A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 December to Sunday 22 December 2019.
Monday, 16 December 2019
Flow restores service after weekend of phone outages
Cayman Islands – Flow has restored service to its mobile customers who were left without phone coverage over the weekend, the company announced Monday… more
Facial recognition technology coming to Jamaica’s airports: minister
Jamaica – The addition of 15 automated immigration kiosks at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, St James will take Jamaica closer to becoming a smart destination, says Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett… more
Health + Tech | Emergency Room Management
Jamaica – The thought of having to go to a hospital, let alone a public one, would have many people opting to stay home as long as possible until their ailment turns into an emergency… more
Local students participate in Hour of Code workshops
Jamaica – Jamaican students have joined over 180 countries for the Hour of Code workshops through the Seprod and CB Facey Foundations and Halls of Learning… more
Monitoring children in the digital age
Jamaica – The opportunities and challenges of the digital age and their significance to the role of parenting, has been emphasised by Don Dobson, director of communications at the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica… more
Smartphone App New Frontier In Reporting Crime
Jamaica – A smartphone-based application is expected to open a new frontier in the anonymous reporting of crime right at the fingertips of the public… more
OECS partners with UNICEF to increase internet connectivity in schools
Regional – The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States has partnered with UNICEF to launch Project Connect, a programme which aims to improve internet connectivity in all schools across the OECS… more
Tuesday, 17 December 2019
Media Regulator Unveils Gaming Ad Crackdown
Bahamas – Regulators yesterday unveiled a proposed crackdown on gaming advertising carried by Bahamian TV and radio stations in a bid to protect “vulnerable” children and young adults from harm… more
Regulator Launches Its Financial Technology Hub
Bahamas – The Securities Commission’s Board has approved the launch of a financial technology (FinTech) Hub that will enable industry players to launch compliant products and services… more
New RCIPS digital forensic hub opens
Cayman Islands – The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has launched a digital forensic hub, making Cayman a cybercrime-investigating focal point for all overseas territories… more
Claro up to 60% of mobile lines in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Claro (America Movil) has consolidated its position as market leader in the Dominican Republic, accounting for over half of fixed lines and nearly 60 percent of mobile lines in the country, reports Telesemana… more
4G licences to cost US$300m in Haiti
Haiti – Haiti’s president Jovenel Moise has set the price of 4G licences at US$300 million, in a bid to allay uncertainty… more
Flow restores mobile services to customers
Jamaica – Services have been restored to Flow’s mobile customers who were affected by a disruption in their services on Saturday, Flow announced in a release yesterday… more
Wednesday, 18 December 2019
Customs: Brokers critical of Click2Clear need training
Bahamas – Amidst the turmoil surrounding the Click2Clear digital platform, the Bahamas Customs and Excise Department issued a press statement suggesting brokers who are finding the system “labor intensive” likely have a “steeper digital learning curve” and should attend training sessions that will be offered next year… more
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS REBUTS LAUNCHING STABLECOIN
British Virgin Islands – Only two weeks ago, around December 3rd, the government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) announced that it will launch its own stablecoin — BVI-LIFE. The coin was supposed to be a result of a partnership with a blockchain startup known as LIFELabs… more
OfReg inches towards ICT protection
Cayman Islands – The public is being asked to review the long-waited draft regulations relating to consumer protection in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector… more
RCIPS opens regional cyber-crime centre
Cayman Islands – A new Digital Forensics Hub, co-funded by the UK’s National Crime Agency, has opened in the Cayman Islands to help in the fight against cyber-crime and online sexual abuse across the region… more
Technology Will Help To Reduce Indiscipline On The Roads – Chuck
Jamaica – Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the increased use of technology by the Government will help to reduce the level of indiscipline witnessed on the nation’s roads… more
OECS ICT companies connect with global tech leaders at TechBeach Retreat in Jamaica
Regional – Six companies from the Eastern Caribbean participated in the 4th edition of the TechBeach Retreat which took place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from December 5-7 2019… more
Tech Beach brings together Caribbean businesses
Regional – Approximately 300 attendee’s gathered at the Tech Beach conference from December 5th-7th at Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where they participated in three days of tech talks in a comfortable and laid-back setting… more
Trinidad & Tobago’s TSTT launches ‘5G FWA’ service with Huawei
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago’s state-run operator TSTT has launched what it describes as a fixed-wireless 5G service in partnership with Huawei at an event in Port of Spain, reports local portal Newsday… more
Thursday, 19 December 2019
FSC improving digital interface with businesses
Barbados – The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is making major changes to its operations in an effort to help improve the doing business climate in Barbados… more
British Virgin Island Government Denies Plan to Replace US Dollar With National Cryptocurrency
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands (BVI) government has dismissed local and international media reports that it will replace the United States (US) dollar as the territory’s official currency with a national cryptocurrency… more
App Launched to Allow Consumers in Jamaica to Compare Prices of Products Across the Island
Jamaica – The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has launched a new mobile app which will allow consumers to compare prices on their phones for products being sold across the island at businesses registered with the government agency… more
Christmas presence: TSTT wraps Savannah with free WiFi
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT’S bmobile brand launched a new, free WiFi network at the Queen’s Park Savannah this evening… more
Friday, 20 December 2019
Exciting showcase concludes 4th CSF Computer Coding Workshop – Barbados
Barbados – Nineteen Barbadian students have recently completed the Fall 2019 session of Level 1 of the CSF Computer Coding Workshop which is offered by the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF)… more
Cyber criminals taking advantage of persons with inadequate data protection, says technology expert
Jamaica – With more local businesses getting into e-commerce, it is being reported that cyber criminals are moving quickly to take advantage of those with inadequate data protection… more
Letter Of The Day | OUR Committed To Assisting Customers
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Madam: We write in response to the letter of FLOW customer Mr Clifford Gabbidon, published in The Gleaner of Saturday, December 14, 2019… more
Jamaica: Transport ministry launches app to expose unruly drivers
Jamaica – THE Ministry of Transport and Mining has officially launched a new mobile app called Drive Safe , which is a reporting mechanism that allows the public to upload videos and pictures of drivers committing various road traffic-related breaches… more
Small businesses at higher risk for cyberattacks
Jamaica – THE Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) has revealed that small businesses have a higher risk of data breaches and experience the highest share of attacks among businesses… more
Scotiabank and Visa team up on regional digital payments project
Regional – Scotiabank and Visa have announced the signing of a seven-year agreement to support the development of innovative payment solutions and enhancing the customer experience for Visa cardholders in Central America and the Caribbean… more
Saturday, 21 December 2019
Gabriel Abed: “Bitt was built on rawness, doubt and uncertainty.”
Barbados – Barbados-born Gabriel Abed is the founder of Bitt, a home-grown tech company that aspires to deliver technology innovation accompanied by social inclusion within the financial arena… more
TTT board fired in surprise move
Trinidad and Tobago – THE entire board of directors of State-owned television station TTT has been fired… more
Sunday, 22 December 2019
PBS Acquires El Savador IT Company
Jamaica – Productive Business Solutions Limited (PBS), the distributor of Xerox printing products, has acquired the 100 per cent shareholding in El Salvador-based company, Hightech Corporation (HTC)… more
FLOW frustrations
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, My family home has used FLOW formerly Cable & Wireless Services for decades but now the time has come for this relationship to end. Like any divorce, the separation has been painful… more
Flow working to restore service after fire at Brown’s Town Exchange
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider, Flow says its technical team has been “working around the clock” to restore services to residential and business customers in sections of St Ann following a fire at its Brown’s Town Exchange on Friday… more
‘T&T needs to grow up’
Trinidad and Tobago – Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has appealed to the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) to lend support to the cyber crime legislation… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia; SecureKey; Wikipedia
