A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 10 February to Sunday 16 February 2020.

 

Monday, 10 February 2020

Caribbean territory of Anguilla cashes in on a quirky tech trend

Anguilla – The luxury resorts along serene white-sand beaches have long propped up the economy of Anguilla, a tiny British territory in the Caribbean… more

A Workshop to Strengthen Cybercrime Legislation in Belize

Belize – Cybercrime relates to offenses committed on the internet or on social media platforms on a number of issues… more

Gun-point robbery of GTT mini outlet at Giftland Mall

Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GTT) kiosk on the lower flat of Giftland Mall was Monday night robbed by two youths armed with a gun… more

UK facilitates digital media workshops for Caribbean journalists

Regional – Media practitioners from Saint Lucia were given the opportunity to hone their craft and develop new skills, thanks to a UK-funded workshop delivered by Multimedia Trainer and Mobile Journalism Specialist, Dan Mason… more

NTRC facilitates consumer engagement with telecoms service providers

Saint Lucia – Users of telecommunications services were given an opportunity to interact with service providers, the regulators and consumer rights advocates during a town hall meeting organised by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the NTRC… more

LLA promotes digital responsibility

Trinidad and Tobago – International communications company Liberty Latin America (LLA) and its group of companies will celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) on February 11th by focusing on the importance of digital responsibility and the measures people can take to use the internet safely… more

TSTT warns: Do not return unknown foreign calls

Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT is advising customers against returning missed calls from unfamiliar foreign numbers as this appears to be part of a “premium rate scam” designed to incur significant charges to their mobile phones or landline bills… more

 

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

Anguilla’s Internet Domain Initials Mean Big Bucks for this Small Island

Anguilla – The luxury resorts along serene white-sand beaches have long propped up the economy of Anguilla, a tiny British territory in the Caribbean… more

BelizeON’s New Electronic Ticketing Service Brings Belize’s Events Online

Belize – Belize’s first multi-vendor, e-commerce marketplace, BelizeON.bz today launched the ticket sales for the first event in Belize to go entirely paperless for event access. Leo Matura, Owner of Mind & Me Music; the record label hosting the event “Lost at Tzatenaha,” said of this new-to-Belize method of purchasing tickets, “Progressive music entails progressive movement on all platforms… more

GTT kiosk in Giftland Mall robbed at gunpoint

Guyana – Two men, one of whom was armed with a gun, last night robbed a Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT) kiosk at the Giftland Mall of an undisclosed amount of cash… more

Guyana to launch biometric national ID card, Portugal and Jamaica digital ID plans advance

Guyana – Guyana’s government is planning to include biometrics among the security features of a new national ID card for use with all public services, according to Staebroek News… more

Digicel clarifies fair usage policy

Jamaica – Dear Editor, I write in response to a letter to the editor published in the Jamaica Observer on February 5, 2020… more

Digicel, Flow participate in today’s Safer Internet Day celebrations

Jamaica –  Telecommunications providers Digicel and Flow will participate in the global celebration of Safer Internet Day today Tuesday, February 11… more

Today is Safer Internet Day

Jamaica – Jamaica’s two telecoms giants, Flow and Digicel, are today staging a range of activities to help students better use the world wide web as the island joins the globe in observing Safer Internet Day… more

Liberty Latin America promotes digital responsibility

Regional – Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or “LLA”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) will celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) across its markets by focusing on the importance of digital responsibility and the measures individuals can take to use the internet safely… more

Safer Internet Day: Microsoft recommendations for online protection

Regional – As part of Safer Internet Day, an international initiative to promote a safer and more responsible use of technology, especially among children and young people, Microsoft has compiled a series of recommendations aimed at improving the browsing experience in a safe and respectful way… more

TTIFC launches ‘cashless’ drive

Trinidad and Tobago – Can Trinidad and Tobago transition from walking around with cash in order to conduct day-to-day transactions to doing business cashless… more

 

Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Bitt Launches World’s First Central Bank Digital Currency Hub

Barbados – Fintech company Bitt.com has taken the lead in offering a fully accessible, user-friendly repository of research and insights related to Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the future of financial technology… more

Emergency warnings to include mobile app

Cayman Islands – Phase II of the National Emergency Notification System (NENS) will include the creation of a new mobile alert application, which will be implemented in the next three months, officials said following a special meeting of the National Security Council last week… more

Telecom is ready to launch 5G in Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic – Claro telecom on Wed. announced advances in this sector that in 2020 include a 5G deployment plan in the region where Dominican Republic has been making the necessary adjustments to its network to be able to launch the new technology in the market… more

Critical Security Legislation Coming

Jamaica – The Government will be tabling critical pieces of legislation in the 2020/21 fiscal year to improve security operations… more

Don’t block 5G

Jamaica – Dear Editor, I have been watching with great enthusiasm the recent back and forth battle between the US, UK, and Huawei… more

ICreate, Trend Media launch new digital certification portal

Jamaica – iCreate Institute and Trend Media have collaborated to launch a new learning portal aimed at driving digital skills across the Caribbean… more

Students join Digicel and partners in campaign for a safer internet

Jamaica – In support of Safer Internet Day, Digicel, Trend Media, Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) received commitments from over 200 hundred high school students from across the country that they will act as ambassadors for safer internet use by their peers… more

Ten companies chosen for BPIAJ project

Jamaica – Ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the global services sector (GSS) on Wednesday last were chosen for the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica’s (BPIAJ) ‘Scale up the value chain: targeting SMEs in the GSS’ project… more

 

Thursday, 13 February 2020

BTC teams up with RBPF & Top influencers to celebrate Safer Internet Day

Bahamas – BTC partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and five top social media influencers to celebrate Safer Internet Day 2020 (SID)… more

Complete Bahamian Digital Dollar Roll-Out By Year-End

Bahamas – THE Central Bank’s governor yesterday confirmed that the digital Bahamian dollar will be rolled-out throughout all islands during the 2020 second half after being introduced to Abaco by month’s end… more

Digital Dollar To Have ‘Monumental Effect’

Bahamas – The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive yesterday predicted that the Bahamian digital currency will “have a monumental effect” on the transparency and safety of local financial transactions… more

URCA Takes Consumer Protection To Eleuthera

Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is planning to take its consumer protection message to Eleuthera and Grand Bahama residents this month… more

Free City WiFi ‘sometime after March’

Barbados – The Smart Bridgetown project, which includes free public WiFi, has been delayed another three months, the Government’s information technology chief has told Barbados TODAY… more

High-tech courses unveiled at SJPI

Barbados – The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology has introduced three new high-tech courses in a bid to help young people  become disruptors in their technological fields, principal Ian Drakes has declared… more

Belize Cybercrime law to secure credit card payments

Belize – The Belize tourism industry stands to benefit greatly by having its electronic payments infrastructure secured by Belize’s first cybercrime law… more

Controversial Computer Misuse & Cybercrime Act now law

British Virgin Islands – The controversial Computer Misuse & Cybercrime (Amendment) Act of 2019 is now in effect in the British Virgin Islands after being assented by Governor Augustus Jaspert on Wednesday, February 12… more

New BVI Now app launched | Promises to put BVI above the competition

British Virgin Islands – A new mobile application that allows visitors and residents to find places to stay, dine, shop or relax has been launched in the British Virgin Islands… more

Virtual CXC workshops to be possibly implemented in BVI

British Virgin Islands – The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has hinted at implementing virtual workshops for teachers locally, to remedy the absence of regular CXC meetings in the territory… more

Claro Caribbean revenues slip 4% in Q4, up 6% in Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic – America Movil’s Claro units in the Caribbean reported fourth-quarter revenues down 4.3 percent year on year to USD 453 million, above all due to a 13.6 percent fall in fixed line service revenues to USD 177 million, partly offset by an 8.3 percent rise in mobile service revenues to USD 279 million… more

Digital systems have not ‘crashed’, says Supreme Court

Guyana – The Supreme Court of Judicature (SCJ) has refuted an article published in the Kaieteur News about alleged shortcomings in the Court’s Information and Technology (IT) Department… more

Guyana Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025- Analysis of Guyana Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Guyana – Guyana Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Guyana’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more

Haiti Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025- Analysis of Haiti Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Haiti – Haiti Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Haiti’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more

Flow taking cautious approach towards 5G tehnology

Jamaica – Telecommunications firm Flow Jamaica has said it is taking a cautious approach to the impending introduction of 5G technology… more

Students, teachers laud Digicel Safer Internet Day rap sessions

Jamaica – Students from a number of schools across the country were on Tuesday given tips on how to become better users of the  internet, armed with information on how to avoid becoming victims of cyber crimes… more

FinTech promotes safer, cashless Carnival

Trinidad and Tobago – Cashless services and Carnival characters mixed and mingled on February 5 for the launch of the FinTech Association of TT at the National Museum and Art Gallery, Port of Spain… more

FLOW SHARES SAFER INTERNET TIPS WITH BATCE STUDENTS

Trinidad and Tobago – The Flow Education Road Show stopped at Bishop Anstey and Trinity College East (BATCE) on February 11, to observe Safer Internet Day… more

 

Friday, 14 February 2020

BARBADOS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK 2020-2025 AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS

Barbados – With Long Term Evolution (LTE) rapid expansion and slowdown in 2G and 3G services, the Barbados telecom market is evolving rapidly… more

Digital transformation is a team sport

Jamaica – If you have been keeping track of the conversations on digital transformation, then it would be no surprise to know that one of the most critical components of this innovation is people… more

Govt allocates $1.6b to NIDS

Jamaica – The Government has allocated $1.6 billion towards implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) project… more

Government involvment is crucial to roll-out of 5G in Jamaica

Jamaica – As the world moves to upgrade existing 4G wireless networks to the next generation of 5G, Government involvement will be crucial towards its success, according to Rohan Pottinger, chief technology officer at Digicel Jamaica… more

Gov’t rakes in revenue from telephone call tax

Jamaica – The Government is raking in more revenue from the telephone call tax… more

Government to increase technology to tackle indiscipline on roads

Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness is promising that the Government will be increasing the use of technology to fight the indiscipline and lack of respect for law and order that now exist on the nation’s streets… more

Social media in tourism

Regional – Social media has permeated every area of business; it is valuable and works in some way or form — everywhere. Today I’ll be examining a few tips on using social media in tourism… more

ST. LUCIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK 2020-2025 AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS

Saint Lucia – With Long Term Evolution (LTE) rapid expansion and slowdown in 2G and 3G services, the St. Lucia telecom market is evolving rapidly… more

Local Journalists Enhance Digital Skills

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Journalists from a number of media houses across St. Vincent and the Grenadines were exposed recently to game-changing mobile and digital skills, in an effort to encourage them to re-think their role and make positive differences in their local communities and beyond… more

 

Saturday, 15 February 2020

ONLINE GUIDE FOR INVESTORS

Barbados – Investors interested in doing business in Barbados now have an online platform where they can gain information about how to do this… more

Government to table critical security legislation

Jamaica – The Government will be tabling critical pieces of legislation in the 2020/21 fiscal year to improve security operations… more

Major data breach at Victoria Mutual Wealth Management

Jamaica – Victoria Mutual Wealth Management says that it is reviewing its systems following a major data breach at the financial institution… more

Thousands to be trained for jobs in digitisation and animation

Jamaica – Thousands of young people are to be trained for jobs in digitisation and animation in the new fiscal year… more

 

Sunday, 16 February 2020

Guyanese IT business honoured at BIZ X awards in US

Guyana – Local Information Technology (IT) company Techlify Inc has been named the winner of Best IT Organization and Best Business Software at the 2020 BIZ X Awards, an annual event that honors the best of the best small and medium-sized businesses around the world… more

Flow shares safer Internet tips with BATCE students

Trinidad and Tobago – The Flow Education Road Show stopped at Bishop Anstey and Trinity College East (BATCE) on February 11, to observe Safer Internet Day… more

 

 

Image credits:  The Blue Diamond Gallery;  Wikipedia;  StickPNG;  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia;  Wikimedia Commons;