A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 20 July to Sunday 26 July 2020.
Monday, 20 July 2020
OfReg executives grilled on fuel prices, broadband quality
Cayman Islands – OfReg’s ICT executive Alee Fa’amoe has said, based on the regulator’s current operational trajectory, it will be not be able to meet its mandate of getting better prices at the gas pump nor faster internet speeds and prices within the next year or two… more
OfReg exec jobs advertised day after PAC
Cayman Islands – The timing of advertisements placed in the local print media for the executive director positions for both the ICT and electricity sectors at OfReg were “purely coincidental”, said the CEO Malike Cummings, and “not in any way tied to the incumbents’ testimonies during the current Public Accounts Committee”… more
OfReg set back ICT progress, says director
Cayman Islands – The executive director responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications sector under the umbrella utilities regulator, OfReg, has said the creation of this entity had not only failed to meet public expectations but had also undermined the progress of ICT regulation and development. Alee Fa’amoe told the Public Accounts Committee that the creation of OfReg “has held us back”… more
Dominica Government Not Pleased with Telecom Coverage, Three Years after Hurricane Maria
Dominica – Three years after Hurricane Maria swept through the island, destroying most of its infrastructure, Dominicans are still without full telecommunication services… more
Cybersecurity: How safe is any Jamaican?
Jamaica – Computerisation and the Internet, referred to as information and communications technology, has enormously improved the quality of life… more
Foundation Donates Computers To Children
Jamaica – Learning for 46 children across the island has been strengthened with a donation of 46 tablet computers by the Ilah’s Lemon-Aid Stand for Kids Foundation… more
Jamaican businesses looking to the UK firms for cybersecurity
Jamaica – THE United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade (DIT) is reporting a noticeable increase in Jamaican businesses investing in British cyber security services, with one company providing services to the value of £1.5 million in recent months… more
More Wi-Fi Hotspots Coming
Jamaica – The Government will continue to roll out free secured Wi-Fi hotspots in public places across the island this financial year… more
Using technology to monitor, mitigate coastal damage
Trinidad and Tobago – Coastal erosion, the loss of land in coastal areas caused by the force of waves, tides and currents, has been eating up land, displacing communities and in some cases washing away whole towns over the long stretch of human history… more
Leveraging technology to support the MSME sector through COVID-19 and beyond
Trinidad and Tobago – The smaller size of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) makes them uniquely vulnerable to economic downturns, natural and manmade disasters and other changes in their market conditions… more
Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Statement by Premier Fahie on Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Balances
British Virgin Islands – Mr Speaker, I rise to provide an update on the work being done by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) as it relates to the enforcement of, and adherence to the Telecommunications Act 2006… more
Cayman Tech City announces ‘Launch Labs’ initiative
Cayman Islands – Cayman Enterprise City’s Cayman Tech City special economic zone and the utility regulator OfReg are partnering in a new programme designed for entrepreneurs and innovators to test new technology projects, products and services… more
Computer programming courses to be launched in Cayman Brac
Cayman Islands – Code (Cayman), a non-profit organisation that designs and hosts software programming courses, is expanding its programmes to Cayman Brac with the help of sponsor TechCayman… more
Guyana: Political activist sent death threats using fake Facebook profile but still got caught
Guyana – Ryan Williams, an activist attached to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was on Monday charged with threatening to kill Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (rt’d) Claudette Singh… more
2020 Future Of Jamaica Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Jamaica – This intensive research report on the Jamaica Telecommunications Market submitted is a go-to, ready-to use market intelligence document, intended to equip readers with highly versatile and decisive market specific information and data, intended to trigger remunerative business discretion on the part of stakeholders comprising transport service providers, government bodies, as well as regulatory associations… more
Bank of Jamaica Invites Tech Companies to Test Digital Currency Solutions
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica invited technology solution providers to develop and test potential central bank digital currency, or CBDC, solutions… more
Saint Lucia to implement electronic govt public procurement
Saint Lucia – On July 2, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Department of Finance, Esther Rigobert, signed a five-year contract with a British firm, In-Tend Ltd. (www.in-tend.co.uk/) in the amount of USD$110,000 for the provision of an Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) application for the Government of Saint Lucia… more
Wednesday, 22 July 2020
TRC owes gov’t $23M! Telecoms regulator has left millions uncollected over 13 years
British Virgin Islands – Failing to submit royalties collected from the four local telecommunication providers in the past 13 years, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) now owes the BVI government approximately $23 million… more
No 5G for Dominica Anytime Soon
Dominica – There will be no 5G internet connectivity for Dominica in the near future- this from Hon Minister responsible for Telecommunications and Broadcasting, Senator Oscar George… more
Alorica Portmore To Close For Good
Jamaica – The Portmore branch of the Alorica call centre, which became the epicentre of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Jamaica in April, is set to close permanently… more
Bank of Jamaica opens door for Central Bank Digital Currency
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is now formally inviting interested Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) providers to develop and test potential CBDC solutions in its recently established Fintech Regulatory Sandbox… more
RJR posts profit for 2020 financial year
Jamaica – Radio Jamaica Limited, parent company of the RJR/Gleaner Communications Group, posted a turnaround profit of $37.6 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2020… more
Scotiabank ramps up cybersecurity investments
Jamaica – With the enactment of the Data Protection Act 2020 impending, Scotia Group Jamaica Limited president and CEO David Noel asserted that the company has already taken steps to ramp up its cybersecurity efforts… more
TECH GURU — Stacey Hines
Jamaica – If ever there was a time for technology leadership, it is now… more
Virtual public auctions – guidelines for mortgagees/lenders
Jamaica – COVID-19 has caused many businesses to revamp their operations in an attempt to find the most suitable way to navigate this new normal with which we are all now faced… more
SAVED BY THE CLOUD
Trinidad and Tobago – As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, the role of Information Communications Technology (ICT), in particular, Cloud-based services, surged to the forefront in keeping economies and communications functioning while restricting the spread of the disease… more
Thursday, 23 July 2020
Rapists using social media to target young women
Bahamas – Police have identified a recent trend of young women becoming victims of sexual assault after being targeted on social media by their attackers, according to Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle… more
Local Cellphone Tariffs to be Reviewed
Dominica – Tariffs for local cellphones operations will be reviewed, according to the Telecommunication and Broadcasting Ministry… more
Minister with responsibility for telecoms says providers ‘too slow’ in restoring internet service
Dominica – Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Telecommunications and Broadcasting, Oscar George, said he is not satisfied with the speed at which the internet is being restored on various parts of the island… more
Bank of Jamaica wants to test digital currency with private partners
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica has invited tech companies to collaborate on the development of digital currency solutions, in a bid to build its central bank digital currency… more
PM says Jamaicans must become developers and creators of technology
Jamaica – Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, says Jamaicans need to make a mental shift from merely being users of technology to becoming developers and creators of technology… more
How regional IXPs became a necessity
Regional – In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to think about how your computer connects to the internet, and when things work, you don’t… more
KM2 Solutions to Hire 300 More Workers in St. Lucia
Saint Lucia – American BPO provider KM2 Solutions has expanded in St Lucia by adding 7,000 square feet of floor space to its operations center in capital Castries… more
CtrlAltFix Tech: fixing the website woes of businesses
Trinidad and Tobago – With the new normal settling into the countries, e-commerce is more important than ever before for businesses… more
Friday, 24 July 2020
Seek Digital ‘Boost’ Amid Covid Woe
Bahamas – Bahamian companies must give themselves a “plus or a boost” amid the COVID-19 pandemic through establishing a sustainable digital component to their operations… more
OES: Budget concerns, digital access impact private schools’ remote learning
Cayman Islands – The Office of Education Standards commended Cayman’s private schools this week for their resourcefulness in handling remote learning, but noted inconsistencies across schools in quality of education… more
FTC Assessing Spectrum Allocation Effect On Telecoms Competition
Jamaica – The Fair Trading Commission, FTC, has launched a study into the telecommunications sector at the request of the Spectrum Management Authority, SMA, to assess the level of competition as it relates to spectrum allocation… more
E-bus and Security Centre officially launched
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The E-bus and Security Operation Centre at the Questelles Police Station, which will monitor closed circuit cameras installed around the country, was officially opened on Tuesday, July 21… more
Cyber security awareness — The silent threat
Trinidad and Tobago – Cybersecurity is important because it encompasses everything that pertains to protecting our sensitive data, personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), personal information, intellectual property, data, and governmental and industry information systems from theft and damage attempted by criminals and adversaries. ( Abi Tyas Tunggal July 2020)… more
Saturday, 25 July 2020
Digital services firm urges e-Govt push
Barbados – As the COVID-19 pandemic forces more people to do less face-to-face interaction when conducting business, a digital services consulting firm is warning Barbados and other regional governments to move swiftly to modernize and transform their business processes… more
Sunday, 26 July 2020
COK set to launch new digital platform geared at user friendliness
Jamaica – COK Sodality Co-operative Credit Union Limited is all set to launch its new Universa Digital Core Banking Suite on August 4, 2020… more
Trying to solve BPO problems working from home, the workplace
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I work at a call centre in the western part of the island and I have been working from home since the advent of COVID-19… more
THE DAY AFTER: RETHINKING THE FUTURE OF THE CARIBBEAN
Regional – The Caribbean has largely been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 thanks to early action by policymakers… more
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (Pixabay); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia
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