A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 7 September to Sunday 13 September 2020.
Monday, 7 September 2020
Bahamas Industrial Tribunal pioneers country’s first smart court
Bahamas – The Bahamas Industrial Tribunal has seized the opportunity to incorporate innovative technology, and upgrade its processes and facilities to continue its operations… more
Bahamian company launches first cloud-based ID card service
Bahamas – Sure Badge is the first cloud-based ID card service to operate in The Bahamas and the Caribbean exclusively… more
Force ISPs to deliver or find new players- Skelton-Cline urges TRC
British Virgin Islands – Government Consultant, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) to put pressure on local telecom providers to deliver better services to the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) or find new players… more
Fa’amoe leaves OfReg
Cayman Islands – Alee Fa’amoe, the deputy CEO and executive director of information and communications technology at OfReg, has left his position at the utility regulator as of 25 Aug… more
Trinidad’s New Government Has Online On-The-Job Training Ready To Go.
Trinidad and Tobago – This week the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Labour (MOL) together with the National Information and Communication Technology Company Limited (iGovTT) announced that it is testing an Online Registration Portal for the On-the-Job-Training Programme (OJTP)… more
ALTA launches free online classes
Trinidad and Tobago – ALTA is launching free online classes for people over 16 who would like to improve their literacy skills from their home… more
Kamla: Remove online tax too
Trinidad and Tobago – Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for the complete scrapping of the online tax and the reinstatement of a laptop programme for those who still may not be able to afford it… more
Tuesday, 8 September 2020
EDITORIAL: ONLINE RENEWALS LONG OVERDUE
Barbados – BY now we have all heard the news that Barbadians will no longer have to wait in long lines to renew their driver’s licences, as they can now log on to the EZpay+ platform at www.ezpay.gov.bb(link is external) and choose the driver’s licence renewal option… more
Online application for drone use
Barbados – Licensed drone operators are now required to apply online when seeking permission to use the device… more
GTT launches ‘Together we rise!’ campaign
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday launched a brand new campaign, titled “Together we rise!” … more
COK invests over $200 million in new digital banking platform
Jamaica – COK Sodality Credit Union has invested approximately $200 million in its new digital banking platform… more
Wednesday, 9 September 2020
Supply Shortage Squeezes Virtual Learning Expense
Bahamas – Electronics retailers yesterday warned that global demand has sent the price of virtual learning devices “skyrocketing” and created supply shortages as the October 5 school return looms… more
#BTColumn – COVID-19 pandemic: cyber security warnings and call to action
Barbados – It remains critically important that Barbados uses the awareness expressed at the recent 2020 CARICOM Virtual Security Conference to advance the establishment of a National Cyber Security Strategy… more
Barbados gets its first digital nomad
Barbados – We all saw the advertising by Barbados, and later Antigua and Barbuda, inviting people from North America and Europe to move to their islands to work remotely. Now we have the first report of someone who took up the Barbados offer… more
PBS lands contract to service new digital ID projects in Barbados
Barbados – Productive Business Solutions (PBS) Barbados, a subsidiary of the Musson Group of Companies, has been awarded the contract by the Government of Barbados to provide services for the country’s new digital ID and national ID card replacement project… more
GTT fixing Internet, telephone outage on West Demerara
Guyana – Technicians of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) were Wednesday working feverishly to restore Internet, landline and mobile phone services to the West Coast Demerara, a company spokeswoman said… more
Government to establish six new STEM academies
Jamaica – Six new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) academies are to be developed at the high-school level that will prepare students in the public education system for careers in STEM fields… more
‘Governor’ of eGov, Maurice Barnes
Jamaica – Jamaica has led much of the Caribbean by introducing eGov, a bridge between the public and the public services offered by government agencies and institutions… more
Jamaica’s place in the tech world
Jamaica – There is no doubt that the Jamaican brand has wrapped the world in its arms with creativity — music, art, dance, food, science, business, a list which has grown with each passing decade… more
Online is not always right – JBDC deputy CEO
Jamaica – While the knee-jerk reaction to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 is for many businesses to go online, for a successful outcome the transition has to be aligned with the business strategy, says Harold Davis, deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC)… more
Scotiabank increases digital banking functionality
Jamaica – President and CEO of Scotiabank, David Noel, has announced several enhancements made by the bank that will provide greater convenience to customers using its automated banking machines, mobile and online banking systems… more
Early hiccups for online teaching process
Trinidad and Tobago – Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly is denying that there are any issues with the Ministry of Education’s online learning platforms… more
Fintech and the securities market
Trinidad and Tobago – AS we conclude our five-part series on ‘Fintech and the Securities Market’, we highlight some of the many types of Fintechs in the securities industry… more
Thursday, 10 September 2020
Free internet hotspots to help children do their homework
Antigua and Barbuda – Free hotspots will be set up in areas with poor internet connectivity to help students complete assignments… more
Regulator Dismisses Cable, Btc Warnings
Bahamas – Regulators have dismissed warnings by The Bahamas’ two communications providers that the imposition of preventative wholesale broadband Internet measures will deter future investment… more
OfReg creates independent internet speed test
Cayman Islands – While there are already dozens of free tools online that allow users to measure their real time upload and download internet speeds, OfReg has created one of its own, allowing it to independently monitor local providers… more
GTT helping to connect COVID positive mums with newborns
Guyana – A collaborative effort between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will now allow for COVID-19+ mothers, who recently gave birth, to be able to see their newborns through technology… more
Digicel gifts children of people living with HIV free Internet, tablets
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant Digicel, through its Digicel Foundation, has collaborated with the Centre for HIV/AIDS Research and Educational Services (CHARES) to provide 10 tablets and one year of free Internet service to children whose parents are living with HIV/AIDS… more
Mastercard, WiPay partner to drive Caribbean epayments
Regional – Technology giant Mastercard announced, on September 09, a partnership with WiPay – the Caribbean’s leading fintech company – building on its strategic plan to evolve and develop its presence in the islands… more
Friday, 11 September 2020
Aliv Chief: No ‘Short Term’ Huawei Effect
Bahamas – Aliv’s top executive yesterday said it sees no “short term” impact from the US government placing Chinese equipment off-limits even though its mobile network is “all Huawei”… more
British Virgin Islands: Into The Sandbox: Fintech Innovation In The BVI
British Virgin Islands – On August 31, 2020, the Financial Services (Fintech Regulatory Sandbox) Regulations 2020 came into force, significantly enhancing the British Virgin Islands regulatory framework and providing room for innovation in the fintech sector… more
ANNOUNCEMENT: Computer coding workshop available from Caribbean Science Foundation
Dominica – The Caribbean Science Foundation invites you to enroll in its COMPUTER CODING WORKSHOP… more
Ministry of Education to conduct “diagnostic tests” on blended education delivery; 4th, 5th formers to return to classes sooner
Guyana – Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Friday hoped that a combination of Online, radio, television, handouts and toys will continue to deliver education during the extended closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she indicated that it would be hard to immediately measure success… more
PBS Lands National ID Contract In Barbados
Jamaica – Tech solutions provider Productive Business Solutions Limited, PBS, has been contracted to assist Barbados with a digital ID and national ID card replacements, a job the company says is similar to work being done on the identification system that Jamaica is developing… more
Mastercard, WiPay partner to advance E payments across the Caribbean
Regional – Technology giant Mastercard has announced its partnership with WiPay, building on its strategic plan to evolve and develop its presence in the Caribbean… more
2019 FUTURE OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET- TRENDS, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The St. Kitts and Nevis Telecommunications report – 8th series from OGAnalysis provides a complete view of the St. Kitts and Nevis telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
The Parliament of Sint Maarten marked an historical event by hosting the Opening of the Parliamentary Year 2020-2021 in a virtual setting.
Sint Maarten – Tuesday, September 8, 2020, marked the beginning of the Parliamentary Year 2020-2021… more
Place all Govt services online
Trinidad and Tobago – AS THE Government gets ready to embark on a digitisation initiative, the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) believes it is essential that all its services be delivered online… more
Saturday, 12 September 2020
– Nili –
Sunday, 13 September 2020
Teachers to see launch of online training programme by tomorrow
Guyana – The Ministry of Education has made good on its promise to deliver a mass online training programme for teachers across the nation… more
Technology, education and society
Jamaica – Jamaica needs properly to enter the era of information technology. There are manifestations of interest in information technology, largely among technical experts, some professionals, tech-savvy students, and others, but the society’s IT competence remains limited… more
Tech and the media
Trinidad and Tobago – IN these pandemic times, when technology is literally providing a lifeline to billions of people across the globe at unprecedented levels, Huawei was excited to team up with the media industry in Trinidad and Tobago to deliver a two-part webinar series on Digital Journalism and Technology Reporting…. more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Guyana Chronicle; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
