with allegations that the Chairman Nestor Vasquez had written to the Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight, requesting a tax waiver for the company… more
New computer course to inspire Cayman’s next generation of coders
Cayman Islands – Code Cayman is launching Youth Code Cayman 2019, its first one-of-a-kind computer programming course that will inspire Cayman’s next generation to break into the technology by learning to code… more
Allison Cole Philbert appointed CEO of Digicel Jamaica
Jamaica – Digicel Group on Thursday announced a change of leadership for its Jamaica operations with the promotion of Digital Programme Director Allison Cole Philbert to CEO of the organisation… more
Bridging the global infrastructure gap
Regional – ACCA’s immediate past president Leo Lee, recently presented at the CAROSAI XI Congress in Guyana… more
Flow Introduces Paternity Leave, Extends Time Off For Moms
Regional – Telecommunications firm Flow has announced a new policy introducing paid leave for fathers, adoptive and foster parents and extending time off for moms… more
LatAm absent from top 50 fastest internet countries
Regional – Latin America and the Caribbean failed to get into the top 50 countries in the world with the fastest broadband in 2019, with only six, all from the Caribbean, above the global average, according to UK-based internet speed comparison site Cable… more
E-Services For Vehicle Licensing
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Officials of the St. Christopher and Nevis Inland Revenue Department stopped by the ZIZ studios on Wednesday July 10th for the show Traffic Talk to introduce their online vehicle licensing and renewal initiative that will be available to the public in the coming weeks… more
Digicel expands Home and Entertainment offering
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel is taking things up a notch as it expands its Home and Entertainment offering to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago… more
Trinidad and Tobago Telecommunications Market Professional Survey, Growth, Shares, Opportunities and Forecast 2019-2025
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Trinidad & Tobago’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments…more
Friday, 12 July 2019
‘Well Beyond Time’: Realty Vat Paid Online This Year
Bahamas – The Ministry of Finance’s top official yesterday pledged that VAT on real estate sales will be payable online during this fiscal year, adding: “It’s well beyond time to go digital… more
Schools get into digital era with DigiLearn
Belize – Digi and the Ministry of Education (MOE) have announced the official rollout of DigiLearn – a Digital Learning platform for students and teachers… more
Justin Morin leaves Digicel
Jamaica – Digicel Group announced yesterday that Justin Morin has resigned as chief executive officer (CEO) of Digicel Jamaica, to be replaced by another Jamaican Allison Cole Philbert, effective August 1, 2019… more
NIDS ruling could impact data protection talks
Jamaica – THERE are indications from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) that the Constitutional Court ruling on the controversial National Identification and Registration Act (NIRA) in March could have some implications for the deliberations on the Data Protection Act which is now before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament… more
Moody’s gives Digicel negative rating
Regional – Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded telecommunications firm Digicel and changed its outlook for the company to negative… more
New Sports channel RUSH joins Flow TV
Regional – new sports channel is coming to Flow! RUSH, home of the Premier League for the Caribbean, will make its debut across all Flow TV markets on July 15th as fans get ready for the 2019/20 Premier League season kickoff… more
St. Lucia Telecommunications Market 2019-2025
Saint Lucia – Telecom operators in St. Lucia are witnessing wide range of challenges including rapidly changing customer patterns, financial and technological challenges… more
Saturday, 13 July 2019
– Nil –
Sunday, 14 July 2019
Technology boost for Bina Hill students ─ 34 students from Regions 1, 7, 8 & 9 to benefit
Guyana– The Bina Hill Institute’s Youth Learning Centre (YLC) in Annai, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, received 10 new laptops on Friday… more
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