A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 4 May to Sunday 10 May 2020.
Monday, 4 May 2020
BTC Aids Health Ministry With Communication Need
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has teamed with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to improve its communications in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic… more
What is Translink? Founder Leo Carrington explains
Barbados – In just two and a half weeks, Transportation Technology Company Translink launches an express delivery service & online shopping platform in response to Covid-19, that allows Bajans to utilize technology to have their favorite goods received quickly and efficiently… more
Government proposes framework to regulate crypto services
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands government has issued a proposed legislative framework for virtual asset service providers that seeks to align the crypto space with international anti-money laundering standards… more
GTT denounces allegation that internet speeds to be limited during recount
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) last night denounced information circulating on social media that it was in talks with the government to limit internet speeds during the recount of votes from the March 2nd general elections so that the spread of information could be contained… more
GTT reopens stores after gearing up for coronavirus
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Monday announced that it would be reopening its stores from this week Wednesday now that the company has acquired Personal Protective Equipment and installed hand-washing facilities… more
Digicel adds new twist, more prizes to Shake to Win game
Jamaica – A clear favourite among Digicel customers, the Shake to Win game in the MyDigicel app is back with a new charitable twist and lots of cash and prizes for them to win… more
ICT shifts will have winners and losers
Jamaica – The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) triggered social distancing measures… more
Digicel debt restructuring amounts to default, says Moody’s
Regional – Moody’s, one of the world’s leading credit ratings agencies, has said that Digicel’s plans to wipe away as much as one-quarter of its $7 billion (€6.5bn) debt through restructuring will amount to a default… more
Digicel Foundation uses tech to engage new project partners
Trinidad and Tobago – The Digicel Foundation is extending its call for applications for its Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) grant initiative… more
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
The educator’s adjustment to online teaching
Bahamas – Online learning is by no means a new phenomenon. For years, it was largely limited to universities, but in this COVID-19 era, online learning has been thrust upon a wide range of people from primary school to post-secondary education… more
ICWI drives customers to digital channels
British Virgin Islands – In response to the recent Government implemented Covid-19 procedures and guidelines, the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI), is urging customers to take advantage of the various digital channels it has available to do business with them… more
GTT reopening stores
Guyana – Weeks after the closure of its retail stores in a bid to support the global call for physical distancing during this pandemic, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has decided to reopen its doors to serve its customers, effective tomorrow… more
Digicel customers to again benefit from First Top Up of Month bonus
Jamaica – Following a highly successful First Top Up of the Month bonus credit promotion in April, Digicel has reintroduced the benefit in May to all of its prepaid customers… more
Education ministry continues partnership with telecoms companies to facilitate distance learning
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information says it will continue to collaborate with the island’s two main telecommunications providers, Digicel Jamaica and Flow Jamaica, to provide data plans for students and teachers in order to facilitate distance learning… more
UWI says many students may choose online learning come September
Jamaica – The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona is likely to continue online offerings of all its programmes come September, even after face-to-face classes resume, according to campus registrar Donovan Stanberry… more
ECTEL observes 20 years amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Regional – As the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) marks its twentieth year of existence, it is mindful that this commemoration is being done against the backdrop of the global fallout from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)… more
Liberty Latin America Announces First Quarter 2020 Results
Regional – Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or “LLA”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) today announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 (“Q1”)… more
SALCC HOSTS E-SYMPOSIUM ON DIGITAL EDUCATION
Saint Lucia – The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development have collaborated to organize an e-Symposium on the topic: “Digital Education: The Art of the Possible, NOW”… more
Three Vincentians launch new Uber-style app in SVG
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Three Vincentians are on a mission to eliminate transportation woes and boost local nightlife through the launch of a ride-share application, Route SVG… more
E-money policy awaiting ministerial order
Trinidad and Tobago – ON November 15, 2018, Central Bank Governor, Dr Alvin Hilaire, provided an update to T&T on the role that the regulator of financial institution was playing in providing oversight of the fintech and digital banking developments that have taken most of the world by storm in the last three years… more
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Merchant: Absence Of E-Commerce No Barrier
Bahamas – Some merchants able to offer delivery and pick-up services yesterday argued that the absence of an e-commerce platform is not hindering their return to business following the six-week lockdown… more
Digicel Barbados easing the financial impact of COVID-19
Barbados – Digicel Barbados is working overtime for its customers during this health crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Online services attract more worshippers, but churches report drop in income
Barbados – While some local churches are crying out for a return to the pews, at least one denomination is in no rush amid an almost 600 per cent increase in attendance in virtual services, necessitated by COVID-19… more
Dominica’s BHD Leon selects Temenos for digital transformation
Dominican Republic – BHD Leon, a leading bank in the Dominican Republic, is implementing Temenos Transact as part of its digital transformation program… more
Online classes a double-edged sword
Guyana – Online classes for secondary and tertiary level students are proving to be a double-edged sword – beneficial but also inaccessible, according to the level teachers and students… more
15-Y-O Creates CSEC Resource Website
Jamaica – A website has been launched to assist students preparing for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, offering resource materials for several subjects and an interactive forum for discussion… more
Child Protection And Family Services Agency Gets Technology Boost
Jamaica – The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) has received a donation of tablets and laptop computers valued at approximately $14 million from the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), through its Public Sector Transformation Programme… more
Jamaican teachers jolted as students send lewd photos during online classes
Jamaica – Limited parental supervision and an emerging role reversal have hobbled the transition to online classes since the shuttering of schools nationwide, with Jamaican teachers reportedly the targets of nude images and other inappropriate content shared by their students… more
JTA calls for review of remote teaching methods
Jamaica – THE Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says there needs to be a break in remote teaching and learning to review the methodology and the tools that are being used to continue educating the nation’s children at this time… more
Prime Minister Confident BPO Sector Will Get Stronger
Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says he is confident the measures that have been implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector will make the industry stronger and will position Jamaica as the BPO industry of choice… more
Digicel debt restructuring amounts to default, says Moody’s
Regional – Moody’s, one of the world’s leading credit ratings agencies, has said that Digicel’s plans to wipe away as much as one-quarter of its $7 billion (€6.5bn) debt through restructuring will amount to a default… more
Thursday, 7 May 2020
BTC Suffers 8% Revenue Decline
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) suffered an eight percent year-over-year top-line decline during the 2020 first quarter, it was revealed yesterday, with revenues dipping below the $50m mark… more
Technology teacher excited to use online platform to educate students
Bahamas – Teachers have been known to be problem solvers and, with online learning the method to the continuation of the education of students during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Augustine’s College information technology (IT) teacher Dauran McNeil said educators make it happen… more
Education ministry hurries to ramp up technology use
Jamaica – THE Government says it intends to be a genuine partner in developing the use of technology in schools… more
Tablets For Public School Teachers
Jamaica – Within the next two months, 25,000 public school teachers will benefit from the roll-out of the Tablets for Teachers Programme… more
TelEm Group getting ready “New Normal” environment to keep everyone safe upon return to the workplace.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group is getting into gear to fully open its stores and offices to customers and the general public as soon as the government makes the announcement that businesses can once again resume regular business hours… more
Friday, 8 May 2020
Belize 2020: Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Markets – Major Trends & Developments due to the Outbreak of COVID-19 – ResearchAndMarkets.com
Belize – The “Belize – Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband – Statistics and Analyses” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering… more
25,000 teachers to get tablet computers
Jamaica – TWENTY-FIVE thousand public school teachers will, within the next two months, benefit from the roll-out of the Tablets for Teachers Programme… more
Class in session: Teachers maximising the virtual learning experience
Jamaica – The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought forth a slew of new norms, one of which is distance learning… more
Digicel Foundation Donates Tablets For Special Needs Students
Jamaica – Special needs students are to benefit from a donation of 10 tablets from the Digicel Foundation, which will better enable them to continue their studies online while schools are closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic… more
Digital Jamaica Throws Sales Lifeline To Furniture Companies
Jamaica – DESPITE TUMBLING sales and challenges with hire-purchase accounts, two of the largest retailers of home furniture and appliances, Courts Jamaica and Singer Jamaica, have found glimmers of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Flow offers special e-education plans for students, teachers
Jamaica – FLOW Jamaica has extended its collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information with the launch of a suite of mobile plans and fixed offers in continued support of education and measures to keep Jamaicans connected and safe as schools remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic… more
GSAJ aims to strengthen viability of local BPO sector
Jamaica – In the past few weeks, there have been few industries as consistently under the spotlight as the Global Services/Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, due in part to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) among employees of Alorica, which has been cited as the main contributor to Jamaica’s recent spike in cases… more
Local interest gathering in Jamaica’s fintech regulatory sandbox
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica is reporting that its recently overhauled regulatory regime for electronic retail payment system, dubbed the fintech regulatory sandbox, is receiving much traction from the local financial market… more
Tips To Help Students Ace Online Learning
Jamaica – Now that a physical classroom is removed from the learning equation, students have to overcome new obstacles… more
VIDEO: Schools closed, but learning continues – Samuda
Jamaica – Minister with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Karl Samuda says his ministry is taking the requisite steps to ensure more students have consistent access to educational content while schools are physically closed… more
SALCC starts a dialogue on digital education in a post-COVID era
Saint Lucia – St. Lucia has successfully hosted its first-ever e-Symposium on Digital Education. It was organised by the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Ministry of Education, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development in response to the COVID-19 crisis… more
Saturday, 9 May 2020
5G fake news hurting Digicel & Flow
Jamaica – A myth which has taken root in Jamaica about a link between 5G technology and COVID-19 is costing the major telecommunications providers millions of dollars to repair infrastructure damaged by those who believe this baseless claim… more
TelEm Group says problem with Miami fiber cable link cause of slow internet on SXM Saturday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians and engineers are working with their counterparts in Miami, Florida, USA, to restore broadband services to St. Maarten following a break-in normal fiber cable connections from 1:00 am Saturday morning… more
Sunday, 10 May 2020
GECOM abandons plan to ban cell-phones at recount centre- PPP
Guyana – The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Sunday said the administration of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) aborted an overnight plan to ban cellular phones at the 10 workstations where the national recount of votes is taking place… more
Distance learning in the COVID-19 age
Jamaica – As the debate escalates as to whether or not online lessons are reaching Jamaica’s most digitally disadvantaged children in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) continues its e-training programme for Jamaican teachers… more
Flow needed for online learning
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, On the road where we live here in Morant Bay, the main cable wire was ripped down by a huge truck seven Sundays ago… more
Health + Tech | Innovating Through The COVID-19 Pandemic
Jamaica – The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has resulted in many opportunities for the health technology industry. Our usually technophobic population has been embracing technology more and more since the start of the restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19… more
Teachers share struggles of distance learning
Jamaica – EDUCATORS across the island are appealing to the Government to carefully examine the lessons the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have taught the sector, and implement the necessary changes to the curriculum… more
Image credits: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Wikipedia; ECTEL; Wikipedia; Brands of the World; Telemm Group; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia
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