A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 11 October to Sunday 17 October 2021.
Monday, 11 October 2021
Online ease: Digicel continues to make gov’t’s e-learning sites free
Barbados – Digicel (Barbados) in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training continues to provide support to over 37,000 Barbadian students and teachers with free access to the government’s suite of eLearning platforms over Digicel’s mobile network… more
Clickbait danger; seniors at risk
Caribbean – As the world observes October as Cyber Security Awareness Month, it is essential to engage the senior community in conversations about cybersecurity… more
Laptops bought for teachers were of poor quality – NDMA Head
Guyana – A total of 9,609 laptops were procured by the E-Government Unit at a cost of $1.6 billion with the intent that it will be distributed to teachers across the country… more
Appeal for technology devices to help deaf students
Jamaica – The Jamaica Association for the Deaf is looking to acquire technology devices to support online teaching and learning at schools for the deaf… more
Mastercard and Amber Innovations partner to develop Tap on Phone App
Jamaica – Mastercard has announced its strategic partnership with global technology company, Amber Innovations, to develop Tap on Phone PCI-compliant commercial software application (app), a cost-effective, low maintenance solution to capture contactless payments… more
Tablets, laptops for 15 St James schools
Jamaica – Richard Miller knows all too well how much good can come from acts of kindness… more
Mo’ budget, mo’ ICT promises
Trinidad and Tobago – FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert had a choice. He could deliver a budget that boldly declared a visionary, if potentially risky, path forward for ICT, or he could refry the beans again… more
Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Digital COVID certificate platform officially launched
British Virgin Islands – The government has officially launched its digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate programme… more
Caribbean islands seek to capitalize on the ‘digital nomad’ trend
Caribbean – Digital nomads defy a single definition, yet all choose to combine remote work and travel, although the length of stay varies, according to McLean Robbins, vice president of Enterprise Marketing and MBO Partners… more
Vigilance essential in cyber fight
Cayman Islands – Gone are the days of cloaked hackers in darkened basements launching attacks; instead, cyber-security professionals are now facing organised cartels of digital terrorists determined to make profit off any gaps they can exploit within corporate and government bodies… more
BPOs to add 7,500 jobs by March
Jamaica – Players in the island’s global services – formerly business process outsourcing (BPO) – sector are aiming to generate some 7,500 new jobs by March 2022, bringing the total numbers of persons employed to upwards of 50,000… more
Cable companies – a law unto themselves
Jamaica – Dear Editor, Why are cable companies allowed to take away channels that were part of an original contract without notification and without any reimbursement of fees… more
WiPay Jamaica bringing more digital money options to the populace
Jamaica – WIPAY Jamaica is bringing in more digital money options, with the latest option being an untransferable, unique QR code identifier embedded with digital fiat (digital money)… more
FLOW customers get upgraded
Trinidad and Tobago – IN light of the economic hardships brought on by Covid-19, FLOW T&T has embarked on a campaign throughout the country to upgrade existing broadband customers, as the company is making strides in adjusting its model to accommodate pandemic times… more
Wednesday, 13 October 2021
APUA apologises for landline interference
Antigua and Barbuda – The over 25,000 customers who depend on the Antigua Public Utilities Authority’s (APUA’s) landline service was left “in the dark” for an extended period of time yesterday… more
‘Digital Equity for All Ages’ is the focus of Older Persons Month
Bahamas – The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development is celebrating October as Older Persons Month under the theme ‘Digital Equity for All Ages… more
Web developers creating site to make COVID-19 data more accessible
Bahamas – Local web designer Joseph Pinder, along with his co-author Sowmya Thottambeti, have embarked on a project to liberalize and liberate The Bahamas’ COVID-19 data by inputting statistics into an application programming interface (API) that makes accessing historical and current COVID-19 information easy… more
Infrastructure, SME digital adoption: Top barriers to growing digital economy
Caribbean – Recent studies have found that digital infrastructure gaps and the challenges for small and medium sized enterprises to adopt latest digital technologies are seen as the top barriers to growing the digital economy, industry experts said at the Digital Innovation Day 2021 on Wednesday… more
UWI Issues Digital Verifiable Credentials Using Blockchain Technology
Caribbean – Thirty-one persons from across the Caribbean became the first cohort to benefit from a Verifiable Credentials (digital) project being implemented by The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Open Campus… more
Ombudsman fights data breaches
Cayman Islands – Cayman’s data protection legislation forms a key part of efforts to ward off cyber criminals seeking to misuse personal information or exfiltrate data gathered through legitimate business practices… more
Rising risk of ransomware
Cayman Islands – A hacker holding assets hostage for a hefty ransom was once a common storyline in many a Hollywood movie, but this act has quickly become one of the leading real-life cyber-attack strategies against companies and private individuals… more
USE TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE
Guyana – Technology can be used as an instrument to further transform agriculture sectors across the region… more
Amber Group takes over US cybersecurity company, NightVizion
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Amber Group has taken control of cybersecurity company NightVizion after acquiring a majority share in the United States-based entity… more
Cybersecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic — A DIGITAL-MEDICAL JUXTAPOSITION
Jamaica – IN its 18th year internationally (6th year in Jamaica), October is again being celebrated as Cybersecurity Awareness Month… more
Cybersecurity as a career going live
Jamaica – THE shortage of professionals in the cybersecurity industry will be the headline discussion at an online conference on Friday, October 15… more
Jamaican schools gifted game-changing literacy Graphogame app
Jamaica – Jamaica’s early childhood education system now has access to the game-changing Graphogame literacy app, a generous gift to Jamaican schoolchildren from Winsome Wishes for KIDS (WWKIDS) in New York, with the assistance of the United States-based Windward Institute… more
NCB Foundation launches first cohort of scholars focused on digital careers
Jamaica – THE NCB Foundation has answered the call to help alleviate the financial uncertainty of this 2021/2022 academic year for hundreds of students, who will benefit from $100 million in scholarships and grants courtesy of the foundation… more
Digital Transformation Minister: $281m an investment to turn Trinidad and Tobago into a digital society
Trinidad and Tobago – The $200 million-plus allocation to the Ministry of Digital Transformation would be used to make Trinidad and Tobago globally competitive and increase its gross domestic product (GDP), line minister Hassel Bacchus has assured… more
Drive to digitalisation: how tax incentives give tech start-ups a leg up
Trinidad and Tobago – For the most part, all it takes to start up a tech company is a proper internet connection, a computer and a vision, but digital technologies and tech start-up companies have been at the centre of the worldwide digitalisation movement since its inception… more
Flow is in da neighbourhood
Trinidad and Tobago – On the first of October, Flow launched a maintenance campaign focused on the customer… more
Thursday, 14 October 2021
FINTECH’S RISE WILL REQUIRE CAPACITY BUILDING IN OTHER AREAS
Barbados – With financial technology (FinTech) on the rise, there is a need to build capacity with respect to the regulatory and law enforcement capabilities regarding that sector, so as to safeguard the country’s reputation… more
Police Force gearing up for digital currency crimes
Barbados – While there have been no reports of fraud in the digital currency space in Barbados to date, officials are giving the assurance that adequate measures are in place as regulators and other stakeholders take proactive steps to prevent such an occurrence… more
Basil Jarrett | Cyber security
Caribbean – My on-again-off-again love affair with the England football team began at World Cup 1986 when England played Argentina at the Azteca stadium… more
IGT’s Caribbean Tech Camp hailed as a model approach for IT learning
Caribbean – Participants and stakeholders have hailed the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp as an appropriate model approach towards bridging the digital divide in education and filling the technological skills gap in the job market within the Caribbean… more
Samsung brings ZFold, ZFlip to the Caribbean
Caribbean – Gianmarco Leri, Samsung’s product manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, led with the hot new features introduced in the company’s new Galaxy ZFold and ZFlip foldable smartphones… more
Social media – the good and bad, pt.1
Caribbean – Recently, in the news, there has been much talk about the danger of Facebook, especially to children and young people… more
PACT pursuing PPM’s ID card project
Cayman Islands – The PACT government has approved the design of the Cayman Islands’ first national identity card, according to the summary notes released by officials from the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 6 October… more
Girls in the digital generation
Guyana – “What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of…”… more
Digicel Haiti to increase fees on MonCash withdrawals by 40%
Haiti – Digicel, the mobile telecommunications company, will implement a 40% increase on withdrawal fees from its mobile wallet application, MonCash, starting Oct. 18… more
House finally settles NIDS dispute
Jamaica – Nearly 30 months after an initial draft Bill was rejected by the Constitutional Court, the National Identification and Registration Act, commonly called the NIDS Bill, was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives yesterday… more
Improving digital inclusivity in the Jamaican workplace
Jamaica – In recognition of a need for greater awareness and advocacy on behalf of the Special Needs community, Digicel and the Digicel Foundation are celebrating Special Needs Awareness this October, under the theme ‘Together, We Can Be the Change’… more
JMMB expanding digital scope
Jamaica – AS it looks to further grow its client base across its banking and investment segments, JMMB Group (JMMB) will be launching its long-awaited mobile app, along with a suite of other digital offerings, to complement its operations for its 2022 financial year… more
Digital Transformation Minister: $281m an investment to turn Trinidad and Tobago into a digital society
Trinidad and Tobago – The $200 million-plus allocation to the Ministry of Digital Transformation would be used to make Trinidad and Tobago globally competitive and increase its gross domestic product (GDP), line minister Hassel Bacchus has assured… more
Talent development goes high tech in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Here comes new technology to develop local athletes from age ten to elite level… more
Friday, 15 October 2021
#BTColumn – The gig economy in the Caribbean
Barbados – The COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that it can’t be business as usual – more firms are leveraging digital solutions for business continuity, online labour markets are becoming more popular, and the suitability of the traditional 9-5 workweek is being questioned… more
Flow to mandate jab in Covid fight
Caribbean – Telecommunications company C&W Communications has joined other private sector entities in establishing a strong vaccination policy for staff… more
Campaign begins to help ‘old timers’ stay safe online
Cayman Islands – As more and more services, including those delivered by government, move online, a new awareness campaign is being launched to help the older generation stay safe online and avoid becoming a target of scammers… more
$1.2B spent to improve ICT sector – Mid-Year Report
Guyana – The Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report revealed that $1.2B of the $2.3B allocated was expended during the first half of the year, to provide continuous connectivity services to government entities, support for the development and maintenance of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and for the endorsement of ICT literacy… more
Online teaching to continue in schools nationwide
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The nation’s children will continue attending classes in an online format for another two weeks, after which a blended approach will again be considered at the beginning of November… more
Local company proposes vaccine passport E-System
Trinidad and Tobago – Local security firm Elliot Chin Executive Services (ECES) has developed an electronic system that can be used to allow fully vaccinated people effortless entry into Safe Zones without having to carry around their immunization cards… more
National CCTV system urged following kidnap of Trinidad businessman
Trinidad and Tobago – The Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) is reiterating its call for proper surveillance camera in the country, following the kidnapping of Central business man Kartikey Ramsundar on Wednesday… more
Saturday, 16 October 2021
No internet connection in several District 4 schools has affected continued delivery of virtual classes
Guyana – Dear Editor, I write to bring to your notice several issues affecting the delivery of education specifically in District Four… more
Chaguanas businessman waits on green light for vaccination e-cards
Trinidad and Tobago – WHILE the Health Ministry is not endorsing any vaccination e-cards, one company is ready to launch as soon as the ministry gives the green light… more
Sunday, 17 October 2021
GTT CEO hears litany of woes at meeting with Bartica residents
Guyana – Bombarded with complaints of poor service offered by his company, CEO of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Damien Blackburn at a meeting on Friday promised residents of Bartica the delivery of services will be significantly improved within the next six months… more
GTT CEO tells Bartica residents poor service will be a thing of the past
Guyana – The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Damian Blackburn, on Friday promised residents of Bartica, Region Seven that the poor service they have been receiving over the years “will be a thing of the past… more
BPO provider 24-7 Intouch acquires rival, Goodbay Technologies
Jamaica – Business process outsourcing (BPO) provider 24-7 Intouch has acquired its American rival Goodbay Technologies, adding three contact centres to its global operations… more
One on One launches OneX, offers free skills gap test for primary and secondary students
Jamaica – One on One Educational Services, an eLearning solutions company, on Wednesday, October 13 launched its new online learning hub — OneX — and is offering primary and secondary school students a free skills gap test to assess the critical areas needed for improvement in their educational journey… more
Peart, SSL Ventures still negotiating deal over Bluedot shares
Jamaica – SSL Venture Capital Jamaica has begun the divestment of its 50 per cent holdings in Bluedot, through a deal with Yes Iyah Limited that has rankled the founder of the data insight firm… more
Smalta Quest, a new mobile game inspired by children
Trinidad and Tobago – A new game conceptualised by children has been brought to life by Smalta in its latest marketing campaign… more
Image credits: Kaboompics.com (Pexels); Wikimedia Commons; Trinidad and Tobago Newsday; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Guyana Chronicle
