A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August 2020.
Monday, 17 August 2020
BTC successfully manages operations with work from home model
Bahamas – BTC has innovatively adjusted its operations to respond to the new ways of working and serving its customers, brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic… more
Robotics flash camp opens new world for students
Cayman Islands – Igniting a spark for science in some children can be a challenge for educators, especially when dealing with students learning at different speeds… more
Science and tech education could shape Cayman’s future
Cayman Islands – As Cayman looks to rebuild its economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis, the Cayman Compass is exploring ideas for meaningful reform of education and training… more
Tuesday, 18 August 2020
BTC: More than 90% of operations managed remotely
Bahamas – BTC has transitioned more than 90 percent of its operations to a work from home model that it plans to continue for rest of the year… more
BTC To Continue ‘Home Work’ Model To End-2020
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said it will continue the work-from-home model that is running 90 percent of its operations for the rest of 2020… more
Hew: ICT and transport weakness are priorities
Cayman Islands – The state of Cayman’s information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and public transport are priorities that government must address now to help business rebound in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Commerce Minister Joey Hew has said… more
Higher education key to success in Cayman’s ‘knowledge economy’
Cayman Islands – The value of higher education is expected to increase dramatically as Cayman seeks to expand its ‘knowledge-based’ economy in the aftermath of COVID-19… more
Educator turned publisher goes digital with BookFusion
Jamaica – Education consultant Howard Campbell has expanded his range of educational books through the open e-book platform, BookFusion… more
Sir Hilary: ‘Remove digital divide’
Jamaica – At the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) 56th annual conference at Montego Bay Convention Centre, Vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles called on the Government, the private sector, and civil society to remove access based on income for an equal playing field… more
OECS Helping To Get All Member Schools Networked.
Regional – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to partner with UNICEF-ITU global initiative Giga to enhance the connectivity of schools and develop digital public goods… more
Digicel thanks police for foiling San Juan robbery
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel has applauded the police for their swift action in foiling an attempted robbery within minutes at its San Juan branch on Monday morning.In a release sent to the media on Tuesday, Digicel said no one was injured during the hold-up… more
Fintech and the securities market Part 2
Trinidad and Tobago – IN LAST week’s article, the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission discussed the importance of, and some of the risks associated with, Financial Technology (Fintech)… more
Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Fortnite ban may impact Cayman gamers
Cayman Islands – An ongoing legal battle between tech giant Apple and Epic Games, the developers of the popular multiplayer game Fortnite, could have implications for gamers in Cayman… more
Haiti – Internet : A Haitian elected to the board of a regional ICANN entity
Haiti – On August 17, Sergio Salinas Porto, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Latin American and Caribbean Islands Regional At-Large Organization, (LACRALO) released the results of the election of a new member to the LACRALO board… more
Digital Lady
Jamaica – AGILITY is the ability to move quickly and easily, and in the software world these moves have become products of the project management toolbox… more
Electioneering gone digital
Jamaica – CAMPAIGNING for Jamaica’s September 3 General Election has already been changed by the impact of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign trail does not include the usual large gatherings of party supporters rallying around political candidates… more
Jamaica on path to full digitisation, says expertise minister
Jamaica – Members of the Personal Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and different stakeholders have stated that the viability of the nation’s enterprise sector and the standard of life loved by residents might develop into considerably improved if companies had been to develop into absolutely digital… more
Why not outsource your IT
Jamaica – Why is your company running an IT department if it is not your core business? It is a question often asked, particularly at times like these when companies’ overall cost of operation is under scrutiny… more
Beware of social media backlash
Trinidad and Tobago – LAST week Tuesday, on the day after Trinidad and Tobago’s 2020 general election, the daughter of the owner of Ramsaran’s Dairy Products made some comments on Facebook that were perceived to be racist… more
Thursday, 20 August 2020
Anguilla’s Ambition To Be Digital Capital Of The Caribbean
Anguilla – The “Loft” at Davida’s Restaurant was the scene of a special forum on August 12th. Proprietor of Thoughtful Digital Agency, Ms. Tahirah Banks, and her partner, Gino Webster, were hosts of the event simply called “Sustainable Anguilla”, with emphasis on technological advancements of Anguilla and the region for future socio-economic development and sustainability… more
Activtrades: Is Data The New Oil?
Bahamas – The 20th Century was the golden age of oil. The black gold, as it became known, drove the ambition of ruthless tycoons and was the reason that lead countries to war. Fortunes were made and lost and maps had to be redrawn, as oil rich regions were able to punch above their weight in terms of geostrategic importance… more
Regulators Reject Sebas On Gaming Ad Restriction
Bahamas – Regulators have rejected arguments by Sebas Bastian’s web shop and media empire that a 5am to 9pm bar on gaming advertising is “discriminatory, arbitrary and capricious”… more
Govt launches ‘EZ Pay’ driver’s licence renewal
Barbados – Barbadians no longer have to wait in long lines to renew their driver’s licence as the process was launched Wednesday on the Government’s newly revamped online payment platform… more
Thousands enrol in free online programme
Barbados – Some 3,000 people among the 30,000 Barbadians out of a job in the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Government job cuts and long-term economic decline, have signed up for free online learning to build skills for new employment… more
Online system to be implemented for work permit holders re-entering
British Virgin Islands – Government will be implementing an online system for work permit holders travelling into the territory under Phase II of the Restricted Border Reopening Plan… more
Tech experts hope for dedicated technology ministry
Trinidad and Tobago – SOME OF TT’s top tech minds are happy to see digital transformation added to the portfolio of the Ministry of Public Administration. This, they say, could hopefully lead to a full-fledged ministry of technology. Senator Allyson West was sworn in Wednesday, returning to her role as substantive Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, while state telecoms company TSTT’s chief technology officer Hassel Bacchus was sworn in as a neophyte senator and minister in the ministry… more
Yes, you can be fired for offensive online posts
Trinidad and Tobago – Industrial relations changed while the pandemic crept through TT… more
Friday, 21 August 2020
Deltec focused on decentralization and technology use amid COVID-19
Bahamas – COVID-19 has sped up Deltec Bank & Trust Limited’s decentralization of its operations and proven that the company can still service its clients efficiently and effectively outside of the office, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer Odetta Morton told Guardian Business yesterday… more
6,000 Tertiary Level Students to Get Data Packages for Distance Learning
Belize – As you may know by now, majority of tertiary level institutions began distance learning earlier this month and the remainder are set to do so in the coming weeks… more
8,000 Electronic Devices for High School Distance Education
Belize – When it comes to the secondary level, distance learning will commence in the first week of October… more
GOB Will Provide Tablets For Secondary Schools
Belize – And while that paper solution is the plan for primary school distance learning, the plan for secondary schools is much more ambitious… more
GTT’s seeks regulator review on change in billing format
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is seeking a variation of an order by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as it relates to the billing format for consumers… more
GTT suspends phone credit transfers amid growing scam reports
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) have urged customers to take precautions to secure their personal data and information in light of attempts by persons to scam customers… more
Flow closes San Fernando store after COVID-19 scare
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow has advised that within the past 24 hours, one of its employees presented with symptoms of the COVID-19 and is currently in self isolation awaiting test results… more
Saturday, 22 August 2020
Consumer protection: OfReg launches internet speed test
Cayman Islands – Utility regulator OfReg is providing consumers with a new system to test the speed of their internet connections and verify whether they are receiving the level of service they are paying for… more
Sunday, 23 August 2020
Health Tech | Digitisation Of Labs For Greater Efficiency
Jamaica – Every business seeks to remain sustainable throughout development and change in society. It’s no different for those in the healthcare industry… more
Ingenuity Technologies launches freelancer jobs marketplace, The Hive
Jamaica – Ingenuity Technologies, a software service busines, recently launched its digital platform, The Hive, that it says is “the Caribbean’s first and only freelancer jobs marketplace”… more
Jamaica poised for more growth in the BPO sector – Jampro
Jamaica – Consul for the Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (Jampro) North American Regional Office Vivion Scully projects that the country is poised for even further growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector in 2021… more
Problems with Digicel Play solved after many years
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, Thanks for speaking with me a couple days ago. As discussed, please see below communication thread with Digicel Play re—my captioned account… more
Educators call for online teaching policy
Trinidad and Tobago – As they wait for the Education Ministry to decide if the September school term is on, educators are preparing for a shift to online learning, but say the ministry must implement a policy on the way forward in an a pandemic era… more
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