A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 9 August to Sunday 15 August 2021.
Monday, 9 August 2021
Operators of Cayman blockchain company settle SEC fraud charges
Cayman Islands – Two Florida men closed down their Cayman Islands blockchain company and paid about US$13 million to settle charges brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the unregistered sales of more than $30 million of securities using smart contracts and so-called ‘decentralised finance’ (DeFi) technology… more
GTT employees to see increase in basic salary from October
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) today announced in a press release that it will increase the basic salary for all employees for the year ending September 2021… more
Coding Programme for Youths off to a Good Start
Jamaica – Budding coder, Jevon Josephs, harbours the ambitious aspiration of becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jamaica’s next successful Software Development Company… more
Elders, too, have a digital social life
Jamaica – THERE’S a common misconception that social media is a young person’s game. However, more seniors are turning to social media platforms for their entertainment, news updates and to keep in touch with friends and family… more
MP Haynes questions hybrid learning for September school reopening
Trinidad and Tobago – MP for Tabaquite Anita Haynes has questioned the Ministry of Education’s proposed plans for hybrid learning in September… more
Programme for women entrepreneurs launched today
Trinidad and Tobago – A TOTAL of 150 women from around the Caribbean will get the opportunity to be part of Republic Bank’s first ever Entrepreneurs Business Builder programme launched on Monday… more
Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Antiguan creates a digital way of helping those in need
Antigua and Barbuda – In an age where fundraisers can be difficult to execute, there is now a modern and contactless way to “help people help people”… more
B.T.L. at 92% Vaccination Rate
Belize – And while there may be some vaccine hesitancy in the public sector, as many as ninety-two percent of all B.T.L. employees have received their first COVID inoculation… more
Ministry of Labour CEO Valentino Shal defends decision to go SMART
Belize – There has been a furor over the choice of the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Transformation to equip public servants with SMART unlimited mobile phone service, but Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Valentino Shal wrote on social media over the weekend that it corrects a long-standing injustice… more
Dominican Republic operator Wind deploys cloud-based solution
Dominican Republic – Wind Telecom, a service provider in the Dominican Republic, says it is modernizing its GPON network infrastructure for its FTTH and FTTO services by implementing digital transformation company Alepo’s AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) solution… more
GTT to increase salary for all employees
Guyana – Following the agreement to increase salary for GTT’s union members, and to ensure fairness for non-union members, GTT on Monday announced that it will increase the basic salary for all employees for the year ending September 2021… more
Coding and Robotics Rock! IGT Kicks Off Its Groundbreaking Summer Camp
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The innovative virtual summer programme, the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock Camp for Caribbean students got under way today. Mona GeoInformatics Limited (MGI) at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus is delivering the training, sponsored by International Game Technology (IGT), to students from IGT’s flagship After School Advantage (ASA) Programme… more
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Flamingo Gardens community gets elevated with free fiber upgrade from BTC
Bahamas – Seven hundred families in the Flamingo Gardens community will benefit from BTC’s elevated internet experience as the company completes its fiber-to-the-home rollout in the community later this month… more
Strictly no phones! Only laptops, tablets allowed as learning aids
British Virgin Islands – For the upcoming school year that will allow all schools to reopen for face-to-face classes, students will now be expected to use electronic devices as essential tools in the classroom, Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley announced… more
Consumers do have the power
Caribbean – DIGITAL consumerism is referred to as the practice of online consumers exerting their powers while being fully aware of their rights in the online marketplace… more
Cybersecurity: You are the weakest link
Caribbean – Over the past eleven weeks, we outlined a range of recommendations that, if implemented, will prevent up to 85 per cent of all breaches. Many in the technology industry deem fixing human error the most crucial step any organisation can take in this fight… more
Intelsat and Orange expand partnership to provide reliable mobile network and 3G/4G services in Guyana
Guyana – Intelsat, the largest and most advanced operator of satellite and communication infrastructure, announced that it is expanding its relationship with Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, to provide French-language cellular communication services in Guyana, which will provide comprehensive services and increase access to telecommunications and advanced communication solutions to Orange customers… more
BOJ mints $230 million in first batch of CBDC
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) at the start of this week minted $230 million worth of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) to be issued to deposit-taking institutions and authorised payment service providers at the start of a pilot exercise expected to end in December… more
Bigger, Better ENDS
Jamaica – The Government is targeting 600 entities in phase two of the E-commerce National Delivery Service (ENDS) programme, which facilitates delivery services during curfew hours through registration on a website of the same name… more
BPO sector resilient as investments continue despite pandemic
Jamaica – Following a scale down of investments to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry last year, president of the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) Gloria Henry said that the sector has since rebounded and is expecting to see increased growth over the course of this year… more
Businesses urged to embrace digital payroll
Jamaica – With a redefining of the workspace, where remote working has become prominent in some organisations, a local payroll and fintech expert is projecting that there will be a greater need for businesses to automate, digitalise and reskill… more
Is a $100 phone all you need?
Jamaica – Some 17 years ago Nicholas Negroponte unveiled his grandiose plan to provide computers for children across the world, a bid to squash digital illiteracy… more
Paul Stennett — Transformed by podcasting
Jamaica – Deeply enthused by the world of podcasting, Paul Stennett, chief executive officer of Amazing Gains, surprisingly never envisioned podcasting as a career until he delved into the genre… more
Thursday, 12 August 2021
Online death threats made against Ministers and their families
Antigua and Barbuda – Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Information Technology, Melford Nicholas has admitted that there have been several threats made against him and his family over the last several weeks… more
NPEP sponsors Bahamas Blockchain Business School
Bahamas – The New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) announced its sponsorship of the Bahamas Blockchain Business School, a virtual educational experience for students curious about emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and in demand 21st-Century human skills… more
OneMart affiliate to launch app in Jamaica
Jamaica – If a company that began in the Virgin Islands is successful, the Caribbean may soon have pizza, paper towels or a ride to the store at its fingertips through a GrubHub-style delivery app now on its way to Jamaica and other countries through a deal with a taxi drivers’ group… more
Davyn on being a Microsoft partner of the year during a pandemic
Trinidad and Tobago – Microsoft’s Partner of the Year 2021 is Davyn, a gold-level cloud platform certified company with a 20-year track record of providing technology solutions in TT… more
Union prepares for possible TSTT job cuts
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) has started gearing up for battle with TSTT, after hearing rumours that the company intends to retrench 600 employees… more
Friday, 13 August 2021
BTC CEO Andre Foster participates in Mobile World Congress
Bahamas – BTC CEO André Foster recently participated as a panelist in the Mobile World Congress 5G Caribbean Virtual Summit held on July 1… more
Cable Targets Push On ‘Hospitality TV’
Bahamas – A Cable Bahamas executive yesterday predicted that “hospitality TV” will be “big” for the tourism industry as it seeks to build momentum for greater nationwide penetration… more
Provider: Cyber Security Must Be National Effort
Bahamas – A Bahamas information technology provider yesterday said the government is taking the “right steps” towards improved cyber security, but added: ‘It’s about all of us… more
Sand Dollar Set To Enjoy ‘Multiple Security Levels’
Bahamas – A Central Bank official yesterday said there are “multiple levels of security” to protect transactions involving the Bahamian digital currency, the Sand Dollar… more
Region can pay for disaster response efforts with digital tokens
Caribbean – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) on Thursday introduced blockchain technology to support its disaster management and climate change mitigation efforts… more
JamaicaEye to be used to fight crime in Stony Hill, St Andrew
Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Matthew Samuda, has indicated that the JamaicaEye system is one of the suite of tools that will be used to improve crime fighting capabilities in Stony Hill, St Andrew… more
Jamaica Joins Emerging Market Trend for Launching New E-Currency
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica minted $1.5 million worth of a new e-currency this week, joining a growing list of emerging markets betting on digital money to cut transaction costs and boost participation in the formal financial system… more
Upbeat FinMin says digital currency shows power of policy
Jamaica – Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke is bullish about the proposed central bank digital currency, CBDC, that is planned for roll-out around the start of the next financial year in April 2022, after a six-month pilot that is expected to get under way next month… more
Electronic Vaccine Passport to Be Made Available
Saint Lucia – The post Electronic Vaccine Passport to Be Made Available appeared first on St. Lucia News from The Voice… more
Virtual Tourism Stakeholders’ conference boosted by Flow
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – LEADING TELECOMMUNICATIONS provider Flow was proud to have contributed to the recently held Virtual Tourism Stakeholders’ conference by the Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 August, which was made possible through the provision of complimentary high-speed Internet connectivity at multiple hubs and mobile phone services… more
Ministry of Finance launched E-Services Page
Sint Maarten – In a progressive stride toward technological advancement, the Ministry of Finance is launching an updated Online Services Page. The new page will streamline the access of services coming from various Ministries and provide the public with an easier way to pay for them… more
ANSA McAL to enter cryptocurrency space
Trinidad and Tobago – Regional conglomerate ANSA McAL will be making a “very measured investment” into the cryptocurrency space, the group’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony N Sabga III has revealed… more
CARIRI, bmobile team up for Coding and Mobile App Development
Trinidad and Tobago – CARIRI and bmobile are engaging with the nation’s youth to promote ICT development and proficiency. The following is après release from bmobile… more
Cox aims to boost grandparents, online training programme
Trinidad and Tobago – MINISTER of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox launched a grandparenting programme which will offer online training starting in October, plus other measures, to support these “unsung heroes” in raising their grandchildren… more
Cyberattacks, cost of digital dollars worries TT central bank
Trinidad and Tobago – In a recently published Financial Stability Report, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) said it is conducting due diligence into the prospect of introducing a digital currency for the twin-island republic… more
Saturday, 14 August 2021
KEEP ‘EM COMING: Businesses urged to register for eProcurement platform; more than 2,220 signed on to date
Bahamas – Over 2,200 businesses are registered on the government’s e-Procurement system to date, according to Ministry of Finance officials, who noted that each government agency will have to produce an annual procurement plan… more
NPEP sponsors Bahamas Blockchain Business School
Bahamas – The New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) announced its sponsorship of the Bahamas Blockchain Business School, a virtual educational experience for students curious about emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and in demand 21st-Century human skills… more
High-tech skills training, manufacturing degree coming, TVET Council reveals
Barbados – Young people will soon have the opportunity to learn 3D digital game art, drone technology and several other skills as the TVET Council (TVETC) hosts the first WorldSkills Barbados Juniors Future Skills Camp, later this year… more
UK donates 20 computers to facility
Barbados – The Joint Regional Communication Centre (JRCC) has benefited from an uplift in IT equipment, thanks to a donation of twenty computers from the United Kingdom Home Office and the British High Commission Bridgetown… more
Claro, Altice bid for 5G spectrum in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Dominican telecom regulator Indotel announced that it received two technical and economic bids for a tender for frequency bands to be used for 5G networks… more
Sunday, 15 August 2021
IAPP designates the Caribbean an ‘Emerging Market’ for Data Privacy
Caribbean – Caribbean countries have been positioned to improve their capacity for information privacy management through the recent designation of the region as having ‘Emerging Market‘ status granted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)… more
‘Silver tech’ could be the next frontier for Jamaican innovators
Jamaica – ‘SILVER tech’ or technological innovations, products and services developed for seniors, may be one of the most lucrative modern industries. more
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