A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 July to Sunday 1 August 2021.
Monday, 26 July 2021
BTC teams up with the Broadcasting Corporation to bring the Tokyo Olympic Games free to all viewers across The Bahamas
Bahamas – Viewers across the entire archipelago have free access to watch the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games thanks to a partnership with BTC and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB). BTC is the title sponsor to ZNS’ “free-to-air” rights to broadcast the Tokyo Summer Olympics… more
Digicel introduces new service in Kabakaburi Mission Pomeroon-Supenaam Region
Guyana – Digicel Guyana announced yesterday that it has switched on its state-of-the-art mobile service in the Kabakaburi Mission, Region Two, completing major service expansion in the Upper Pomeroon River area… more
Digicel Guyana urges country to free up spectrum for upgrades
Guyana – Digicel Guyana has called for the government to free up spectrum for the expansion and upgrade of its services… more
GTT finally signs labour agreement for better wage, salary increases for employees
Guyana – Following years of protest action and months of negotiations, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT), recently signed a Collective Labour Agreement for better wages and salary increases for its employees… more
BPO company targets largest private employer status in Ja
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday threw down a challenge to leading business processing outsource (BPO) entity IBEX to triple its Jamaican workforce, even as he defended his handling of the sector during the pandemic… more
Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Antigua announces low-cost FTTH plans
Antigua and Barbuda – The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), a government statutory agency, has launched a basic fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband package with a minimum connection speed of 100Mbps… more
Dominica launches new electronic passport
Dominica – Dominica yesterday launched its electronic passport (e-passport) that it says will significantly reduce identify theft and will be an integral component of its border management systems… more
GTT says around 14,000 customers now receiving bills via WhatsApp
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) yesterday said that close to 14,000 customers have opted to receive their monthly bills via WhatsApp billing since its initial launch in June 2021… more
Flow Foundation, JTA partnership target 1,500 teachers
Jamaica – Spots are filling up fast for the Digital Education Training programme being offered under a strategic partnership between the Flow Foundation and the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA)… more
Growth & Jobs | GIS technology used to assist clients
Jamaica – SINCE 2006, JN Small Business Loan (JNSBL) has used geographic information system (GIS) technology to assist its clients during times of natural disasters and to analyse trends in their loan repayments and requests… more
Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Coding and the accountancy
Caribbean – Embracing data, digitisation and technology have always been an important part of the accountant’s working life… more
Cybersecurity road map – backup and backup, then backup again
Caribbean – THIS 10th article in a special series focused on cybersecurity highlights another primary protection mechanism: backups… more
Alex Morrissey — Encouraging social influence, redefining online marketing
Jamaica – JULY 15 marked the sixth anniversary of digital media agency ESIROM, and the company’s 20 plus employees, two locations, and some major projects under its belt seem like a dream come true for Director Alex Morrissey… more
Businesses to significantly benefit from digital currency transactions
Jamaica – As digital currencies shape up to become the preferred legal tender in the next few years, at least one digital expert has said that businesses are going to benefit from transactions done through these technologies… more
Does Jamaica need a Ministry or Agency of Digital Transformation?
Jamaica – Trinidad and Tobago appointed a new minister of digital transformation two weeks ago for greater focus and expertise. Previously, the Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation merited the separation, as technology transformation for a country cannot be treated as an add-on… more
Judge rules: TSTT must facilitate number portability
Trinidad and Tobago – THERE is now no impediment to the implementation of fixed-number portability (FNP) as a High Court judge has ruled that local telecom provider TSTT is legally obligated to allow fixed-landline customers to change their service provider without changing their number… more
Liberty CEO Clarifies Details of AT&T to Liberty Mobile USVI Transition
United States Virgin islands – The V.I. Economic Development Authority hosted a webinar called “AT&T to Liberty Mobile USVI Transition” Wednesday where Liberty Mobile USVI CEO Naji Khoury fielded questions raised by the public since the transaction was completed in October of 2020 and Liberty Mobile acquired AT&T’s customer base… more
Thursday, 29 July 2021
Daniel Ferguson: Procurement E-Portal Not Being Maximised
Bahamas – I wish to now elaborate more on the electronic portal that is the Bahamian government’s e-procurement supplier registry… more
Digital Building Permits Hailed As ‘Long Overdue’
Bahamas – The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE) president yesterday hailed as “long overdue” plans to slash building permit turnaround times by going digital, branding the 60-80 percent reduction target as “achievable”… more
Digitisation Of Little Use If Poverty Gaps Remain
Bahamas – The Bahamas needs to address its social gaps before full digitisation of the economy can take place, an information and communications technology (ITC) executive warned yesterday… more
Ministry Aiming To Go Digital
Bahamas – THE Ministry of Works has launched its Electronic Plan Review and Inspection System designed to digitise the current paper-based permitting and inspection process… more
Sand Dollar Targets ‘Further Milestones’
Bahamas – The Bahamian digital currency’s roll-out will hit “further milestones” next month, the Central Bank’s governor says, with consumers gaining the ability to switch funds between their bank accounts and mobile wallets… more
Data Protection law closer to a reality
Grenada – Data Protection legislation will soon be added to the list of electronic protection laws that will be on the law books, as Grenada adopts measures to grow and develop the economy by embracing digital innovations that can result in the island being labelled as a smart state… more
WiPay introduces digital fiat system to Grenada
Grenada – Trinidad’s digital payment service provider Wipay has assisted the government of Grenada in setting up its Digitally Enabled Uniform Assistance Programme, which will subsidise the cost of school uniforms for over 5,100 families… more
TSTT ‘concerned’ by court’s ruling on fixed number portability
Trinidad and Tobago – LOCAL telecoms provider TSTT says it is concerned about some aspects of Wednesday’s ruling by the High Court, which held it was legally obligated to implement fixed number portability (FNP)… more
TSTT legally required to implement fixed number portability
Trinidad and Tobago – A High Court Judge has declared that majority State-owned Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) is legally required to implement fixed number portability (FNP) for fixed lines… more
TTSEC to launch investor protection mobile app
Trinidad and Tobago – As an investor, if you’ve ever wanted to submit a complaint to the TT Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC), that process is about to get easier with the launch of a new mobile app… more
Friday, 30 July 2021
IMF Chief: Bahamas ‘Leading Revolution’
Bahamas – The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) top executive yesterday hailed The Bahamas for “leading the revolution” by becoming the first nation to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)… more
No widespread use of Sand Dollar yet, says Central Bank governor
Bahamas – There is no widespread usage of The Central Bank of The Bahamas’ (CBOB) Sand Dollar digital currency yet, as all stakeholders have chiefly focused on ensuring the technology behind the currency is stable and robust, CBOB Governor John Rolle said yesterday, adding that campaigns to encourage the use of the world’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC) is currently underway… more
Realtors ‘Embrace’ Demand For Cryptocurrency Purchases
Bahamas – Bahamian realtors yesterday revealed they are developing strategic alliances to “embrace” cryptocurrencies already being used as a means of payment for local property transactions… more
CAIPO improving systems to do business better
Barbados – The time it takes to incorporate a business or register a company with the Corporate and Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO) is expected to improve dramatically in the coming weeks as that department rolls out its new corporate digital registry… more
C&W Communications: CEO, Inge Smidts, underscores “Our People are our Greatest Asset” at CANTO’s Virtual Event.
Caribbean – The 36th annual CANTO Trade and Virtual Exhibition kicked off on Wednesday, July 28th with Headline Sponsor, C&W Communications (CWC), hosting the first day of the three-day virtual event… more
Guyana’s Amazon-like Online market www.stabroekmarket.com to open soon
Guyana – President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced that Guyana’s major Online marketplace, www.stabroekmarket.com , would be launched before yearend and would offer even products by small-scale businesses to the rest of the world… more
itel acquires outsourcing firm in Guyana
Jamaica – Outsourced Management Limited, which trades as itel, has acquired Emerge BPO, a regional firm with operations in Guyana and Honduras… more
bmobile partners with Clare Controls for home security business upgrade
Trinidad and Tobago – bmobile, a pivotal brand of Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT), the largest communications solutions provider in the island nation, is partnering with Clare Controls, a Snap One exclusive brand that produces the powerful ClareOne wireless security and home automation system, to offer a new level of home security and automation to the region’s telecom customers through its bsecure product line… more
TSTT may appeal Portability ruling
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT has expressed concern over some statements made by Justice Frank Seepersad during his ruling on the Fixed Number Portability matter and may appeal his ruling… more
Saturday, 31 July 2021
Cable companies clash with Concord Media Group
Belize – Belizeans learned last week that it was very possible that they would not be able to view the live coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after the Belize Cable Television Operators Association (BCTVOA) issued a release which stated that the regional holder of the rights to broadcast the Olympics, Concord Media Group, a local subsidiary of International Media Content Limited (IMC), was charging operators US$40,000 for permission to broadcast the games locally… more
Gov’t has embarked on massive ICT programme for Hinterland Poor and Remote Communities
Guyana – Dear Editor, I refer to a letter published in the Stabroek News from S. Fredericks, dated Thursday July 29, 2021, the Office of the Prime Minister would like to inform your readership of the current interventions in ICT to alleviate the concerns raised by the author… more
ENDS to undergo major overhaul before Aug 4 restart
Jamaica – THE E-commerce National Delivery Solution (ENDS) has now come to the end of phase one of the pilot programme and is undergoing a major overhaul in preparation for an official launch for phase two… more
Sunday, 1 August 2021
Use technology and other ways to improve citizens’ access to gov’t services
Guyana – Dear Editor, There is news that the Government agencies will be setting up appointments for the un-vaccinated citizens who the Government is mandated to serve… more
iCreate offers free digital training for the elderly
Jamaica – ICREATE Institute, the digital skills training institute which recently launched a multimillion-dollar digital awareness training programme to improve digital proficiency for thousands, is extending the initiative to Jamaican seniors, traditionally an under-represented group in the digital space… more
NCB deepens mobile money operations with Link
Jamaica – NCB Financial Group Limited, Jamaica’s top banking conglomerate, announced plans Friday to release a cash app for money transfers, called Link, its latest digital initiative… more
Image credits: Suzy Hazelwood (Pexels); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Trinidad and Tobago Newsday; Wikipedia
