A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 October to Sunday 31 October 2021.
Monday, 25 October 2021
Local entrepreneur launches regional online training platform
Bahamas – A local entrepreneur has linked learners and trainers through an online portal for The Bahamas and Caribbean called The Online Training Authority (TOTA), that its creator said is especially necessary now given that the COVID-19 pandemic has not abated… more
Small business is big business! Flow business launched in the BVI
British Virgin Islands – Flow has introduced a new business brand to meet the expanding needs of small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the British Virgin Islands… more
What’s inside Samsung’s ZFold?
Caribbean – I’ve championed smartphones as an all-in-one-solution for the working journalist since their photographic capabilities began to surpass the image-making power of point and shoot cameras… more
Gov’t and Digicel have amicably resolved issues – Attorney General
Guyana – Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC yesterday said that the Guyana Government and Digicel have amicably resolved their issues and lawsuits that had been filed by both have been discontinued… more
Tuesday, 26 October 2021
BTC parent company CEO meets with staff, union and competitors
Bahamas – Cable and Wireless Chief Executive Officer Inge Smidts met recently with Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) executives, union executives and Cable Bahamas Limited Group Chief Executive Officer Franklyn Butler and plans to meet with the Davis administration during a visit next month… more
BTC to continue fiber-to-the-home push in 2022 to bridge digital divide
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will continue to focus on efforts to bridge the digital divide by providing greater access across the country through its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services as part of its 2022 strategy, the company said yesterday… more
FTX owner thinks more big crypto firms headed to Bahamas
Bahamas – FTX owner and cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried thinks more crypto companies could flee the US and head for The Bahamas… more
Combating cybercrime in the post-pandemic era: Taiwan can help
Belize – In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged much of the globe. In mid-May 2021, the Republic of China (Taiwan) saw a sudden rise in case numbers… more
Digicel to install state-of-the-art Wi-Fi system @ Pier Park
British Virgin Islands – ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Digicel and Tortola Pier Park Limited are ensuring that tourists visiting the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park will have access to world-class connectivity, thanks to a new state-of-the-art Wi-Fi system to be installed in the facility… more
Cayman’s digital future: Medtech
Cayman Islands – From accessing medical records in the palm of your hand to monitoring a loved one’s vital signs through a computer screen to a surgeon operating on a patient from hundreds of miles away, medical technology is a multi-billion dollar industry that aims to make healthcare more convenient, efficient and inexpensive for both patients and healthcare providers, by using the latest in digital innovation and artificial intelligence… more
While medtech booms, challenges await
Cayman Islands – While the medtech industry grows and more key players begin to adopt digital healthcare services, there are several challenges that have slowed use and functionality… more
MDC donates 100 wall USB chargers to primary school
Dominica – The Marigot Development Corporation (MDC) has mobilized support for remote learning at the Wills Strathmore Stevens (WSS) Primary School in Marigot by making available to the school a set of 100 USB wall chargers… more
Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Cloud Carib awarded CSA’s Trusted Cloud Provider designation
Bahamas – Local cloud computing firm Cloud Carib has received the highly sought Trusted Cloud Provider designation from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). It is the only firm in the region to have been awarded such a distinction… more
Behind The Veil of Tech Fund-raising
Bahamas – We hear many stories about companies raising incredible amounts of money through VC funding or Angel investors. We’ve also heard about extraordinary grants rolled out to various groups for those who don’t necessarily want to give up equity… more
Chelceé Brathwaite | Leveraging the gig economy for cross-border trade in Caribbean services
Caribbean – 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
Curbing Brain Drain: Global tech company partners with Caribbean entity to recruit software engineers
Caribbean – For decades, small states and fragmented economies have rendered the Caribbean vulnerable to the ‘brain drain curse’. The region has one of the highest rates of tertiary-educated migrants globally as some of the Caribbean’s most skilled labour seek out lucrative opportunities in larger markets… more
Social $ense: More E-commerce features for Instagram
Caribbean – At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed like everyone was jumping on Instagram Live. That eventually died down in some areas, or at least it appeared to be dying down. However, recent events lead us to believe that the Live content market is bubbling, and Instagram does not want to be left behind… more
Telecoms hit by fuel shortages in Haiti
Haiti – Port-au-Prince: Haiti’s telecoms networks have sharply cut back on service because of fuel shortages caused by the tightening grip of criminal gangs on the capital Port-au-Prince, company officials said Tuesday… more
BPOs compete for new talent
Jamaica – JOB search platform Caribbeanjobs.com has listed approximately 177 postings advertising openings for customer service talent in Jamaica. Most of them are from local business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that are engaged in a battle for new workers… more
Javette Nixon — Serving The Underserved
Jamaica – President and CEO of Esther Finance Limited Javette Nixon has always been fascinated by technology and was fortunate enough to nurture this interest by learning digital skills through access to a computer lab at his high school… more
Digicel celebrates one-year anniversary as digital operator
Trinidad and Tobago – One year after relaunching as a digital operator, Digicel is boasting that customers love their digital services… more
Thursday, 28 October 2021
Mobile Go partners with Grand Bahama Utility Company
Bahamas – Mobile Go Bahamas (MGO) recently welcomed the Grand Bahama Utility Company Limited (GBUC) as a merchant, offering residents of Grand Bahama a convenient, efficient and safe way to process payments through its state-of-the-art, user-friendly app and kiosks… more
Pinnacle crowdfunding success reveals local appetite for investing
Bahamas – Pinnacle Franchise Brands Limited made history yesterday when it surpassed its minimum crowdfunding mark through 950 investors, raising $1.7 million to ensure that Bahamians and others have a stake in the success of Red Lobster in The Bahamas and across the Caribbean… more
Barbados-based firm develops Africa’s first digital currency
Barbados – The Barbados-based financial technology firm Bitt, has developed the central bank digital currency for Nigeria, making that country the first on the Africa continent to use a legal tender digital currency for their daily financial transactions… more
Remote recruitment pathway
Caribbean – The Caribbean is considered to be vulnerable to the “brain drain curse” for decades. In fact, according to research, the region has one of the highest rates of tertiary educated emigrants in the world as some of the islands’ most skilled labour seek out lucrative opportunities in larger markets… more
GTT, STEMGuyana launch Cancer Awareness chatbot
Guyana – GTT has collaborated with STEMGuyana to launch its Pinktober Breast Cancer awareness chatbot that will allow members of the public to have access to concise and comprehensible information on different types of cancer… more
Digicel Haiti forced to shutter more sites as fuel crisis escalates
Haiti – Digicel Haiti has confirmed that 15% of its cell sites are currently unable to function due to ongoing fuel shortages and other issues around security… more
MSET And U.S. Embassy Enhance Bilateral Cooperation in Information and Communication Technology, Cybersecurity, Education, and Renewable Energy
Jamaica – A Ministerial and Technical delegation led by Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, visited Arizona State University (ASU) October 11-12 to explore a potential partnership with ASU in establishing a cybersecurity school of excellence in Jamaica… more
Friday, 29 October 2021
$2.4m Radar System Delivered To Defence Force
Bahamas – GENERAL Glen D VanHerck, the commander of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), officially delivered a $2.4 million-dollar radar system to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force during an official handover ceremony at the Coral Harbour base on Thursday… more
Software engineers wanted from the Caribbean
Caribbean – Automattic Inc, the San Francisco, California, US-based company behind blogging platforms WordPress.com , Tumblr and others, is seeking data scientists based in the Caribbean to onboard, with the promise that relocation is not necessary in order to earn top dollar… more
Spotlight: The DomRep telecommunications market
Dominican Republic – Claro (América Móvil) is dominating the Dominican Republic’s mobile telephony, internet, and pay-TV markets, leading to debates about special regulations… more
Digicel’s Haiti woes
Haiti – Digicel is selling its Pacific operations to concentrate on the Caribbean but in its biggest market in the region – Haiti – trouble brews… more
150 health facilities to benefit from ICT initiative
Jamaica – A total of 150 health facilities across Jamaica are to benefit from an upgrade in information and communication technology… more
200 Tablets for High School Students this Christmas
Jamaica – Two hundred electronic devices for underprivileged students on the south side of Belize City, that’s the objective of drive in Belize and the Diaspora… more
Huawei launches annual Seeds for the Future Programme
Jamaica – Tech company Huawei kicked off its annual Seeds for the Future programme with an opening ceremony on Friday, October 22, 2021… more
Digicel boosts awareness of 211 helpline
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica has joined forces with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) to push the use of the 211 helpline for reporting child abuse… more
Flow opens new retail store in Montego Bay
Jamaica – Flow has expanded its retail presence to deliver improved in-store customer service and experience in St James… more
Ibex pushes for digitally skilled workers
Jamaica – Ibex Global, which opened its fifth location in Jamaica recently, has indicated that it is now seeking workers who are digitally skilled… more
Small Business is Big Business – not just survive but thrive with Flow Business
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Flow launched its exciting, new brand Flow Business on Friday October 22nd; a brand dedicated to small and medium businesses (SMBs) throughout the Caribbean… more
Saturday, 30 October 2021
Data protection law praised but cybersecurity work begins – experts
Barbados – Barbados has come in for high praise from cybersecurity experts for putting data protection legislation in place along with a Data Commissioner as authorities continue to place emphasis on digitalisation of the economy… more
King Assumes Chairmanship of ECTEL Council
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) held its 42nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday, October 28th virtually. Considering the increased reliance on data, mobile devices and computers to facilitate remote work, online learning and shopping among other tasks, ECTEL’s role as a regional regulatory body for electronic communications has become even more important… more
Dominican radio hams take part in earthquake drill
Dominican Republic – Radio amateurs in the Dominican Republic have participated in a national earthquake evacuation drill… more
Sunday, 31 October 2021
New telecoms company plans to operate 5G network in seven regions
Guyana – New telecoms sector entrant Green Gibraltar is seeking approval to install and operate a 5G telecommunications network in seven of the country’s regions… more
Digital gift card company raises funds to help SME’s
Jamaica – DIGITAL gift card marketplace Giftme has raised funds at a valuation of US$1.8 million to build out their suite of products to assist local SMEs with their customer engagement, acquisition and retention infrastructure… more
NCB Group enters fintech market
Jamaica – NCB Financial Group (NCBFG) has created a new fintech company, TFOB (2021) Limited, staffed with tech-savvy IT and data analytics professionals, to build out its newest project, the Lynk payment platform that will be a conduit for the bank’s participation in the pilot digital currency or CBDC pilot being undertaken by the Bank of Jamaica… more
Image credits: Gino Crescoli (Pixabay); The Eleutheran; Twitter; Wikipedia; Guyana Chronicle; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia
