A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 September to Sunday 20 September 2020.
Monday, 14 September 2020
Aliv Boosts Data Capacity By 35%
Bahamas – Aliv’s top executive says it has increased the data capacity of its network by 35 percent compared to pre-COVID-19 levels to meet the increased demand for home learning and working… more
B.T.L. Chairman Under Investigation for Financial Abuse
Belize – For days, there have been reports that the B.T.L.’s credit card has been misused by B.T.L. Chairman Nestor Vasquez who has been at the company since it was taken over by the government. A figure of four hundred thousand dollars has been thrown around. Vasquez says it is merely an allegation at election time. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the following report… more
Minister Vaz to address high electricity costs, telecommunications services
Jamaica – Newly appointed Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has committed to addressing the issues of high electricity bills and the quality of telecommunications services offered to Jamaicans, as he assumes his new portfolio responsibilities… more
Caribbean Wellness Reimagined by Leveraging Culture and Technology to Identify New Tourism Product Opportunities
Regional – The Caribbean Connection Walk for Wellness brought the travel community together to celebrate Caribbean Wellness Day on September 12, 2020… more
WiPay wants to give TT e-IDs for free
Trinidad and Tobago – Aldwyn Wayne wants to facilitate Government’s e-identification programme. And he wants to do it for free. The local tech entrepreneur and CEO of TT-based regional e-payments company WiPay, recently signed a deal with global fintech giant Mastercard, giving WiPay access to resources and technology while allowing Mastercard a strong foothold in the region… more
Tuesday, 15 September 2020
Bahamas Plans E-Currency to Connect Far-Flung Island Beaches
Bahamas – The Bahamas is set to beat some of the world’s superpowers in launching a sovereign digital currency… more
Net Vasquez Resigns as B.T.L. Chairman
Belize – In an update to a story we ran earlier in this newscast, embattled B.T.L. Chairman Nestor Vasquez has tendered his resignation from the executive of the national telephone company… more
What’s the Fate of Net Vasquez?
Belize – The C.E.O. on the office of the Prime Minister, Audrey Wallace who is also a member of the B.T.L. Board is leading the investigation in the B.T.L. Chairman, Net Vasquez who is also the owner of Channel 7… more
Chess Federation launches free online ‘Chess in Schools’ Programme
Guyana – The Guyana Chess Federation, (GCF), recently rolled out it free ChessKids online schools programme in partnership with CHESSKID.COM based in the United States of America… more
Learning Channel filling gap for students without internet access
Guyana – As the new school year began virtually for many students across the country, the Ministry of Education rolled out programmes on the Guyana Learning Channel to reach those students who cannot access the internet… more
Ministry of Education launches online teacher training programme
Guyana – The Ministry of Education on Tuesday officially launched its online training programme for teachers to prepare them to deliver education through the use of information and communications technology (ICT)… more
Job No. 1 For Fayval: Internet Access For Students
Jamaica – Reintegrating students into the mood and mode of formal education amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic will be a top priority for newly appointed Education Minister Fayval Williams… more
Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Another Batch of Charges Made to B.T.L. Corporate Credit Card by Former Chairman
Belize – Was the B.T.L. credit card used as a personal card? According to the reports, as much as four hundred thousand dollars were spent, but not on the company’s business… more
Are B.T.L. Profits Really Down?
Belize – The meeting of the House of Representatives proceeded in Belmopan today. A highlight of the session came on adjournment when the Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, rose to speak on the fiasco at Belize Telemedia Limited where there are allegations of the misuse of the corporate card by former Chairman, Net Vasquez… more
Audrey Wallace Won’t Head B.T.L. Inquiry
Belize – The appointment of an interim chair by Thursday was announced in a statement by the B.T.L. Board of Directors on Tuesday… more
Cybercrime Bill introduced into the House of Representatives
Belize – The Cyber Crime Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives today by the Prime Minister… more
Guyana’s STEM opportunity
Guyana – ExxonMobil recently announced its 18th offshore discovery in Guyana at the Redtail-1 well. This discovery adds to the previously estimated recoverable resource of more than 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels on the Stabroek Block… more
Bluedot’s real-time data insights to drive future political campaigns
Jamaica – A new era of Jamaican politics has been ushered in as more political campaign strategists are turning to innovative technologies in hopes of securing victories for party candidates across both divides in the island’s local and general elections… more
BPOs dealing with COVID-19 — Yoni Epstein
Jamaica – Chairman, founder and chief executive officer of Outsourcing Management Limited (itelBPO), Yoni Epstein has detailed how his company navigated through the initial business process outsourcing (BPO) shutdown in the early days of COVID-19… more
Connecting Jamaica during COVID-19
Jamaica – Providers of telecommunications engineering services, Konnexx Services Limited has been able to positively maintain its operations despite increased expenditure due to the onset of the coronavirus in the country… more
Holness Trumpets World-Class Broadband For Growth Spurt
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness laid out a list of “nation-building” investment strategies, including a world-class broadband system that he says will create the space needed for Jamaica to return to economic growth… more
OUR Urges Porting Vigilance By Telecoms Customers
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation, OUR, is appealing to telecommunications customers to be vigilant when porting their numbers to another service provider by ensuring that operators follow the established protocols… more
RADA encourages more young Jamaicans to go into agriculture through technology
Jamaica – The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is encouraging more young people to take up career opportunities in agriculture, through the use of technology… more
Step up drone usage
Jamaica – The use of technology to create an enabling framework for universal access must be carefully planned and implemented by the Government. One such technological enhancement is Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), more commonly referred to as drones… more
Tech boost for farming UWI scientists to make app widely available
Jamaica – A group of scientists at The University of the West Indies, Mona has created a portal that will take a lot of the guesswork out of farming. There are plans to eventually make the technology widely available as an app, but for now it is a free-to-use online portal that can provide information on how to get the most out of growing 45 different crops… more
Liberty Latin American Doubles Down on Mobile
Regional – Liberty Latin America (NASDAQ:LILA) (NASDAQ:LILA.K), a cable, phone, and internet provider serving more than 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Chile, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica, has built itself through a patchwork of acquisitions over the years, most notably its $7.4 billion purchase of Cable & Wireless Communications in 2016… more
bmobile promises continued support of local education
Trinidad and Tobago – According to UNESCO, more than 1.5 billion students and youth across the planet are or have been affected by school and university closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Maha Sabha offers suggestions for e-learning
Trinidad and Tobago – THE SANATAN Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) has written to the Education Ministry offering suggestions for the education sector during the coronavirus pandemic… more
TTSE launches Online Trading Platform
Trinidad and Tobago – The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange Limited (TTSE) has announced the launch of its online trading platform, TOP (TTSE Online Platform), which allows for the buying and selling of securities online… more
Thursday, 17 September 2020
Barbados Facilitating Innovation –The Fintech Silicon Valley
Barbados – Be innovative or facilitate innovation! In 2013 it was said that in order for Barbados to maintain an upward trajectory of economic development which is supported by foreign direct investment, this would be the approach it would have to consider… more
A New Interim Chairman to be Appointed to B.T.L. Board
Belize – Former Central Bank Governor Alan Slusher has been selected to replace Nestor Vasquez as chairman of the Belize Telemedia Limited’s board of directors… more
Johnny Openly Questions B.T.L.’s Value
Belize – When the scandalous matter was raised in the House of Representatives, B.T.L.’s fiscal performance was the topic of a testy exchange between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition during Wednesday’s sitting… more
No Word on Other Resignations for Embattled B.T.L. Ex-Chairman
Belize – In the wake of the allegations made against Nestor Vasquez on Monday, the longstanding chairman of the national telephone company demitted office on Tuesday as the Board when the Directors confirmed an investigation is to take place… more
Little Bay Primary and Infant begins classes with satellite internet service
Jamaica – Grade six students at the Little Bay Primary and Infant School in Westmoreland began Primary Exit Profile (PEP) preparations on Monday (September 14) with virtual classes facilitated under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s Internet in schools programme… more
Supreme Ventures looks to go all-digital by year-end
Jamaica – Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) is looking to digitise its 11 business lines by year-end, a move the company said would improve earnings… more
Make-over for TV-15 Logo and IPTV Brochure.
Sint Maarten – A new-look Triple Play brochure complete with a new TV15 logo and new channel placement have been produced by TelEm Groups IPTV provider, TelTV… more
‘T&T Govt needs common digital platform’
Trinidad and Tobago – IN 2020, and after 25 years of Internet connectivity in T&T, the Government is priorisiting digitisation… more
T&T is getting ready for e-money
Trinidad and Tobago – On August 4, 2020, The E-Money Issuer Order, 2020 (‘EMI Order’) moved Trinidad and Tobago one step further along the path to achieving financial liberalisation and innovation, thereby making the country an active player in the Fourth Industrial Revolution… more
Friday, 18 September 2020
15,500 tablets for high schoolers
Belize – During a meeting of the National Assembly held on Wednesday, September 16, the UDP government introduced a bill in which it is seeking to repurpose grant funds from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and loan funds from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB)… more
Kareem Musa Says Qualified Young Belizean Should Be Appointed as B.T.L. Chair
Belize – It is expected that Alan Slusher will replace Nestor Vasquez as Chair of the B.T.L. Board of Directors. He will be appointed as interim chairman… more
Metro’s new website, e-commerce platform addresses “evolving needs of customers” – CEO
Guyana – Aiming it says, to offer customers service “in a high-tech-low-touch atmosphere in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic” Metro Office and Computer Supplies has announced the launch of its website and e-commerce platform, with effect from August 20… more
Digital Technology Gives Red Stripe Major Push Amid COVID-19
Jamaica – With the need to adapt quickly to new operational norms brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaican manufacturer Red Stripe says building digital capacity over time has helped the company to pivot faster and craft a crisis-resilient business strategy… more
Educators Fear Students Falling Behind – COVID-19 Puts Holidays, Exam Prep Under Threat As Access Challenges Linger
Jamaica – School administrators and teachers are growing increasingly concerned over the inability of many students to access lessons remotely as they prepare to resume classes in a few weeks… more
Ibex to open fourth location in Ocho Rios
Jamaica – Global providers of business process outsourcing solutions, Ibex , recently announced plans to launch its fourth contact centre in Ocho Rios within the next few weeks… more
Lasco Financial Develops Cashless E-Business Platform For MSMEs
Jamaica – Lasco Financial Services Limited, LFSL, has hand-picked a few business operators from within the micro, small and medium-sized sector for a test run of a new tech-driven cashless business model system, designed especially, but not exclusively, for MSMEs that are among Jamaica’s large unbanked population… more
PBS Hired To Add Internet Connectivity To Supermarkets
Jamaica – Productive Business Solutions, PBS, which sells printers, scanners and security devices, continues to shift towards technology services, with contracts from a major American retailer to add internet connectivity to supermarkets in five countries in the Americas… more
NTRC ups the stakes for 2020 iCode784 competition
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – A trip to Barcelona to attend an event for mobile application start-ups is one of the prizes on the table at this year’s NTRC iCode784 competition… more
Online programmes from Cave Hill School of Business now available through SVGCC
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) have formed a partnership that will allow Vincentians to access a host of flexible online programmes in business… more
2020 Great Race: Technology driven with support from bmobile
Trinidad and Tobago – The Trinidad and Tobago Great Race was live streamed for the first time last year with over 100,000 viewers globally… more
Huawei’s Global Seeds programme goes online
Trinidad and Tobago – Global ICT solutions provider, Huawei, has bolstered its commitment to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training in Trinidad and Tobago by announcing the launch of its Seeds for the Future programme for the 5th consecutive year in this country… more
TTPS launches online COC application service
Trinidad and Tobago – The Police Service says it is continuing its thrust towards transformation with the launch of the new online Certificate of Character (COC) service, which allows the public to request a COC through the TTPS website (www.ttps.gov.tt). The new service was made available to the public on Wednesday… more
Saturday, 19 September 2020
Cyber Crime Bill introduced in the House
Belize – The long-awaited Cyber Crime Bill was finally introduced in the House of Representatives during Wednesday’s meeting… more
Digicel Dominica statement on hurricane Maria anniversary
Dominica – Three years ago, our beautiful Nature Isle was changed forever when Hurricane Maria passed over us at category five strength wreaking widespread loss and devastation… more
GTT gets approval to repair vandalised submarine cable
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday announced that it has received authorisation to commence underwater repairs to it submarine fiber-optic cable, which it says was damaged a few weeks ago in what is suspected to be a case of sabotage… more
Internet, Tablet Woes Cripple Learning At Manchester School – Teacher
Jamaica – A rural schoolteacher in Manchester fears that many students will be left behind because the Government has not adequately provided administrators with sufficient resources for online learning… more
57% did not submit questionnaire
Trinidad and Tobago – AS THE Government prepares itself for digitisation of the public service, a special audit conducted by the Auditor General assessing Information Technology (IT) in the public service observed that ministries and departments continue to operate in silos, which resulted in duplication of effort and lack… more
Bridging T&T’s digital divide
Trinidad and Tobago – The public health crisis that has forced many in T&T to work and study remotely has also exposed the size of the digital divide that now urgently needs to be filled… more
Sunday, 20 September 2020
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Image credits: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Belize Web; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Facebook
