A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 15 February to Sunday 21 February 2021.
Monday, 15 February 2021
Huawei to be included in Dom Rep 5G network auction
Dominican Republic – The Government of the Dominican Republic has announced that through the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), the specifications of the international tender for the implementation of 5G networks in the country, will not exclude Chinese manufacturer Huawei… more
Caribe Technologies, Inc. Launches Caribejob.com to Connects Job Seekers with Real Job Opportunities in Haiti
Haiti – Caribejob enables companies and organizations in Haiti to find and attract the best candidates with the first Haitian AI-powered job search and posting portal… more
Price calls for more education, legislation relative to the internet
Jamaica – Increasing education about online safety and fortifying structures to protect citizens with legislation were among the proposals put forward to limit negative activities associated with internet usage… more
CoP: Police will probe all crime tips on social media
Trinidad and Tobago – POLICE COMMISSIONER Gary Griffith said it will be a dereliction of duty of the police service not investigate information posted on social media referring to criminal activity… more
Tuesday, 16 February 2021
CUC cuts Flow’s ‘unauthorised’ telecom connections from 14 sites
Cayman islands – Caribbean Utilities Company has removed Flow’s “unauthorised attachments” from its poles over the weekend, causing service disruption for the telecom provider’s customers in the eastern districts… more
Flow lines cut: OfReg ‘gravely concerned’ by loss of service
Cayman islands – OfReg CEO Malike Cummings has said he is “gravely concerned” by the negative impact on consumers who lost telecom service over the weekend when CUC removed Flow cable lines from its poles at 14 sites… more
Flow advocates for safer internet practices among children
Jamaica – “You must not share your personal information with anyone on the Internet,” said Asha-Rae Morgan, student at the Halfway Tree Primary School and Flow Safer Internet Ambassador… more
Day 2 CANTO CONNECT 2- 37th AGM & Mini Exhibition
Regional – Tuesday 9th February, day 2 of CANTO CONNECT 2– 37th AGM & Mini Exhibition continued to keep attendees informed on the latest trends and best practices in the fast-evolving ICT sector… more
Local businessman offers e-tendering solution
Trinidad and Tobago – COVID-19 can be described as an unexpected catalyst for technology adoption, especially in the procurement industry, as challenges arising from the spread of the pandemic have accelerated the use by procuring entities of online tenders… more
‘Not enough public awareness of fintech’
Trinidad and Tobago – MOVING towards becoming a cashless country would require a proper public education campaign for citizens along with the financial sector to adopt to new technologies in order for it to become a reality… more
Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Bahamas Launching Prepaid Sand Dollar Card
Bahamas – The Bahamas is moving to make its national digital currency more accessible by launching a prepaid card for the “sand dollar… more
Flow blames CUC for loss of service in BT
Cayman Islands – Around 40 Flow customers in Bodden Town lost service after CUC’s IT company, DataLink, made cuts to Flow’s fiber and copper network at the weekend… more
Jamaica’s immigration website exposed thousands of travelers’ data
Jamaica – A security lapse by a Jamaican government contractor has exposed immigration records and COVID-19 test results for hundreds of thousands of travelers who visited the island over the past year… more
Fortinet creates forum for cybersecurity experts
Regional – Fortinet , a global leader in comprehensive, integrated, and automated cybersecurity solutions, has launched the Fortinet Xperts community for Latin America and the Caribbean… more
Switzerland-based Quad9 brings maximum privacy protection to Caribbean Internet users
Regional – Do anything online and you leave behind digital footprints and data. Worse, some of your data is personally identifiable, meaning that your virtual footprint can be linked to your real-world identity… more
Free Wi-Fi: Prime Minister Harris applauds The Cable’s CEO Patricia Walters
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Residents of Lodge-Ottley’s and the surrounding areas who have no internet at home now have the opportunity to digitally connect with the rest of the world, thanks to The Cable which has provided free Wi-Fi at the new community centre through the efforts of the company’s Chief Executive Officer Ms. Patricia Walters… more
TT merchants invited to join Jamaica’s Caribshopper ecommerce website
Trinidad and Tobago – Small businesses in Trinidad & Tobago now have an avenue through which they can access the North American market, thanks to Caribshopper.com… more
Thursday, 18 February 2021
Cable ‘Reimagines’ TV Gateway
Bahamas – A SENIOR Cable Bahamas executive yesterday competition and programming costs were impacting its ability to source all the TV content its subscribers desire… more
Digital Provider Targets $100m In Payments
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday said it expects to increase the collective value of transactions it processes by 67 percent this year to $100m as it unveiled a “world first”… more
Island Pay and Mastercard launch world’s first Sand Dollar-linked card
Bahamas – Mastercard and digital payment solutions provider Island Pay yesterday announced the launch of the world’s first Central Bank digital currency-linked card… more
Mastercard, Island Pay announce digital payments partnership
Bahamas – Island Pay and Mastercard yesterday formally announced a partnership allowing for greater usability of the Central Bank’s Sand Dollar digital currency, through Island Pay’s digital wallet solution, Managing Director of Island Pay Jeffrey Beckles explained yesterday… more
REV/Cable Bahamas invested $1M in local content over last two years
Bahamas – A senior REV/Cable Bahamas executive said yesterday the company has invested at least $1 million in local content over the past two years, noting that it is also working to export local content… more
The Flow-CUC fibre dispute… who was in the wrong?
Cayman Islands – Approximately 40 Flow customers in the Savannah and Bodden Town area lost service over the past weekend (February 13-14) after Caribbean Utilities Company’s (CUC) subsidiary, DataLink Ltd cut connections to Flow’s fibre cables from its poles at 14 sites… more
Huawei gets 5G green light in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – The specifications for the upcoming 5G auction will not exclude Huawei, reversing an earlier decision… more
Social media and unrest, or worse
Guyana – Social media is this double-edged sword, this multi-headed monster that can mean so much good, but can be misused to do so much harm… more
DATA BREACH BLOWBACK – JAMCOVID exposure a treasure trove for scammers, says expert
Jamaica – The exposure of personal data for tens of thousands of Jamaican and international travellers on the Government’s much-touted JAMCOVID web portal has triggered fears that the breach could threaten confidence in the Holness administration’s proposed… more
Full Text | Government initiates criminal investigation into ‘alleged data breach’
Jamaica – The government says it has initiated a criminal investigation into the security vulnerability associated with the JAMCOVID app… more
JAMCOVID security protocols strengthened, says ministry
Jamaica – GOVERNMENT says a security vulnerability associated with the file storage service on the JAMCOVID-19 application which was discovered on Wednesday has been rectified… more
School vows to upskill residents in new computer lab
Jamaica – A school principal has pledged to reskill residents of Barracks Road, Hart Street, and adjoining neighbourhoods in St James through the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) $10-million investment in a newly commissioned computer lab and community access point… more
Tech trends to watch in 2021
Regional – Six major technology applications are among the key trends to watch out for in 2021. They are… more
TELEM Group responds to SMCU
Sint Maarten – Chief Executive Officer of TELEM Group of Companies Kendall Dupersoy penned a letter to the St. Maarten Communications Union (SMCU) after the employees of the company held a protest action on Wednesday. In his letter Dupersoy asked the SMCU if they enjoy playing the victim, he said whenever he talks to the union they consider it disrespectful… more
Machel helps 50 teachers qualify in online teaching
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Education recognised 50 teachers on Thursday for completing training in online teaching methodologies… more
Friday, 19 February 2021
‘It’S Getting Dirty’: Davis Alleges Fnm Using Fake Social Media Ads To Harm Opposition Chances
Bahamas – FNM chairman Carl Culmer last night blasted Opposition leader Brave Davis over allegations the governing party was behind “fake” anti-PLP ads on social media… more
Bajan wins technology award
Barbados – Niel Harper, a foreign-based Barbadian executive, is the 2021 recipient of the Technology for Humanity Award… more
HIGH DEMAND
Barbados – The biggest regional telecommunications company is recording an increase in remote working solutions and video conferencing… more
Indotel anticipates US$300m from upcoming 5G auction
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic expects its upcoming 5G auction to generate between US$200 million and US$300 million, according to Nelson Arroyo, the president of regulator Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones)… more
Flow Business going after 60,000 SME market
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Flow Jamaica has launched a new unit called Flow Business, aimed at selling more services to entrepreneurs and operators of small and medium-sized ventures… more
Jamaica demands honesty and transparency about JAMCOVID data breach — PNP
Jamaica – People’s National Party spokesperson on science, technology and commerce, Hugh Graham, says the Government and the Amber Group need to clear the air surrounding the JAMCOVID data breach “quickly and with honesty and transparency”… more
Office Of Utilities Regulation Act To Be Amended
Jamaica – The Government will be amending the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) Act to incorporate new and emerging service sectors into its regulatory mandate, streamline its powers and harmonise across regulated sectors with sector-specific legislation… more
SMEs to get boost for digital transformation from C&W’s new Flow Business
Jamaica – Business solutions and services provider Cable & Wireless Communications (C&WC) yesterday launched its new brand, Flow Business, a suite of smart solutions that will create and facilitate an environment for small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SME) digital transformations during the novel coronavirus pandemic… more
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to launch DCash in March
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is planning to launch its Digital EC currency (DCash) next month… more
Will Digital Nomads Deliver Benefits to Caribbean Tech Ecosystems?
Regional – When Caribbean nations began rolling out so-called digital nomad visas last year, the possibility of remote working in the sun, sea and sand of the paradise islands generated headlines worldwide… more
Parliament passes Electronic Communications Bill, 2021
Saint Kitts and Nevis – A bill to provide for the regulation of an electronic communication network and an electronic communications service and related matters, otherwise known as the Electronic Communications Bill, 2021, was successfully passed in the Federal Parliament on Thursday, February 18… more
ICT in Education Project – Teacher Showcase
Saint Lucia – During the COVID-19 period, teachers in Saint Lucia are undergoing a tremendous transformation… more
TELEM Group makes new Cost Cutting Measures-Proposal.
Sint Maarten – The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TELEM Group of Companies Kendall Dupersoy has sent another proposal to the St. Maarten Telecommunications Union (SMCU)… more
Deyalsingh: ICT programme to keep track of COVID vaccinxxations
Trinidad and Tobago – The Health Ministry is using an integrated communications technology programme to help manage the COVID-19 vaccination process… more
Saturday, 20 February 2021
Bahamas launches the first digital currency-linked debit card
Bahamas – Three months ago, the Bahamas launched the world’s first-ever central bank digital currency, the Sand Dollar. The Caribbean island has once again set another milestone, availing its citizens the first-ever CBDC-linked debit card…more
Prime Minister signs exemption order for small internet service providers
Guyana – The Guyana government has issued an exemption order to expedite the licensing process for small internet providers, in keeping with its efforts to expand the telecommunications sector… more
US$200 million fibre optic cable to target oil industry, unserved communities
Guyana – A new telecommunications company, Canje Tel, plans to invest US$200 million in a subsea fibre-optic cable to mainly serve the offshore oil and gas operations and remote communities with little or no access to the Internet, a top official said Saturday… more
Government to prioritise legislation to protect personal information
Jamaica – The government is prioritising legislation to deal with cybercrime and to safeguard the privacy and personal information of Jamaicans, during the upcoming fiscal year… more
More Laptops and Tablets Shipped to UJAA Member Schools In Jamaica
Jamaica – The Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) out of New York have sent another shipment of laptop and tablet devices to their schools in Jamaica. The devices are valued at JA $3 million, to complement the JA $11 million worth of equipment sent last week. As a result, a total donation of JA $14 million so far… more
First Digital EC Currency (DCash) Transaction Completed Successfully
Regional – THE first-ever DCash consumer-to-merchant transaction was successfully completed on Friday, 13 February at Geo F. Huggins’ Foodland in Grenada… more
Sunday, 21 February 2021
EDITORIAL: CONFIDENTIALITY IN AN AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Barbados – Barbadian social media platforms were buzzing this week because everyone wanted to know who released a questionable document containing the names, addresses, and statuses of over a hundred COVID-19 cases in Barbados… more
Around 50 small internet providers to be exempted from licensing requirements – PM
Guyana – Prime Minister Mark Phillips has announced licensing exemptions for around 50 small internet service providers as part of government’s efforts to expand the telecommunications sector in 2021… more
Amber Group breaks silence on personal data exposure
Jamaica – The Amber Group has broken its silence on the exposure of personal data on thousands of travellers on the government’s COVID-19 website (JAMCOVID) it developed, but saying nothing about how such a lapse could have occurred and why allegedly months-old data were in storage and not destroyed, as promised by authorities… more
Amber says it is committed to data protection and security systems
Jamaica – The Amber Group and its subsidiary Amber Innovations Limited (Amber) says it wants to reassure the public that it is fully engaged with the Government and people of Jamaica in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic… more
Image credits: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Facebook; Facebook; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Telem; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Amber Group
