A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 18 November to Sunday 24 November 2019.
Monday, 18 November 2019
Aliv launches Alcatel’s new 3X mobile device
Bahamas – The Bahamas continues to be an important launch market for Alcatel, the company’s Regional Director for Central America and the Caribbean Jesus Hung said Friday, as Aliv launched Alcatel’s new 3X mobile device… more
Outsourcer Expands Via 30% Equity Sale
Bahamas – A Caribbean business process outsourcer, which has an operation in Freeport, has sold a collective 30 percent equity stake to two Jamaican private equity firms to help finance further regional expansion… more
CCTV upgrades near completion
Cayman Islands – Upgrades to Cayman’s CCTV network are almost finished, according to Financial Services and Home Affairs Minister Tara Rivers… more
Driving diversity in tech
Cayman Islands – Being the sole female voice in the room is something Melissa Lim is familiar with… more
Local bank outage not related to data breach
Cayman Islands – An outage of service at Cayman National Bank over the weekend coincided with a major data breach at the bank’s sister company in the Isle of Man, but local CNB officials say the two incidents are unrelated and Cayman Islands customers should not be affected by the overseas event… more
Women who code
Cayman Islands – Whether you wish to pursue technology as a career, learn a new hobby, or gain skills at your current job, consider joining Women Code Cayman, an empowering support network that introduces computer programming and software development in a friendly, non-intimidating setting… more
eGov Jamaica Limited Driving Digital Government Framework Facilitation
Jamaica – Chief Executive Officer of eGov Jamaica Limited, Maurice Barnes, says the entity is spearheading initiatives to facilitate a digital government framework where major services can be accessed by citizens via online platforms… more
eGov Jamaica Limited Transitioning to ICT Authority
Jamaica – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for eGov Jamaica Limited, Maurice Barnes, says, come next year, the agency will transition to a new entity to be named the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority… more
FLOW connects for Christmas with low-cost smartphone
Jamaica – There was plenty of excitement at the Boys’ Town Football Field in Kingston, when telecommunications giant Flow launched Project Rise… more
Hold the phone there, Minister
Jamaica – I note, with a measure of concern the statement to Parliament on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, by the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams… more
Letter Of The Day | Who Has Responsibility For The Regulation Of Telecommunications?
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Madam: I note, with a measure of concern, the statement to Parliament on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, by the minister of science, energy and technology, Fayval Williams… more
Spanish Town High launches robotics programme
Jamaica – The engineering depart-ment at Spanish Town High School in St Catherine has started to select students for its new robotics engineering programme… more
Telecom woes: Jamaicans can help
Jamaica – Dear Editor, Jamaican companies can help to solve the telecoms crisis with competition — the best way to improve both service quality and pricing… more
Building mental health through tech
Trinidad and Tobago – Most people recognise the toll that their digital devices can take on their psychological well-being… more
Flow brand ambassador blames premier for dismissal
Turks and Caicos Islands – FORMER PDM member turned PNP all island candidate, Shaun Malcolm, has accused the premier of abusing her powers to get him fired as Flow TCI social media ambassador… more
Flow confirms termination of Shaun Malcolm’s ambassadorship
Turks and Caicos Islands – TELECOMS company Flow TCI has said the termination of its brand association with media personality Shaun Malcolm is to maintain a neutral position in the local political arena… more
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Bahamas operator Aliv hits 170,000 customers on third anniversary
Bahamas – Bahamas mobile operator Aliv has reached a customer base of over 170,000 around 3 years after launching, reports local news site Tribune 242, citing company CEO Damian Blackburn… more
Opposition defends digital healthcare system deal
Bahamas – Opposition Health spokesman Dr Michael Darville yesterday said the former administration would make no apologies for the award of a contract for an $18 million integrated health information system to Chicago-based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc… more
Samsung donates USD 35,000 to Red Cross Bahamas relief effort
Bahamas – Samsung announced that its Samsung Corporate Citizenship unit donated USD 35,000 in funding to the Red Cross to support its work helping the Bahamas recover from the recent Category 5 Hurricane Dorian… more
Airbnb Making an Impact in Cuba’s Tourist Boom
Cuba – Tourism is on the rise in Cuba, with 5.1 million international visitors expected in 2019. As the inequality widens between government workers and entrepreneurs, we investigate the impact of Airbnb’s “sharing economy” on the island… more
14,000 More Jobs Expected In Local Outsourcing Industry
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Global Services Sector (GSS) is projecting 14,000 additional jobs in the local outsourcing industry by March 2020… more
Legal action looms over Tablets in Schools project
Jamaica – The company which was selected to supply devices under the Tablets in Schools Programme says it has not received a response from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to a letter objecting to the termination of its contract and is now likely to take legal action against the government… more
Possibility of lawsuit hangs over Tablets in Schools Programme
Jamaica – GeoTechVision, the company that was selected to supply devices under the Tablets in Schools Programme says it has not received a response from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to a letter objecting to the termination of its contract and is now likely to take legal action against the government… more
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Officially Launches E-Litigation Portal in St Kitts and Nevis
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) officially launched its E-Litigation Portal Monday, which streamlines the components of judicial processes covering areas such as electronic court filings, electronic case management, billing collection, and court scheduling in St. Kitts and Nevis, at the Sir Lee L. Moore Judicial and Legal Services Complex… more
Students showcase their innovative ideas at icode784 competition
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Groups from the North Union Secondary School (NUSS), the St Vincent Grammar School (SVGS) and the St Vincent and Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) have proven that they have some of this country’s top thinkers… more
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Flow pushes to complete fixed-line service restoration by 2021
British Virgin Islands – Country Manager for Flow BVI, Ravindra Maywahlall, is pushing to have all fixed-line services restored in the territory by the end of 2021… more
GDF to benefit from high-tech drones valued at $180M
Guyana – The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is set to benefit from five high-tech, long endurance drones valued at $180M which will boost the security of the country’s borders, maritime space and coastland… more
GTT pumps US$60K into GIPEX 2019
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Guyana’s largest telecommunications company, has tripled its sponsorship of the Guyana Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX), having deemed the annual event as a crucial forum for the country’s emerging oil and gas sector… more
Haiti Telecommunications Market 2019 Size, Share, Application, Revenue, Industry Analysis, Company Profiling, and Regional Opportunities
Haiti – Haiti Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Haiti’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Campaign To Change Stereotypes About BPO Sector
Jamaica – The Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) has embarked on a global services sector (GSS) awareness campaign aimed at changing misunderstandings and stereotypes surrounding the industry and highlighting the higher-end career opportunities that exist… more
Digicel Foundation awards $2 million each to 15 community groups
Jamaica – Fifteen organisations have been granted $2 million each by the Digicel Foundation to start their own community development projects… more
PayPal’s Xoom now available for Jamaican bills
Jamaica – Xoom, a service operated by global online money transfer firm PayPal, has announced that it will partner with a Jamaican bill payments platform.. more
Digicel offers government ICT solutions
Trinidad and Tobago – DIGICEL BUSINESS shared insights that can assist government in providing improved services via technology powered by Digicel and its partners… more
Thursday, 21 November 2019
ActiveVideo Rolls Its Cloud-based Service to Cable Bahamas
Bahamas – Video technology vendor ActiveVideo has announced that Cable Bahamas will deploy its cloud-based, virtualized pay TV delivery system… more
Aliv IPO Goal For 2022-2023
Bahamas – The government is targeting the 2022-2023 fiscal year to exit its 51.75 percent majority ownership in Aliv and raise “at least” $73m, it was revealed yesterday… more
Cable Bahamas Goes Full-Footprint With ActiveVideo
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has partnered with ActiveVideo to launch a next-generation user interface (UI) to all subscribers in its footprint… more
Data Deal Critical To $88m PMH Deficit
Bahamas – The “crashed” healthcare data contract was critical to cutting Princess Margaret Hospital’s $88m income deficit, which exists despite patient days being five times’ higher than in other Caribbean nations… more
Past Govts ‘Negligent’ On $160m Btc Pension Hole
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) unions yesterday slammed the “negligence” of previous administrations for creating a near-$160m pension hole that taxpayers must now plug… more
Digicel giving away $60K in cash and prizes this Christmas
British Virgin Islands – Digicel is giving away $60,000 in cash and prizes up until December 31 as part of its annual Christmas campaign… more
GT&T warns against scammers
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) says it has received a number of fraud reports over the past week, and that the scammers have, and may be devising ways to swindle cash from their customers as the festive season approaches… more
Flow warns of online fraud targeting customers
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Flow is warning its customers to be wary of fraudulent promotions during the festive season… more
No contracts for 5G technology – Holness
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he has not entered any contracts for the introduction of 5G technology in Jamaica at this time… more
Republic invests in fintech
Trinidad and Tobago – Investing in financial technology (fintech) is another step by Republic Bank to provide real-time digital services to customers… more
We mindf***ed ourselves
Trinidad and Tobago – The dark heart of humanity is a powerful force… more
Friday, 22 November 2019
2019 Future Of Anguilla Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Anguilla – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Anguilla to 2025 is detailed in the report… more
BTC partners with Ministry of Education on virtual learning program
Bahamas – through the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF) gifted a US$100,000 grant to support the Ministry of Education with the development of a virtual learning program through One on One Education Services Limited… more
BTC supports more than 1500 Students from Grand Bahama and Abaco
Bahamas – BTC through the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF) gifted a US$100,000 grant to support the Ministry of Education with the development of a virtual learning program through One on One Education Services Limited… more
B.T.L.’s C.E.O. on the Way Forward
Belize – Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer for B.T.L., Ivan Tesecum highlighted the point that over the past ten years B.T.L. has invested more than five hundred million dollars… more
BTL, Facing New Challenges At 30 Years Privatization
Belize – BTL is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a private company. In that time, it has gone from the Belize Telecommunications Limited, to Belize Telemedia Limited, and now to DIGI… more
B.T.L.’s Net Revenue Decreases by 24%
Belize – The annual general meeting of B.T.L. took place on Thursday night at the Biltmore Plaza, Belize City… more
G.S.T. Department’s Audit of B.T.L. Financials Still Ongoing
Belize – On page thirty-four of B.T.L.’s financial statement, there is an item listed as ‘contingencies… more
Raspberry Pi Jam 2019: Solutions for Challenges in Belize
Belize – High schools from across the country gathered in Belize City today where students participated in a competition for young innovators… more
ECC launches app for parenting children
Jamaica – THE Early Childhood Commission (ECC) has launched its 1st 1000 Days app, which is an intervention for changing negative parenting behaviours to achieve positive outcomes for children… more
Tech Beach ready for its Google-sponsored event
Jamaica – In its bid to attract global influence to Caribbean shores Tech Beach Retreat has successfully landed a headline sponsorship with global tech giant Google for the upcoming staging in Montego Bay at Iberostar, December 5-7 2019…more
Tech company takes legal steps against unbothered e-Learning
Jamaica – A legal battle is brewing between technology company GeoTechVision and the Government, over a multimillion-dollar contract for the Tablets in Schools programme, which went sour when e-Learning Jamaica terminated the agreement in September… more
FLOW Gives Back This Christmas
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Local Telecommunications Company FLOW is giving back to its customers this Christmas… more
Money transfer made easier by Squeeze Cash, a new digital currency
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Two Vincentians and a St Lucian have set out to change the way that Caribbean people see money and propel the islands into the realm of a cashless society… more
Radio Stations team up for Green Stream Event.
Sint Maarten – On Wednesday, November 27th, a group of Radio Stations will come together to propose an innovative on-air event about sustainability for Sint Maarten, in support of the Call for Action against single-use plastics launched by the Green Initiatives… more
WiPay looks north for listing
Trinidad and Tobago – JUST over three years old and already one of the fastest growing fintech companies in the region, T&T-based digital payment solutions company, WiPay, is already thinking of going public, by listing its shares on a stock market next year… more
Saturday, 23 November 2019
Foreign hands on our data
Trinidad and Tobago – SCL Elections, now the infamous data-driven elections firm Cambridge Analytica (CA), was able to obtain Trinidad and Tobago’s census data in 2014… more
Sunday, 24 November 2019
– Nil –
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (Pixabay); Wikipedia Commons; Aliv; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; The West Indian; The Eleutheran; Wikipedia
