A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 August to Sunday 1 September 2019.
Monday, 26 August 2019
Rights to privacy
Guyana – Despite publicly expressed concerns about the use of facial recognition technology in Guyana, and the publication of data on its deployment in other countries, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan remains quite unmoved. .. more
NCU and technology company to study transportation
Jamaica – TECHNOLOGY company Zyleck Jamaica Ltd has partnered with Northern Caribbean University (NCU) to conduct a yearlong study on public transportation needs in Jamaica, using data from Zypps, a transport network company (TNC) marketplace that matches riders, couriers, and drivers… more
Caribbean Telecom Markets Report 2019: From Anguilla to Bermuda – ResearchAndMarkets.com
Regional – This report provides an overview of the telecom markets in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda… more
Limit time children spend on mobile devices
Trinidad and Tobago – Parents are being encouraged to curb the time their children spend on electronic devices… more
RBC goes digital with upgraded Maraval branch
Trinidad and Tobago – RBC Royal Bank at Rookery Nook, Maraval has reopened its doors, now offering digital solutions to its customers… more
Forty CCTV cameras to be installed in Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) has announced plans to install more than 40 CCTV cameras across the island… more
Tuesday, 27 August 2019
2019 Future Of Anguilla Telecommunications Market Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities 2025
Anguilla – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Anguilla to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
“Airbnb’s Just A Pain For Boutique Operators”
Bahamas – AIRBNB has become a “proverbial pain in the butt” for boutique resort operators, the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board’s (BOIPB) president said yesterday… more
Hotelier wants a level playing field with Airbnb
Bahamas – Vacation home rentals websites like Airbnb continue to be a vexing problem for hotel owners, owner of the Sandpiper Inn Dr. Larry Carroll said yesterday, adding that it is a problem that those in the hotel industry are trying to address… more
BVIEC, BVI Cable in pole dispute
British Virgin Islands – The BVI Electricity Corporation has been granted an injunction against BVI Cable TV after claiming that the cable company was “creating safety risks” to the public and BVIEC employees by accessing its poles without permission, according to a statement the utility issued last Thursday… more
Digicel tops Netflix’s Jamaican ISP speed ranking
Jamaica – Digicel continued delivering Jamaica’s fastest average residential broadband connection to Netflix in the latest ISP speed index published by the video streaming giant… more
Digicel shortlisted in three categories at World Communications Awards
Regional – With the winners set to be unveiled at a glittering awards ceremony in London on October 30, Digicel will line up alongside the leading lights of the global communications industry at the 21st staging of the prestigious World Communications Awards having been shortlisted four times across three categories… more
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Airbnb Experiences is a game changer for local entrepreneurs
Bahamas – Airbnb Experiences is changing the way Bahamians bring their unique excursions to visitors and three entrepreneurs highlighted by Airbnb are just a few of many who are taking advantage of the platform’s ease and power, according to a press release from Airbnb… more
Airbnb On Hunt For New Sign-Ups
Bahamas – ONLINE vacation home marketplace Airbnb is encouraging locals to tap into the tourism market through the launch of Airbnb Experiences in The Bahamas…more
The Hard Lesson that Belize BPOs Now Live With
Belize – In the latter part of 2018, when the Belizean Government began dismantling the tax incentive regime offered to business process outsourcing providers, what proverbial leg did the BPOs have to stand on to defend their turf… more
Another bank victim to fraudulent emails being sent under their name
British Virgin Islands – Another bank is reporting a case of fraudulent emails being sent under their name… more
Cayman 27 closing down
Cayman Islands – Cayman 27 will come off the air on Friday, after its owner Hurley’s TV Ltd. announced it is ceasing operations… more
Test emergency radio broadcasts begin this week
Cayman Islands – Listeners to Cayman’s radio stations will hear interruptions to their usual programmes over three days in the coming week as the islands’ National Emergency Notification System is tested… more
Thursday, 29 August 2019
Financial secretary touts benefits of Click2Clear Customs management portal
Bahamas – As Bahamians use the new Click2Clear customs management portal, the artificial intelligence on the back end of the system will continue to learn and become smarter in order to ensure that the Customs Department is in no way defrauded or cheated out of the government’s revenue, Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday… more
Barbados girls set to shine at regional Girls Hackathon
Barbados – Over 50 girls will represent Barbados’ rising talent in the ICT sector, as they take part in the Caribbean Girls Hack – 2019 Hackathon and interactive Tech Expo on Saturday August 31, 2019 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, as a part of the AnimeKon Expo… more
Final broadcast for Cayman 27
Cayman Islands – After being on television screens for 27 years, Cayman’s only local TV news station will close down Friday, 30 Aug., with the loss of 13 jobs… more
UCCI teams up to promote coding
Cayman Islands – The University College of the Cayman Islands is the latest to join in the effort to boost the number of coders in Cayman… more
Parents Urged to Monitor Online Presence of Children
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Acting Director of the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services, Gerald Connor urged parents and guardians in St. Kitts and Nevis to pay attention to the online presence of their children to ensure that they are not being exposed to harmful content that may lead to issues such as depression, truancy, drug abuse, antisocial behaviour and a host of other challenges… more
TelEm Group Fixed and Mobile data services back online following lightning strike Wednesday night.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group Fixed-line data and LTE mobile data services are back online this morning (Thursday) after a lightning strike damaged power equipment at the Smitcoms building, Harbour View, Wednesday night… more
WiPay launches Zwillo
Trinidad and Tobago – Digital payment platform WiPay has launched a new app, Zwillo, to benefit micro-entrepreneurs… more
Friday, 30 August 2019
Mayors Sign the Belize National Spatial Data Infrastructure (BNSDI) Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding
Belize – Mayors from across the country gathered at the Belize Police Training Academy in Belmopan on August 22, 2019, to sign the Belize National Spatial Data Infrastructure (BNSDI) data sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)… more
80% of government HR records now electronic
British Virgin Islands – About 80 percent of all government employee records have been scanned and are available electronically, Human Resources Director Michelle Donovan-Stevens told legislators during the April Standing Finance Committee deliberations… more
OfReg suspends 5 licences, including Cayman 27’s
Cayman Islands – Cayman 27, which ceases operations today, is not the only licensee threatened to have its licence suspended for failing to pay fees to the regulator OfReg… more
Digicel makes donation to Amateur Radio Club
Dominica – Digicel Dominica recently donated 150 batteries to the Dominica Amateur Radio Club Inc… more
Huawei develops plans to support young Dominicans
Dominican Republic – The Chinese capital company, Huawei, in addition to providing infrastructures and technological solutions, has brought a portfolio of programs aimed at young students to the DR as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects… more
Jamaica’s first augmented reality mural unveiled in downtown Kingston
Jamaica – Jamaica’s first augmented reality mural was unveiled on Sunday at Water Lane in downtown Kingston… more
MICAF Targets 25,000 Entrepreneurs With New Digital App
Jamaica – The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries (MICAF) has inked a deal with American digital marketing company Kolau to help local entrepreneurs become more visible online… more
Scotiabank improving ATM network
Jamaica – Scotiabank is ramping up its digital transformation and will be investing heavily in its Automated Teller Machines (ATM) network to meet the growing demands of its customers… more
Saturday, 31 August 2019
Government hopes to gain from presence of gaming company
Antigua and Barbuda – Caribbean CAGE LLC is hoping to establish its gaming route operations in Antigua and Barbuda… more
Telecoms giant confirms deal with Antigua and Barbuda government
Antigua and Barbuda – Digicel has confirmed putting aside its battle with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, which it had accused of seeking to confiscate some of its high-speed spectrum for redistribution to state-owned rival Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA)… more
Sunday, 1 September 2019
Almost 6 months after ‘non-binding’ MoU…Govt., GTT silent on negotiations for liberalisation
Guyana – Almost six months after signing a “non-binding” agreement, both the Government and the US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has maintained radio silence on the status of the liberalisation process of the telecoms sector… more
Local Tech Company to launch Facebook developer circle in Guyana
Guyana – Trifinity Solutions, a local tech company is set to collaborate with Silicon Valley tech giant Facebook to help build a developer community in Guyana through the launch of a local chapter… more
Training of young Haitian leaders on the Internet of Things
Haiti – More than 40 young leaders have participated throughout the past week (26-30 August) in training workshops on the Internet of Things at the School of Infotronic Superior of Haiti (ESIH), activities carried by Obed Sindy, President of “The Internet Society” (ISOC – Haiti)… more
Beacon Insurance’s Digital Revolution
Saint Lucia – IN a world of constant technological advancement, where artificial intelligence, digital wallets and virtual offices have become commonplace, companies that wish to endure must move with this progress… more
Image credits: Andrys Stienstra (Pixabay); Wikipedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia Commons; The West Indian
