A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 15 March to Sunday 21 March 2021.
Monday, 15 March 2021
Kanoo looking to surpass 100K users by year’s end
Bahamas – A digital payments solutions provider is projecting that by year’s end the number of users on its platform will surpass 100,000, as it now focuses on enhancing the value to merchants and consumers… more
Digicel Business helps SMEs to adapt, grow and innovate
Jamaica – In a wide-ranging effort to boost Jamaica’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) prospects, Digicel has launched a package of measures to boost business recovery and help them take full advantage of fresh opportunities in e-commerce… more
Health + Tech | Using robots to battle infectious diseases
Jamaica – It may be time to start thinking about putting more robots and automation in our healthcare system. This is important and takes on even more relevance with the current pandemic and the levels and rate of infection of COVID-19… more
JAD pioneers first Jamaican Sign Language Learning Management System
Jamaica – The Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD), in collaboration with US and local partners, has launched Jamaica’s first-ever Jamaican Sign Language Learning Management System (LMS)… more
Jamaica’s next big challenge: Cybersecurity
Jamaica – Dear Editor, Since the start of the pandemic buzz phrases such as digital transformation, digitisation, and pivoting to digital platforms have been bandied about as the solution to maintaining a balance between lives and livelihoods… more
Mastercard, Dynamics Payments launch financial technology solution
Jamaica – Mastercard has teamed up with payment processing technology company Dynamics Payments, to launch an application (app) which will increase financial inclusion for the Caribbean region… more
Teleworking During COVID-19
Jamaica – Teleworking, described as the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to perform work outside of the traditional office setting, has become increasing popular globally, as employers ensure business continuity during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic… more
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank launching digital currency on March 31
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) digital currency, DCash, will go live on March 31, starting with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia… more
Wrong DNS choice hurting Caribbean Internet privacy
Regional – Do anything online and you always leave digital footprints behind. Your Internet-connected devices—phone, laptop, tablet, even your smart appliances—all emit a digital signature that’s personally identifiable… more
Five More Schools In St. Kitts Outfitted With Brand New Computer Labs Thanks To ROSS University
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, today, Friday, March 12, handed over five new computer labs to five primary schools in St. Kitts that will enhance the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom… more
Tuesday, 16 March 2021
BTC Chief ‘Proud Of Strides’ On Women’s Empowerment
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive says he is “proud of the strides” it has made in empowering women who now make-up nearly two-thirds of its management… more
Gov’t to begin digital vaccination management system early April
Jamaica – The Government says it is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the deployment of vaccination management system software with a registration and scheduling module that will make the process of registration seamless… more
Growth & Jobs | ibex brings diverse outsourcing jobs to Jamaica
Jamaica – Global outsourcing powerhouse, ibex, has continued its Jamaican expansion by bringing more diverse jobs to the island’s global digital services industry… more
Use NSWMA Mobile App To Report Uncollected Garbage, Dumping And Littering
Jamaica – Citizens are being encouraged to utilise the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) mobile application to report instances of littering, illegal dumping and uncollected garbage and access waste management information at their fingertips… more
Teacher training institutions urged to adjust for online learning
Jamaica – With the limited availability of face-to-face teaching, and the ‘new norm’ arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, regional policy-makers are being urged to include teaching and learning in an online environment as a curriculum requirement for teacher training institutions, so as to enhance the professional development of teachers in a rapidly changing environment… more
Easier transactions ahead
Trinidad and Tobago – IN THE past three weeks, technological options on offer increased by three for consumers—two banks are expanding their fintech portfolios to their customers and one start-up is offering prescription drugs through an app… more
Wednesday, 17 March 2021
BTC recognizes its female techs in leadership
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) recently celebrated International Women’s Day with a week of events during which it recognized the strides made by its female employees and women in society… more
OfReg issues regulatory framework for local internet exchange points
Cayman Islands – Utility regulator OfReg has issued a determination on the regulatory framework to establish internet exchange points (IXPs) in the Cayman Islands… more
CSEC And CAPE Students Now Have Free Access To OneX Platform
Jamaica – Secondary-level students preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), now have free access to OneX Platform until June 30, 2021… more
Digital expert outlines basic foundation needed for 4th Industrial Revolution
Jamaica – While advanced innovations were under way prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it has accelerated the process of digitalisation as businesses scramble to adapt to a new normal by mitigating risks, accelerating the next phase of technological expansion and social change — the Fourth Industrial Revolution… more
IronRock Insurance utilising technology to reward good drivers
Jamaica – IronRock Insurance Company will be rewarding good drivers on an annual basis, through the technology-based Pay As You Drive (PAYD) initiative… more
Jamaica to launch central bank digital currency in 2022
Jamaica – Jamaica is to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC) over the course of this year and begin rolling it out in 2022, the country’s minister of finance Nigel Clarke has revealed during a budget speech… more
Vaccine management software coming
Jamaica – The Government is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the deployment of vaccination management system software with a registration and scheduling module that will make the process of registration seamless… more
Welcome tech boost for small business
Jamaica – WE are impressed with the news that the Government is ready to fund a technology boost for small businesses to offer e-commerce services for local and international sales… more
Youth Innovator: Yekini Wallen-Bryan
Jamaica – IN this issue of Digital Life, we continue the Jamaica Computer Society’s (JCS) Youth Innovators in Tech series with Yekini Wallen-Bryan. Yekini is the CEO of PreeLabs Limited, and though only 26 his name is already synonymous with innovation in Jamaica’s technology landscape… more
Blockchain and cryptocurrencies explained
Regional – In the second part of this series we explain the critical differences between blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Blockchain is an extremely secure, immutable and almost incorruptible robust distributed ledger that records virtually any value transaction… more
Social $ense: Getting hashtags right
Regional – As we get more invested in social media and different ways to make it work for your business, we have to touch on the tools that are there to help… more
Thursday, 18 March 2021
ArawakX to be first licensed equity crowdfunding platform in The Bahamas
Bahamas – ArawakX announced yesterday that it is introducing the first licensed equity crowdfunding platform in The Bahamas, as an initial phase of their Marketplace and Clearing and Facility license… more
BTC deploys “green”, storm-resilient Central Offices on Family Islands
Bahamas – Following the lessons learned from the last major hurricane, BTC recently made major changes to further improve the redundancy of its infrastructure with the deployment of green, storm-resilient, containerized Central Offices on several Family Islands and cays… more
Complete Sand Dollar Integration Now Closer
Bahamas – Bahamians will soon be able to transact in Sand Dollars with persons holding bank accounts and digital wallets at other financial services providers, a Cabinet minister said yesterday… more
Crowdfund ‘Nursery’ Targets $800m Gap For Start-Up Funding
Bahamas – A Bahamian financial services provider yesterday said its companies “nursery” will help fill a potential “$800m a year” financing gap when it launches in three months’ time… more
NEW POTENTIAL: Thompson says introduction of crowdfunding will allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to raise up to $5 million
Bahamas – The capital markets will soon be in reach of Bahamian small businesses and entrepreneurs, according to Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson, who noted that businesses will be able to raise up to $5 million via crowdfunding… more
Digital payments are on the increase in Barbados
Barbados – Since the first COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, local digital payments platform, mMoney, has seen a steady increase in adoption and use… more
Imagine Digital determined to help businesses succeed
Barbados – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on businesses across Barbados and the rest of the region resulting in a change in the way they deliver goods and services, one firm is seeking to help them maximise their chances for survival and success… more
Online bloggers are killing BVI’s reputation
British Virgin Islands – At least one elected leader has called for censorship of online blogs as a means of protecting the BVI’s reputation and preventing members of the public from defaming others… more
Bolt gifts laptops to rural schools
Jamaica – Eight time Olympic champion and multiple world record holder Usain Bolt, has donated 150 laptops to several rural area schools, through his Usain Bolt Foundation… more
It is a good time to be alive: The Internet of things and digital twinning
Jamaica – Industry 4.0 is the new industrial revolution focusing on the digitalisation and integration of the value chain… more
More than talk needed for digital currency reality
Jamaica – The announcement of “no new taxes” received the loudest applause in Parliament on Tuesday; however, the most transformative and innovative policy announcement was the piloting of Jamaica’s digital currency… more
Stop endangering your life with your cellular phone!
Jamaica – Dear Editor, Please, give out this serious warning! I am appealing to all the women of Jamaica — who this hat fits, wear it.. more
Welcome tech boost for small business
Jamaica – WE are impressed with the news that the Government is ready to fund a technology boost for small businesses to offer e-commerce services for local and international sales… more
Online payments soon for ‘road’ tax, work permits
Sint Maarten – Persons will soon be able to pay for their employment permits, motor vehicle (road) tax and electrical inspections online and receive a receipt right away… more
TelEm Group technicians carrying out maintenance works in Cay Hill area Saturday
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians and contractors will be carrying out maintenance works in the Cay Hill area Saturday that can result in interruption of telecommunication services… more
Q-management system at all licensing offices in two weeks
Trinidad and Tobago – In two weeks all licensing offices across Trinidad and Tobago are expected to start using a queue-management (Q-management) system… more
TSTT payroll clerk loses $1m retirement claim
Trinidad and Tobago – A TSTT payroll clerk will not be getting any of the almost $1 million she was seeking from the telecommunications provider, but instead will have to pay more than $60,000, as she has lost her claim… more
West: Online learning ‘no miracle cure’
Trinidad and Tobago – PUBLIC Administration Minister Allyson West on Tuesday asserted that online learning is not “a miracle cure” for educational challenges caused by the covid19 pandemic… more
Friday, 19 March 2021
Local farmers continue to benefit from crowdfunding project
Antigua and Barbuda – A vegetable and crop farmer in Burkes was the latest to benefit from a year-long crowdfunding project recently launched by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Ministry of Agriculture… more
CENSUS GOES DIGITAL: Questionnaire to be available for online completion — a first in Bahamian history
Bahamas – For the first time in census history, the Department of Statistics (DOS) will introduce online options for the completion of a census questionnaire… more
Govt moving to digitize customs declaration process
Bahamas – As the government seeks to expand the digitization of its services, Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson announced that Bahamian travelers will soon be allowed to complete the customs declaration process – required upon re-entry to the country – virtually… more
Barbados launches 4 ICT tenders under modernization program
Barbados – A program to modernize Barbados’ public sector is advancing with the launch of four ICT consulting tenders… more
Children living with Down Syndrome to benefit from tablet donation
Jamaica – In recognition of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) on March 21, 2021, the Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation (JDSF) will issue 21 tablets to children with Down Syndrome, drawn from its member families… more
DBJ To Launch ‘Go Digital’ Technical Assistance Programme For MSMEs
Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) will be launching its ‘Go Digital’ technical assistance programme on April 1, geared at promoting the adoption of cutting-edge technology practices among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)… more
Usain Bolt: ‘The best thing about my life is being able to give back’ as he donates 150 laptops to schools in rural Jamaica
Jamaica – IN A bid to help Jamaican youngsters with their education during the pandemic, the greatest sprinter of all time – Usain Bolt – has shown his generosity once more… more
Goal for Airbnb to collect 5 per cent tax
Sint Maarten – The intention of an agreement being hammered out with homestay vacation rental marketplace Airbnb, is that the latter will collect a 5 per cent tax from renters in St. Maarten and transfer this on a quarterly basis to the government of St. Maarten, Finance Minister Ardwell Irion told Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday… more
Sint Maarten Trust Fund Approves $12 Million for Digital Government Transformation Project.
Sint Maarten – The US$12 million Digital Government Transformation Projectwas approved by the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund. This project aims to enhance the access, efficiency, and resilience of public services for citizens and businesses… more
Victory in the High Court for TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – Victory in the High Court for the Telecommunications Service of Trinidad and Tobago… more
Saturday, 20 March 2021
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Sunday, 21 March 2021
A primer on BOJ’s central bank digital currency
Jamaica – After quietly exploring the viability of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for some time, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) took the decision in May 2020, as a part of our ongoing retail payments reform, to venture into this digital innovation that is fast becoming a feature of global central banks… more
Remotely learning
Jamaica – Sixteen-year-old Ahyele Rodney has come to a crossroads – if not a dead end – in his pursuit of becoming a doctor and one day taking care of his mom, who is suffering from a mental illness… more
Supreme Ventures Fintech brings first microloan to market
Jamaica – Lottery Supreme Ventures Limited, SVL, through its newly formed financial services subsidiary Supreme Ventures Fintech Limited, is now rolling out its first microcredit product, a loan aimed at its 1,300 retail agents… more
GiNet Phase Two Underway
Saint Lucia – Work is progressing robustly with phase two of the Government of Saint Lucia Island-wide Network Project more popularly referred to as the GiNet Project… more
Image credits: rawpixel.com (Pexels); Logouk; Ibex; Twitter; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Development Bank of Jamaica; Jamaica Information Service
