A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 September to Sunday 19 September 2021.
Monday, 13 September 2021
Digital training for teachers in barbados & T&T
Barbados – Two hundred teachers from Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago are currently engaged in training to enhance their digital skills in education to better respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 environment and reach their charges… more
Dominican public encouraged to help bring seniors into digital age
Dominica – In a world that is rapidly being transformed by the accelerated advancement of digital technologies, the President of the Dominica Council On Ageing (DCOA) has sounded a call to the public to assist in empowering older people to make use of these technologies… more
BOJ not using blockchain for CBDC could have far-reaching implications
Jamaica – The Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) has cautioned the Jamaican authorities that not using blockchain technology in the planned Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) could have far-reaching implications… more
Digicel Business, Trend Media, Microsoft present #TransformCaribbean
Jamaica – Digicel Business and Trend Media are partnering with Microsoft Caribbean to deliver #TransformCaribbean: Disaster Preparedness with the Cloud in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago on September 22, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am EST… more
Flow expands fibre-fast network
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm FLOW said that it has connected more than 420 communities to its fibre-fast network since January 2020… more
Special needs students grappling with online modality
Jamaica – With the restart of virtual classes for the new academic year, students with special needs are among those who continue to grapple with learning challenges… more
Tuesday, 14 September 2021
EZPAY now available on Payce Digital Mobile App
Barbados – The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Smart Technology (MIST) is excited to partner with Payce Digital, formerly Cave Shepherd Card., to continue to drive innovation in the digital payments space in Barbados… more
Anglin is The UWI’s Data Protection Officer
Caribbean – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has appointed Dr Patrick Anglin as the University Data Protection Officer, with effect from August 1, 2021… more
Grenada PM to launch Caricom Digital Skills Task Force
Caribbean – Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, will on Wednesday launch the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Digital Skills Task Force during a virtual meeting, the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat has announced… more
WhatsApp will stop working on some phones this November
Caribbean – Starting in November, the popular messaging service WhatsApp will stop working on a number of Android and iOS devices due to an upcoming update in the app’s software requirements, Business Insider reports… more
‘Dem nah learn nothing’
Jamaica – Eighteen months after the COVID-19 pandemic threw the education sector into disarray after the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed on the island, some parents are concerned that their children remain at a disadvantage as their inability to access online classes means they are being left behind… more
Growth & Jobs | Remittances assist in purchase of devices for online learning
Jamaica – THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL period, late July to early September, is normally a busy one for Marsha Lewis. During that period, the 32-year-old entrepreneur uses the funds her mother sends from overseas to purchase school supplies for her two siblings… more
New Internet Service from Barbados-Based Company, Neptune Communications, Available in Jamaica soon
Jamaica – A new internet service company has launched its operations in Jamaica. The firm’s priority is reliable connectivity for cloud users, said Neptune Communications CEO Julian Jordan. Its portfolio of products will also include online security solutions… more
Preparing Jamaica for the 4th
Jamaica – THE fourth industrial revolution is fast approaching and Jamaica must be ready for the opportunities that will present themselves. Under this new world we will see an increase in automation and the use of more sophisticated technology that will need little to no human intervention… more
Senior citizens embrace digital education programmes
Jamaica – Scores of seniors are among the thousands of Jamaicans now engaged in the Flow Foundation’s Digital Education Programme. more
St Lucia will provide 4,000 laptops to students in need
Saint Lucia – St Lucia is all set to reopen schools virtually from today (Monday) due to the ongoing crisis of COVID-19 in the region. About 4,000 laptops will be provided to students in need, announced Education Minister Shawn Edwards… more
TATT to manage crippled Cumberland Hill
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago will control access to and maintenance of the upper part of Cumberland Hill, above Fort George, the site of most of this country’s major private and public electronic transmitters… more
Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Building a future-proof workforce
Caribbean – Answers will vary based on the respondent’s perspective. Some will say that the past is simply that — the past — and that relishing bygone events in excess is a trap that only serves to keep us psychologically regressed… more
Elizabeth Morgan | Trade in services – Business Process Outsourcing
Caribbean – As countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been seeking to diversify and grow their economies, as previously indicated, the focus is on export of services. I have dealt with tourism and cultural and creative services in my last two articles… more
Caricom Secretary General urges governments and private sector to work together for digital inclusion
Jamaica – Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, has stressed the need for digital inclusion and proliferating digital skills across Caricom in a comprehensive, strategic manner… more
Great ideas: It’s all about execution
Jamaica – The dawn of the one-person startups and the proliferation of technology incubators, accelerators and unicorns has created both opportunities and challenges for medium to large organisations seeking to use technology as a strategic advantage… more
High demand for tech solutions
Jamaica – “The take up in embracing technologies is high!” Those words were said by business systems analyst at MC Systems, Toussaint Stewart, who explained that adversity and disruption have become drivers for innovation and technology adoption. more
JAMPRO secures new outsourcing operator in Jamaica
Jamaica – The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has secured business process outsourcing (BPO) operator, Ventrica, to join the country’s growing Global Digital Services sector… more
Makings of a digital society — education
Jamaica – IN our introductory article, we outlined nine critical components of a digital society: Digital Etiquette, Digital Access, Digital Law, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Commerce, Digital Rights & Responsibilities, Digital Privacy & Security, Digital Health & Wellness. more
Thursday, 16 September 2021
Prime Minister and SMART defend Microsoft business to Chamber
Belize – Prime Minister John Briceno continues to deflect criticism that the government is diverting business away from Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) in favor of Smart… more
Digicel Taps Sandvine for Multimillion-Dollar Application and Network Intelligence Expansion to Accelerate Digital Services
Caribbean – Sandvine, a leading provider of cloud-based application and network intelligence solutions, announced that it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar order from Digicel, which last year relaunched as a fully Digital Operator providing personalized digital experiences with suites of applications for on-the-go sports, music, news, local radio, podcasts, and messaging… more
Execs share their vision for the future of tech in the Caribbean
Caribbean – From contactless payments to self-driving cars to the race to space, technology is advancing at a rapid pace… more
GuySuCo evaluating use of drone technology
Guyana – As part of its efforts at modernising the sugar industry with the use of e-smart agricultural initiatives, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has embarked on an evaluation of the use of drone technology while also aiming to attract youths to the industry… more
IGT coding and robotics camp give youth a tech boost
Trinidad and Tobago – The first staging of the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp engaged youth participants from the International Game Technology (IGT) After School Advantage (ASA) Centers in Trinidad and Tobago, who are now better equipped with introductory tech skills… more
Friday, 17 September 2021
CREDIT UNION DONATES TABLETS FOR 35 STUDENTS
Barbados – The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. is ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary technology to function in the new online teaching and learning environment… more
Scotiabank Cayman awarded “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021″
Cayman Islands – Scotiabank Cayman has been named the “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021” by Global Finance (New York), which regularly selects the top performers among banks and financial services and is a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community… more
Digicel Business and Microsoft Caribbean offer free disaster preparedness webinar
Caribbean – Digicel Business and Trend Media are partnering with Microsoft Caribbean to deliver #TransformCaribbean: Disaster Preparedness with the Cloud in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago on September 22nd, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am EST… more
Cuba building out IT ecosystem
Cuba – Cuba is building out its information technology (IT) ecosystem leveraging its world regarded model on knowledge and intellectual assets in its build out. more
Government Begins Onboarding Of Schools To Fibre Infrastructure
Jamaica – The Government has started the on-boarding of 360 schools that are in close proximity to its fibre infrastructure… more
IBEX reports record growth despite COVID challenge
Jamaica – IBEX Limited, a global provider in business process outsourcing (BPO) and end-to-end customer engagement technology solutions, on September 15 announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2021… more
Online recruitment and professional networking platform launched
Jamaica – An online platform where employers and thousands of job seekers in Jamaica can contact each other has been launched. more
Productive Business Solutions deepens talent pool with acquisition
Jamaica – hief executive officer (CEO) of Productive Business Solutions (PBS), Pedro Paris shared that the recent acquisition of PBS Technology Group (PBSTG) not only increased the footprint of the company in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also deepened its talent pool, which is a major driver of its growth… more
Proven Wealth to follow US clearing house into cryptocurrency trades
Jamaica – Brokerage firm Proven Wealth Limited says it is weighing the possibility of adding cryptocurrency trading for clients to its suite of products, signalling a major shift for the company and the wealth management industry in Jamaica… more
Tech firm banks on new data law, foreign market for revenue growth
Jamaica – Technology company tTech Limited is looking abroad and to coming regulation for revenue growth. CEO Chris Reckord says the company wants to increase revenue and boost profit through overseas relationships and industry needs that will arise from the Data Protection Act, now waiting for an effective date to become operation… more
Connecting world means connecting small islands too
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The last time I went on an official visit to a small island developing state (SIDS) was to St Kitts and Nevis to attend a Caribbean Telecommunications Union regional ministerial. It was pre-pandemic, and already then, I encouraged the participants to take advantage of the remote participation option – to join ITU meetings at little cost… more
The Cable imparts a lesson of corporate generosity to the Ministry of Education
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Teachers and students of Primary and Secondary schools in St. Kitts are returning to top-tier internet service at their respective schools, compliments The Cable… more
FLOW services fully restored in communities above the Dry River
Saint Vincent and Grenadines – Telecommunications provider Flow said it has completed restoration of its services in communities north of the Rabacca Dry River following the explosive eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano in April… more
NTRC launches iCode784 competition
Saint Vincent and Grenadines – The innovations of today’s world that allow for society to function virtually amidst a pandemic is proof that new ideas can and will continue to change how effectively tasks can be carried out… more
Saturday, 18 September 2021
Scotiabank Bahamas awarded “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021”
Bahamas – Scotiabank Bahamas has been named the “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021” by Global Finance (New York), which regularly selects the top performers among banks and financial services and is a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community… more
Tech Depot – The best in mobile and accessories
Saint Lucia – Tech Depot is one of the first mobile accessories stores on the island. Founded many years ago, the company is dedicated to enhancing everyone’s technological experiences and providing excellent customer service as well as accurate and useful product advice to customers… more
Living in IT hell in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – In this column, I recently wrote about the pointlessness of comparing Bajans and Trinis… more
Sunday, 19 September 2021
E-Networks is expanding its fiber optic network to Linden
Guyana – Networks Inc. – Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider – announced that it is currently building a fiber optic cable from Georgetown to Linden. This move is the latest in a series of milestones the company has achieved in massively expanding its network to bring better services to more people… more
A ‘Flow’ of problems
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, My complaint is about the utter failure of Flow’s customer service. I do not think this is due to the COVID-19 crisis but is deep in the Flow business culture… more
FEE-FI-FO-FUM
Jamaica – Wireless broadband is like a roadway which carries radio signals. The connection of the signal from receiver point to receiver point constitutes the Internet… more
Ready for digital transformation?
Jamaica – I recently visited the US, and while checking in at the airport to return home, I observed several Jamaicans being denied boarding by the agent because of insufficient documentation... more
Living in IT hell in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – In this column, I recently wrote about the pointlessness of comparing Bajans and Trinis… more
Image credits: Jon S (flickr); Facebook; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; E-Network
