A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 December to Sunday 20 December 2020.
Monday, 14 December 2020
The age of digitised medical records has come
Antigua and Barbuda –Work is ongoing to fully digitise the medical records of patients. Information Minister Melford Nicholas said that three IT specialists are currently discussing the matter, even though a vendor of the software is yet to be decided… more
Digital Provider ‘Pulling The Boot Straps Together’
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider is aiming to “pull the boot strap strings together” and add a further 8,000-10,000 wallet accounts by fully exploiting its platform’s potential… more
Digital adaption is not transitory, says banker
Jamaica – An executive at one of the country’s top three commercial banks has described as “necessary” the disruptions being experienced due to the sudden reliance on digital technologies because of the novel coronavirus pandemic… more
Public Wi-Fi Hotspot Established In Port Antonio
Jamaica – Portland’s capital, Port Antonio, now boasts a free and secured internet access zone, following the launch of a public Wi-Fi hotspot in the town’s square on December 11… more
Flow Institutes New Parental Leave Policy
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Telecommunications Company, Flow, has instituted a parental leave policy for full time workers with newborn children. The policy, which was launched on June 1st2019, covers both new mothers and fathers working with the company… more
Digicel loses second round of porting dispute with TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – DIGICEL has lost round two of its legal battle against its main competitor, TSTT, over a complaint that TSTT was rejecting its subscribers who want to port (switch) their numbers to the Digicel network… more
What caused the Internet failure of December seventh?
Trinidad and Tobago – On the evening of December 11, Kurleigh Prescod and two communications professionals sat for an exclusive virtual interview with technology journalist Mark Lyndersay to explain what happened to Flow’s Internet connection on the morning of December 07… more
Tuesday, 15 December 2020
URCA Confirms Mobile Network Radiation Checks
Bahamas – Regulators have disclosed they randomly conduct radiation compliance checks on the mobile networks of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Aliv… more
Recreating solutions for Caribbean MSME’s and NGO’s via Telecoms
Barbados – GEW 2020 happened despite COVID-19 and the challenges it brought… more
Minister Vaz to address Parliament on National Broadband Initiative
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz will use the occasion of the last sitting of Parliament for the calendar year to address the Government’s strategy to achieve universal access to broadband… more
Wednesday, 16 December 2020
Investigation Demanded Over China’s Alleged BTC ‘Spying’
Bahamas – A “serious investigation” was demanded yesterday into allegations that China has exploited the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) mobile phone network to spy on US citizens… more
Guyana submarine cable suffers an anchor damage
Guyana – The Guyana submarine cable has been severed by a ship, causing power outage in capital city Georgetown and leaving thousands of people with intermittent blackouts. Orient Cable’s team is heading towards Guyana to resolve the issue… more
ADVERTORIAL | STEM Schools Will Assist In Closing The Digital Divide
Jamaica – The Government of Jamaica is moving ahead with the implementation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) schools, which it it says is the path to creating a digital society, “and closing the digital divide…more
Gov’t reduces conditions for NIDS Bill
Jamaica – THE Government yesterday tabled a revised version of the controversial National Identification and Registration Act (NIDS Bill), which seems less likely to attract the dissonance which blocked its efforts to create a national identification system in 2018… more
Gov’t to launch US$237-m national broadband initiative
Jamaica – THE Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) is looking to secure US$237 million for the roll-out of the country’s national broadband initiative that is expected to form a key part of its economic recovery efforts from the devastation brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic… more
Jamaica’s BPO sector on the rebound
Jamaica – A lockdown between April and July resulted in a dramatic decline in the employment levels within the local business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, however president of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ), Gloria Henry, said the sector has been rebounding since August to the extent that it now employs more than 39,000 Jamaicans… more
National network promises affordable Internet for all Jamaicans
Jamaica – Government has announced the rollout of a national broadband network at an estimated cost of US$237 million with the promise of affordable Internet access for all Jamaicans and to assist in the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic… more
New Clamour For Third Telecoms Player – Vaz Promises Internet For All By 2025
Jamaica – Former Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell is urging the Government to consider applications for another fibre-optic licence to generate greater competition, which, he insists, is needed to improve service standards and to drive down costs… more
PM Tables New Voluntary NIDS Bill
Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on Tuesday (December 15) tabled the National Identification and Registration Act, 2020, which makes provisions for a voluntary and secure National Identification System (NIDS) for Jamaica… more
Enterprise computing: digital skills needed
Regional – People and culture are perhaps the essential components of this digital transformation journey. Unfortunately, many are not paying enough attention to these areas. The stops along this section of the journey include leadership, digital skills and culture… more
Let gamers take the lead
Regional – When we look back at all the critical innovations in technology, young people often emerge as leaders… more
Senator warns of cyber-security threats
Trinidad and Tobago – INDEPENDENT Senator Paul Richards commended government for its proposal to remove taxes from mobile devices, laptops, etc from 2021, but urged it to be cautious of a potential increase in cyber-security threats if this is not properly managed… more
Thursday, 17 December 2020
Digital Provider Sorry For Travel Visa Delays
Bahamas – The Bahamian digital provider handling COVID-19 health travel visa payments yesterday apologised for processing delays caused by “technical difficulties” with its main database server… more
Gov’t Targets $125m Via Aliv, Solar SPV Offerings
Bahamas – The Government is aiming to raise $125m over a two-year period by selling its ownership in the Aliv mobile provider and a solar energy financing vehicle to Bahamian investors… more
Website Relaunch To Boost Tourism
Bahamas – The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation has relaunched its Bahamas.com website in a bid to improve the ease with which tourists can plan and book their vacation in a COVID-19 environment… more
Belizean among cyber heroes recognized
Belize – The nominees for the Get Safe Online’s inaugural ‘Cyber Heroes’ awards have been announced today… more
Dutch-registered vessel severed GPL submarine cable
Guyana – A Netherlands-registered vessel, NLIST DLEP is responsible for the damage to the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) Demerara River submarine power cable, which occurred just over two weeks ago… more
Digicel donates over 40 smartphones to infirmaries, golden age homes
Jamaica – Infirmaries and golden age homes across the island are to benefit from a donation of more than 40 smartphones from telecommunications provider, Digicel, to enable residents to make contact with loved ones during the Christmas season… more
Robinson repeats call for removal of duties on electronic devices
Jamaica – Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Planning and the Public Service, Julian Robinson has repeated his call for the Government to remove the duties and taxes on electronic devices to ensure more students have access to online learning… more
NEW NIDS VOLUNTARY – Identity Law Controversy A Lesson To All, Says PM
Jamaica – A new National Identification and Registration Act, 2020 (NIDS), was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday with significant departures from the previous controversial law that was struck down by the Supreme Court on April 20, 2019, as unconstitutional… more
Wi-Fi hot spots — one of the few nice things about 2020
Jamaica – One of the all-too-few positive developments of this mostly frightful 2020 is the robust effort to establish Wi-Fi hot spots across Jamaica — starting in 12 town centres by the end of this year — spearheaded by the Universal Service Fund (USF)… more
Spotlight: Cryptocurrency innovation in the Caribbean
Regional – The Caribbean is fast becoming the most interesting laboratory for cryptocurrency innovation in the world, particularly with projects backed by central banks in the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean and Jamaica… more
Use of online services in St. Kitts and Nevis has increased, says Minister Byron-Nisbett
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way consumers shop online and has expedited the shift towards a more digital world. As such, many more persons in St. Kitts and Nevis have adopted the practice of conducting their business online… more
St. Kitts and Nevis to implement ISO 27001 Information Security System
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The St. Kitts and Nevis National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre is in the process of implementing the ISO 27001 Information Security System which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, according to Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett… more
Why is TATT buying tablets for students?
Trinidad and Tobago – On November 12, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) issued a notice on its Facebook page that it had allocated $15,144,975 (VAT and Customs duties exclusive) for the purchase of ICT devices (the ceremony showed tablet computers) “for students of public schools in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Friday, 18 December 2020
Bahamas Launches Digital Sand Dollar; Adds To Rise Of Central Bank Digital Currencies
Bahamas – Facebook’s Libra might be fading a bit as a perceived threat to monetary systems that have been in place around the globe for centuries… more
Cisco Systems signs MOU with govt on GB tech hub
Bahamas – Grand Bahama is another step closer to becoming the tech hub envisioned by government, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday with global technology company Cisco Systems… more
Cyber Security Experts: BTC Network Vulnerable
Bahamas – Bahamas-based cyber security experts yesterday argued that the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) outdated network equipment left it vulnerable to penetration by malign actors… more
Digital wallet provider celebrates becoming fully Sand Dollar integrated
Bahamas – Cash N’Go has become one of the first digital payment providers to become fully integrated with The Central Bank of The Bahamas’ new digital currency Sand Dollar… more
PwC Bahamas gives the gift of digital wallets to its employees, just in time for Christmas
Bahamas – In keeping with its strategy to remain the digital transformation leader in the country and just in time for the Christmas season, PwC facilitated the opening of digital wallet accounts for each of its employees, becoming the first organisation in The Bahamas to do so… more
How Digital Transformation Centres are improving thousands of lives in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Is it possible to go from having never touched a computer to successfully running a digital business within a year… more
Advertorial | New Fixed-Mobile Packages Hit Jamaican Market
Jamaica – Jamaican consumers are set to benefit from new fixed-mobile bundles from communications and entertainment provider, Flow… more
Going digital a work in progress at Digicel
Jamaica – Digicel Group’s repositioning as a digital operator benefited customers with its roll out of the promise of a powerful digital experience that includes a suite of eight apps… more
Government Intends To Grant Third Cellular Licence
Jamaica – By early next year, the Government intends to grant a third cellular licence to a new entity to provide additional mobile telecommunication services for the country… more
Members Of The Legal Fraternity Encouraged To Embrace ICT
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, is encouraging members of the legal fraternity to embrace information and communications technology (ICT), in order to serve the citizens… more
OUR Rolls Out Phase Two Of Directives For Telecoms Providers Today
Jamaica – Today (December 18), Flow and Digicel will be required to provide their customers with full information about charges applicable for service as the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) commences phase two of the execution of directives to the telecommunications providers… more
Digicel Announces Final Results of Its Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer for Its 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes
Regional – Digicel Group Holdings Limited, formerly known as Digicel Group 0.5 Limited (“Digicel,” the “Company”, “we” or “us”), today announced the expiration and final results of its previously announced cash tender offer (the “Offer”) to spend up to $10.0 million to purchase its 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes (the “Notes”). The Offer expired at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 17, 2020 (the “Expiration Date”)… more
Government Positions St. Kitts And Nevis To Be A Leader In The Digital World
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis continues to expand its robust Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2022 aimed at positioning the Federation to be a leader in the digital world, said the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Minister of Health and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) et al… more
Chaguanas businesses adopt online marketing
Trinidad and Tobago – Chaguanas businesses have engaged an online marketing app in order to get more business… more
Saturday, 19 December 2020
Homes for wards of State get computers
Jamaica – The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is the recipient of tablets and a laptop computer donated by MC Systems, technology arm of the Jamaica National Group… more
Sunday, 20 December 2020
GTT contributing to community employment- Industry and Commerce Minister as telecoms company opens new stores
Guyana – Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond has lauded the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) for opening two news stores and creating jobs for communities in which they are operating, saying it is a sign of confidence in the economy… more
Guardsman Goes Wireless With IProtect
Jamaica – Security company Guardsman Group has formed a new company called iProtect through which it will distribute wireless security and home or office monitoring systems targeted at residential clients and business operators on a tight budget… more
Image credits: Jan Krömer (flickr); Wikimedia Commons; The Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Facebook
