A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March 2020.
Monday, 2 March 2020
Bahamian Digital Dollar To Boost Finance Crime Fight
Bahamas – The Central Bank’s governor says the Bahamian digital dollar will “strengthen defences against money laundering and other financial crimes” because every transaction can be tracked and recorded… more
BAHAMAS RACES AHEAD WITH ITS ‘SAND DOLLAR’ DIGITAL CURRENCY
Bahamas – Forget about China, Sweden, or even project Libra. The tiny Caribbean island country of the Bahamas is racing ahead with its central bank digital currency (CBDC), dubbed the ‘Sand Dollar’… more
Digital currency launched on Abaco
Bahamas – Abaconians will now have easier access to financial services with the launch of Project Sand Dollar on Abaco, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest… more
Payment Providers Roll-Out Sand Dollar Infrastructure
Bahamas – Digital payments providers have already unveiled kiosks and other infrastructure in Abaco to aid the Bahamian digital currency’s roll-out… more
Flow launches new unlimited data plans
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant Flow Jamaica has launched what it is describing as “another industry-leading move”, new unlimited mobile data plans for both prepaid and postpaid customers… more
Digicel looking to share network with rival to reboot cash levels
Regional – The Irish Times newspaper is reporting that Digicel Group is in talks to form a network-sharing partnership with a rival in one of its markets in order to reboot cash levels… more
Tuesday, 3 March 2020
Sun Cash developing its digital money ecosystem
Bahamas – Sun Cash is helping to lead the digital growth of personal finance into the unbanked islands of The Bahamas with a rollout of new systems over the next eight weeks, said Shawn Smith, the company’s head of business development… more
Smart tech ministry’s $18.9 million shopping list
Barbados – The Ministry of Innovation and Smart Technology needs 18.9 million dollars in order to continue “transforming” the country into a digital hub, Minister of Innovation Senator Kay McConney told lawmakers today… more
TELECOMS OVERHAUL
Barbados – AN overhaul of the telecommunications legislation to set network and customer service standards is on its way… more
Wednesday, 4 March 2020
“Media in the Digital Age” – Bahamas Press Club Stages Awards Ceremony
Bahamas – The Bahamas Press Club held its Fifth Annual Media Awards Ceremony themed: “Media in The Digital Age”, in Black Tie fashion at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday, February 29, 2020… more
British Virgin Islands launches BVI Now app
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission is launching a new travel app, BVI Now, which provides cruise guests and other visitors with an updated listing of businesses across the British Overseas Territory. It is believed to be the first such app in the world… more
Banking Across Jamaica’s Digital Divide
Jamaica – Continued complaints about the level of bank charges in Jamaica, highlight a key aspect of the country’s digital divide, with some accessing financial services at low or no cost, while others find themselves spending substantially more time and money to achieve similar results, says Ricardo Dystant, chief of channels at JN Bank… more
Flow encourages timely bill payments to improve credit scores
Jamaica – TELECOMMUNICATIONS provider Flow says its customers could be boosting their credit score by paying their bills on time… more
MPs talk ordinances establishing annual accounts, disposal of UTS shares today
Sint Maarten – Members of Parliament (MPs) will discuss the national ordinance establishing the annual accounts for St. Maarten for the financial year 2015, and authorisation of the amendment to the national ordinance for the disposal of the shares of United Telecommunications Services (UTS), in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament today, Wednesday at 2:00pm… more
AMCHAM T&T tells Gov’t pay attention to non-traditional learning
Trinidad and Tobago – The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) is calling for the education system to provide opportunities for individuals to continue their educational path without the confines of a classroom and curriculum… more
Policy needed to improve ICT
Trinidad and Tobago – In order to improve digitisation and increase the ease of doing business, overarching government policy must be implemented, said acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration Claudelle McKellar… more
Thursday, 5 March 2020
Digital B$ Critical To Disaster Strategies
Bahamas – The Bahamian digital dollar is part of the government’s strategy to create “sustainable solutions” for Dorian-type natural disasters, the deputy prime minister said yesterday… more
Govt. working on transition to cashless society
Bahamas – The government is working with the Clearing Banks Association and domestic micro-financing institutions to promote and facilitate the country’s transition to a cashless society, according Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest… more
More time to appeal case against URCA ruling
Bahamas – The Court of Appeal has allowed a local broadcast company more time to appeal a judge’s ruling which upheld the decision of the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) to ultimately strip its broadcast license… more
New TRC heads advised to hire attorney to address internet issues, if necessary
British Virgin Islands – Premier Andrew Fahie has advised the new heads of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Board to hire an attorney, if needed, to solve the current internet issues affecting the territory… more
OfReg accused of wasting more public cash
Cayman Islands – The utilities regulator, OfReg, which has already faced criticisms for its lavish spending of public cash while failing to address any of the issues it was created to tackle, wasted well over CI$200,000 in 2018 on renting an office it never used… more
e-Learning to deliver 25,000 tablets to teachers by June
Jamaica – e-Learning Jamaica has promised to deliver 25,000 tablets to teachers by June 30, 2020 and 40,000 students by March 31, 2021… more
FUTURE OF JAMAICA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Jamaica – The Jamaica Telecommunications report – 8th series provides a complete view of the Jamaica telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
New service guidelines coming for telecoms firms
Jamaica – ‘NEW legislation is being developed to guide the service standards for telecommunications providers, in light of increasing complaints by customers of the island’s two telecoms players about quality of service… more
Police call in Caricel bosses over alleged illegal activities
Jamaica – SIX people said to be connected with Symbiote Investments Limited, which operates as telecommunications brand Caricel, have been listed as persons of interest by the police… more
COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS LAUNCHES GUIDE TO TACKLE ELECTION CYBERSECURITY THREAT
Regional – The Commonwealth, and their Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, are reportedly now examining and tackling the issue of threats to the elections of Commonwealth countries posed by cybersecurity… more
Technology, the growth and death of capitalism
Trinidad and Tobago – AS long ago as the mid-1950’s, Prof Robert Solow, now professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told us that “even a growing population and increased capital investment (in acquiring assets that support the production process) will not sustain economic growth… more
bmobile partners with PTSC to provide free WiFi
Trinidad and Tobago – At the height of the carnival festivities, PTSC and the Ministry of Works and Transport gave the people of T&T yet another reason to celebrate and many more opportunities to connect… more
Elizabeth Ammon, a leader at C&W
Trinidad and Tobago – She’s one of the few women senior executives in telecommunications in TT but senior manager of C&W Business, Elizabeth Ammon’s wealth of experience, passion and confidence in her ability means she’s proud to inspire and represent… more
Friday, 6 March 2020
2020 FUTURE OF DOMINICA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET – TRENDS, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Dominica – The Dominica Telecommunications report – 8th series from OGAnalysis provides a complete view of the Dominica telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
Zed-Makeyla Merger Marries Tech And Student Accounting
Jamaica – TECHNOLOGY COMPANY Zed Jamaica, in business since 2003, is now branded as Zed-Makeyla, following its merger with a Canadian affiliate… more
Saturday, 7 March 2020
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Sunday, 8 March 2020
Harris moves to iCreate
Jamaica – Creative training institute iCreate Limited has appointed Sophia Harris as its new general manager, effective March 1, 2020… more
Susanna O’Sullivan first female head of Flow’s Technology Operations
Jamaica – Communications and entertainment giant Flow has announced the appointment of Susanna O’Sullivan as senior director of technology operations for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands… more
Telecoms Grow Revenue 25% As Internet Usage Climbs
Jamaica – Jamaica’s telecom companies collected $25.6 billion in revenue for the July-September 2019 period, according to the most recent data released on the sector… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia; Wikipedia;
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