A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 6 January to Sunday 12 January 2020.
Monday, 6 January 2020
Bahamas rolls out first phase of CBDC pilot
Bahamas – The Central Bank of the Bahamas has rolled out the first phase of its digital currency pilot, with plans to extend it to a second region in the first half of 2020… more
Benefits of Sand Dollar digital currency highlighted
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ Sand Dollar is the first digital fiat currency that is consumer-ready, according to global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, which advised NZIA Limited, the company that helped the Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBOB) to develop and launch the digital Bahamian dollar, making the country one of the first nations in the world with a “postmodern financial system”… more
Digital payments provider nets more than 1,100 users and 90 merchants
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider says this year it plans to expand significantly expand its merchant footprint as it highlights a number of enhancements and initiatives designed to get users acclimated to its app-based offering… more
Barbados Telecommunications Industry Analysis of Barbados Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Barbados – Barbados Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Barbados’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Cayman Islands Telecommunications Industry-Analysis of Cayman Islands Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Cayman Islands – Cayman Islands Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Cayman Islands’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments.. more
BUSINESS BYTE: US$20,000 won in Digicel’s ‘Shake to Win’ Regional Grand Prize
Regional – After one month of customers in 20 different countries shaking things up and winning with Digicel’s ‘Shake to Win’ Christmas campaign, one winner snagged the regional grand prize of US$20,000, and he is Emerson (surname withheld for privacy), an 18-year-old amateur football (soccer) player from Haiti… more
Cabinet Goes Digital
Jamaica – Cabinet today (January 6) transitioned to a paperless system. All Ministers received secure laptops to facilitate the electronic upload and dissemination of confidential Cabinet papers at the first sitting for 2020… more
JN apologies for making reference to Iran in cyber attack advisory
Jamaica – The Jamaica National Group has apologised for making specific references to the Iranian government and people as well as the US government, in a cybersecurity advisory that the company sent out on Tuesday… more
Stop Peddling Gore On Social Media
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Madam: The rapid scaling up of electronic and digital communication technologies in the past decade has been nothing short of stunning… more
St. Kitts And Nevis Continues To Transform Through The Use Of Information Technology, Says PM Harris
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to make enormous strides infusing technology into the everyday lives of citizens to ensure that the twin-island Federation remains competitive in a globalized world… more
Tuesday, 7 January 2020
Central bank pilots digital currency in the Bahamas
Bahamas – The Central Bank of The Bahamas has begun pilot testing a digital version of the Bahamian dollar that uses QR codes to let users make payments and transfer funds using their smartphones… more
Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain Technology and the Real Property Market
Barbados – Cryptocurrency is the peer-to-peer transfer of digital currency in which encryption techniques, independent of a central bank, are used as a regulatory system, based on blockchain technology… more
International company Belize Virtual Center Ltd to present at Startup Huddle St. Lucia in February 2020
Belize – One of Belize’s fastest growing service companies has been selected to present at STARTUP HUDDLE ST. LUCIA on February 12th 2020… more
PM: St. Kitts and Nevis Continues to Transform Through Information Technology
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to make enormous strides infusing technology into the everyday lives of citizens to ensure that the twin-island Federation remains competitive in a globalized world, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, said during his Fifth Annual New Year’s Gala held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on Saturday… more
Know your data rights
Trinidad and Tobago – Educate yourself and know your data rights… more
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Digital currency launch in Bahamas a good move
Bahamas – Dear Editor, The recent pilot launch of the digital currency, Sand dollar, by the Central Bank of The Bahamas in Exuma is quite a progressive move in this ever-changing and fast-paced economic climate… more
Pay the ransom
Barbados – I visited the Bahamas to examine the damage from Hurricane Dorian… more
Digital education project launched in Region 1
Guyana – Over 5,000 primary school students across Guyana are set to benefit from the launch of a digital education project… more
JN urges customers to protect themselves against cyber-attacks
Jamaica – The JN Group Cybersecurity Unit has told the bank’s customers to increase their vigilance when using email communications at this time… more
Technology Trends For 2020
Jamaica – Local information and communications technology (ICT) experts state that 2020 is poised to become a breakthrough year, as several leading or new technology trends will impact the lives of Jamaicans and citizens around the world… more
Thursday, 9 January 2020
Central Bank of the Bahamas might deliver CBDC before China
Bahamas – As many might remember, China became the focus of the world’s attention in late 2019 due to its new fascination with blockchain technology and the idea of developing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)… more
Social Media And Its Role Connecting Earthquake Survivors With The Diaspora
Haiti – The 2010 earthquake severed many traditional lines of communication in Haiti. It toppled cell phone towers, damaged a major fiber-optic cable, knocked television and radio stations off the air and made telephone communication via landlines nearly impossible… more
Gov’t to roll out free Wi-Fi service at Sam Sharpe Square
Jamaica – The Government says it will be rolling out free secured Internet access (Wi-Fi) in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St James, on Friday, January 24… more
Proven Wealth launches digital IPO tool
Jamaica – Proven Wealth Limited (PWL) has launched IPO PRO; an online tool that will allow persons with a Jamaica Central Securities Depository (JCSD) Number to participate in local initial public offerings (IPOS) from anywhere in the world… more
Trini app developer finds success in New York
Trinidad and Tobago – There was no plan B. Jonathan Agarrat knew that as he walked through the departure gates at Piarco International Airport to get on his flight to New York, there was no turning back… more
Friday, 10 January 2020
Gov’t blames delinquent property owners and bad telecoms deal for non-payment
Antigua and Barbuda – The Cabinet, on Wednesday, made a commitment to begin making payments of $3.4 million towards outstanding salary and wages owing to many of its public sector workers and private contractors on January 31st, 2020… more
Digicel introduces plan changes
Barbados – Some postpaid Digicel (Barbados) customers will have to dig a little deeper in their pockets to cover their bill as the telecommunications provider introduces some “upgraded postpaid plans”… more
BVI: eVisa border system to be installed at local ports of entry next week
British Virgin Islands – The process to install government’s proposed Border Management & Electronic Visa System across various ports of entry throughout the British Virgin Islands is scheduled to start next Monday, January 13… more
Sam Sharpe Square to get free Wi-Fi from January 24
Jamaica – Friday, January 24 is the date set for the Government to start providing free, secured Internet access (Wi-Fi) at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, St James… more
Up-skilling will drive BPO wage rates, says Jampro
Jamaica – The local Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) industry is expected to grow by an estimated 5,000 jobs in the fiscal year 2019/20, according to Jampro – the state agency with responsibility for investment promotion… more
TATT expresses condolences on passing of former CEO
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) expresses its sincerest condolences to the family of Dr John Prince, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the organisation, on his passing… more
Saturday, 11 January 2020
– Nil –
Sunday, 12 January 2020
Data use becoming the game-changer in Jamaica
Jamaica – Did you know that Jamaica is ranked sixth in the world for ease of starting a business… more
Flow restores Internet
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I have been without Internet and have been going into the Flow office in Fairview- Montego Bay every other week at minimum, to get an update as an email or call cannot be initiated on their part… more
Govt seeks new TSTT chairman
Trinidad and Tobago – Government is in the process of identifying a new chairman for the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), Public Utilities Minister Robert LeHunte said yesterday… more
TSTT’s new guessing game
Trinidad and Tobago – National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB), be aware there is a new game in town: TSTT’s Guess Your Bill… more
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