A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 June to Sunday 4 July 2021.
Monday, 28 June 2021
How to Play Safe Online
Antigua and Barbuda – The first online casino dates back to the year 1994. It all started with gambling software, which an online security software provider later secured… more
CLOSING DIGITAL GAP COULD CREATE MILLIONS OF JOBS
Caribbean – Latin America and the Caribbean could dramatically increase employment and kickstart sustainable economic growth if it closed its digital connectivity gap with members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to a new study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)… more
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Launches E-Litigation Documentary
Caribbean – The rollout of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s E- Litigation Portal, designed to serve as a platform to improve the delivery of justice to the citizens of the region… more
Investors sue Cayman crypto start-up for fraud
Cayman Islands – Two investors have sued Crowd Machine Inc of Delaware and its affiliate, Cayman-based Crowd Machine SEZC, alleging “a massive investment fraud” in relation to the cryptocurrency start-up’s Cayman initial coin offering… more
Seniors, please don’t fall victims to cybercrime
Jamaica – AS populations the world over continue to embrace online spaces for interacting and even transacting business, a local cybersecurity practitioner is urging Jamaicans, especially senior citizens, to educate themselves about the cyber world in order to reduce their vulnerability to cybercrime… more
TAJ to Conduct Online Services Maintenance Activity
Jamaica – Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) will conduct maintenance activities to a section of its online platform beginning 7:00 p.m. Friday July 2 to 7:00 a.m. Monday July 5, 2021… more
Three arrested for stolen laptops, phones, and electronics
Trinidad and Tobago – Three people were arrested and a quantity of stolen electronic devices, accessories, as well as cash and marijuana recovered by police during an anti-crime exercise conducted in the Western and Port of Spain Divisions on Sunday… more
Tuesday, 29 June 2021
Trendsetters in electrical, electronic, engineering technology
Barbados – At a time when the Ministry of Education is publicly addressing the matter of educational reform and the discussion is centred on the need to focus on education in technology to boost Barbados’ development, Combermere School is in the forefront of this effort and has been making significant strides in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology… more
Bethlehem Primary & Infant School students get online learning boost
Jamaica – Students at the Bethlehem Primary & Infant School in Malvern, St Elizabeth were all smiles after a recent visit from popular entertainer Anthony Fairclough, otherwise known as Papa Michigan, along with members of the Flow Foundation team… more
Connect platform to help police fight crime
Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has joined a growing family of forces outside the UK to adopt sector-leading technology in a drive to revolutionise policing in the country… more
PlayBox Technology Automates Operations For Jamaican Broadcaster
Jamaica – PlayBox Technology announced that it has recently installed an automated playout system for Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), the company said… more
Court orders Internet service to be restored
Trinidad and Tobago – AMPLIA Communications Ltd has been ordered by the High Court to reconnect the Internet service of a Penal family who claimed the payment of their bills was up-to-date but the service was stopped… more
Wednesday, 30 June 2021
CAIPO is going digital; website to be upgraded
Barbados – Plans to fully digitise the Corporate Registry of the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO) are already in the works, and should be implemented in August… more
Culture eats technology for breakfast
Caribbean – NO matter the country you live in, your company and its people are going through a transformation. Here in Jamaica we are moving from business as usual to seeing pockets of experimentation with innovation across industries. And yes, we do have a long way to go… more
CYBERSECURITY ROAD MAP — Lock shop (Part 2)
Caribbean – This week, we will continue our look at how we go about reducing risk and protecting critical assets with our lock shop approach… more
Gaming Potential cash cow for Jamaicans
Jamaica – The global gaming industry is a multibillion-dollar one, racking up an estimated value of US$300 billion, according to the 2021 Accenture report, and many individuals are tapping into the market and earning big bucks… more
Ryan Sterling, LEVERAGING PEOPLE & TECH
Jamaica – Intrigued by how people think and societal norms, Ryan Sterling stayed true to his passion for sociology and psychology, which led him to pursue his undergraduate degree in social sciences… more
Thursday, 1 July 2021
Cross-Border Commerce ‘Back To Prehistoric Times’
Bahamas – Freeport’s cross-border commerce was yesterday said to have been sent “back to prehistoric times” as a result of Customs’ electronic system for clearing goods being down for ten successive days… more
Sebas Blocked Over Sun Cash Takeover
Bahamas – Sebas Bastian’s investment house yesterday saw its bid to seize control of a Bahamian digital payments provider blocked by the Supreme Court… more
Considering Caribbean data protection progress
Caribbean – At last week’s Data Protection World Forum, Caribbean data protection and privacy experts hosted a panel that considered the region’s response to threats and regulatory requirements that are now global in scope… more
Robotics automation and AI: technologies for business efficiency
Caribbean – The world’s embrace of technology was accelerated with the declaration of a global pandemic just over a year ago – even the speeded-up development of vaccines has been influenced significantly by technological inputs… more
OfReg opens public opinion survey
Cayman Islands – The beleaguered utilities regulator, OfReg, is opening up itself for more direct criticism with the launch of two online customer service surveys, one for business and one for the general public… more
Digicel reports drop in sales and earnings for fourth quarter
Jamaica – Digicel Group told creditors on Thursday that sales and earnings dropped in its fourth financial quarter to the end of March as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh on the business… more
Friday, 2 July 2021
App Development Training Programme Opens In Grand Bahama
Bahamas – THE Fulbright App Development Programme was launched in Grand Bahama on Friday, providing app development training for some 60 young people… more
Kanoo Chairman: ‘We Have Nothing To Hide’Top of Form
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday hit back at mounting attacks on its business by asserting that all contracts were won “above board”, it’s chairman adding: “I have absolutely nothing to hide”… more
Kanoo: Attacks On Us Threaten Sand Dollar
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday argued that “reckless” attacks on it were threatening to undermine efforts to make The Bahamas a world leader in Central Bank-backed digital currencies… more
About CooTek (Cayman) Inc – ADR
Cayman Islands – CooTek is a fast-growing mobile internet company with a global vision, offering mobile applications… more
!nnovate Guyana to support Guyanese inventiveness
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana, and the Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT), a US and Guyana-based initiative that supports innovation in science, technology, and agriculture, announce the launch of !nnovate Guyana… more
Using digital solutions to improve water access in Haiti
Haiti – In Haiti, one of the Americas’ poorest countries, there is not enough access to quality water and sanitation, with the poorest citizens suffering the most… more
JTA president backs Coding in Schools
Jamaica – Responding to the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information that the Coding in Schools programme, which is now in its pilot phase in 20 schools, is set to be rolled out in other institutions, Gabriel told the Jamaica Observer that this was a good move in keeping with what is happening in the global community… more
Regulatory Framework Exists For Introduction Of Central Bank Digital Currency
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has said that the regulatory framework already exists within the financial sector to allay concerns about the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC)… more
Social Media Day: Business leaders say more Jamaicans should embrace social media
Jamaica – Some of Jamaica’s leading business leaders in both the public and private sectors have expressed mixed views about whether enough Jamaican businesses are utilising social media as a tool to boost efficiency and ultimately profits… more
Value-added building data demand
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) indicated in its most recent report that demand for Internet services continues to deliver a great proportion of revenue for Jamaica’s telecommunications providers… more
E-certificate to replace vaccination card
Turks and Caicos Islands – An e-certificate which can be downloaded to a smartphone or tablet will be issued immediately to vaccinated residents, the health minister announced last week… more
Saturday, 3 July 2021
Office of the Prime Minister GB to host app development course in partnership with Fulbright Scholars
Bahamas – The Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama is partnering with Fulbright Scholars, as well as the United States Embassy to host an app development course on Grand Bahama… more
First data management system launched for Reg. 9 Agriculture Department
Guyana – The first Data Management System for the Regional Agriculture Department, Region Nine, was launched on June 28, 2021… more
Doug Halsall | Virtual reality and medical education
Jamaica – Life in the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons and ways to continue business and other aspects of life despite restrictions that prevented much physical interaction. Every aspect of life was affected, and some still continue to be… more
Sunday, 4 July 2021
COVID-19 weighed on Digicel, as sales, earnings declined during fourth quarter
Caribbean – Jamaican-based telecoms giant Digicel has seen a sharp decline in its sales and profits weighed down by the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic… more
GTT took big revenue hit from pandemic, CEO says
Guyana – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT), Damien Blackburn says the COVID-19 pandemic “significantly” impacted the company’s revenue, particularly that of the mobile sector… more
New GTT head vows better internet service
Guyana – Admitting that the company has a number of existing inefficiencies, new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Damian Blackburn has said $5 billion is being invested this year to fix its network to enhance the services offered to customers and businesses… more
BlinkSky cashes in on COVID-19 party greenlight
Jamaica – Digital payments are not new to Jamaica, and digital gifting, or the sending of gift cards electronically, has already been pioneered, though it is still in its infancy… more
Cedric Stephens | Insurance sector needs Uber-like disruption and innovation
Jamaica – Yaneek Page wrote an excellent article on June 20 about the ‘disruptive’ American technology company Uber and its entry into the local transport sector… more
LAB restructures for bigger share of content market
Jamaica – Advertising and production company Limners and Bards Limited, which trades as The LAB, has restructured its business for fresh flows of revenue from the build-out of a new content creation department to drive revenues and has streamlined its influencer marketing business to capitalise on new opportunities in the marketplace… more
tTech triples net profit
Jamaica – After a slow start to 2020, tTech Limited saw its first quarter get off to a riveting start as its net profit rose by 94 per cent to $8.05 million on revenues increasing by 10 per cent to $96.37 million for the period ending March 31, 2021… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia; Guyana Chronicle
