A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 January to Sunday 23 January 2022.

 

Monday, 17 January 2022

CASHLESS TREND CONTINUES: LPIA parking and ground transport latest to say no to cash transactions

Bahamas – The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) has announced that this month, it will begin transitioning all parking and ground transportation (PGT) operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to a cashless environment… more

Online system now limited to new work permits

British Virgin Islands – The much-touted online work permit system has gone partially offline again after launching less than six months ago, acting Labour Commissioner Michelle McLean said last month… more

Cable & Wireless bids farewell to Garry Sinclair

Caribbean – The end of an era and continuation of a legacy is how Garry Sinclair’s retirement from Cable and Wireless Communications is being dubbed. Garry is known across the region for his expertise, experience and passion for customers… more

Digicel launches Graduate Programme

Caribbean – Digicel Group has opened applications for its first cohort of the Digicel Graduate Programme and is looking for the brightest and the best… more

Understanding the digital wallet

Jamaica – AS digital currencies become more popular, consumers are being bombarded with new applications and features which can be used to optimise their digital experience… more

A matter of survival: TSTT to meet unions on way forward

Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications company TSTT says it urgently needs to “restructure” to remain competitive… more

Digicel gives fibre-broadband customers free speed upgrade

Trinidad and Tobago – Over 100,000 Digicel+ customers are now enjoying faster internet speeds, as Digicel has given customers a free speed upgrade of up to 100Mbps until February 1, 2022… more

New tech, big benefits

Trinidad and Tobago – THE two billion frontline workers worldwide represent 80 per cent of the global workforce, with 88 per cent of organisations employing people in frontline roles… more

‘TSTT requires urgent restructuring’

Trinidad and Tobago – FACED with declining revenues from both fixed voice and mobile voice calls, majority State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT) yesterday invited employee representative unions to consultations on a proposed restructuring of the organisation and refined operating model… more

 

Tuesday, 18 January 2022

BVI beefing up crime fighting with nearly 200 CCTV cameras

British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands will be keeping a closer eye on potential problem spots as it installs nearly 200 closed-circuit cameras… more

Even virtual court hearings being impacted by COVID

British Virgin Islands – Even with the decision to temporarily move court cases online because of the territory’s current COVID-19 outbreak, the virus has still managed to affect the Magistrate’s Court ability to host virtual hearings… more

ECSC moving further into digital operations

Caribbean – Digitally driven courts will be critical to the continued administration of justice during the pandemic and beyond… more

i2c Selected by Leading Payments Innovators Across Latin America, Caribbean

Caribbean – i2c Inc., a leading provider of digital payment and banking technology, today announced that the company has been selected to power payment programs across nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and is set to partner with some of the most innovative financial services providers throughout the region… more  

OECS governments urged to enact legislation to facilitate e-transcripts

Caribbean – The Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), Dame Janice Pereira, in an address during the opening of the law year this week, highlighted the delay of production of transcripts causing adjournments… more

Police, cybercrime and the reputation of citizens

Guyana – It is revealing how governance operates in this country. It is also repelling. I read of the developments involving Member of Parliament, Sherrod Duncan, and I am struck by the swiftness and efficiency of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as its members went after him with energy and spirit… more

Strong CBDC take-up expected

Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness predicts widespread take-up of the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ’s) central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is expected to be rolled out by the end of the first quarter of 2022… more

Supporting online learning and changing lives

Jamaica – As the pandemic rages on, the Montego Bay Community Home for Girls continues to give thanks for the tablet donation from C&W Business Jamaica… more

USF to commission 10 new community internet access points

Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) is to commission 10 new community Internet service access points across Jamaica by the end of next month… more

A matter of survival: TSTT to meet unions on way forward

Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications company TSTT says it urgently needs to “restructure” to remain competitive… more

Microsoft introduces Cloud for Retail to region, TT from Feb 01

Trinidad and Tobago – With the rise of blended consumer shopping behaviors, persistent supply chain constraints, and a serious labor shortage, a new reality has emerged… more

Workers on the line as TSTT calls in unions on restructuring

Trinidad and Tobago – Citing, among other things, a $453 million decrease in revenue in the last fiscal year, TSTT has called in trade unions representing its workers for talks on restructuring. This was revealed in a media release on Monday… more

 

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Digital Payments Player Sees Off Sebas Seizure

Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider has successfully fought off a bid to seize control of its operations by fully repaying the debt owed to Sebas Bastian’s investment house… more

COMMENTARY: The age of COVID and a more digitally-driven era

British Virgin Islands – Much of humanity has not woken up to the reality of a more complex, much more interconnected, and digitally-driven era… more

IT Priorities for 2022

Caribbean – In 2021, organisations looked for new ways of doing business. For most organisations the ability to rapidly implement security platforms that allow their workforce to work safely from anywhere was neither easy nor feasible… more

Another digital payment gateway for local businesses

Jamaica – A new digital payment gateway, the GoDigital website, has been created for Jamaican businesses, particularly those in the micro and small enterprises (MSEs), to receive payments digitally… more

BATV reviewing pandemic pause

Jamaica – Dawkins Brown, executive chairman of Dawgen Global and Crowe Horwath Jamaica, says Business Access Television (BATV) which was purchased by his group in July 2019 will now be examining for roll-out programmes which were previously delayed by the pandemic, although the pandemic situation is still under review… more

Shortage of BPO workers getting worse

Jamaica – THE chronic shortage of workers in Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is getting worse and threatening the future growth of the sector, particularly with new players setting up operations locally… more

Trends worth watching

Jamaica – THE 2022 tech trends list is not limited to IT fanatics and tech leaders. Some trends seem far outside the scope of our region’s happening. However, as we chart our path for 2022, it provides an excellent opportunity to see which trends are likely to generate quantum shifts and are most relevant to the Caribbean region… more

 

Thursday, 20 January 2022

A New Crypto Conference Is Coming to The Bahamas

Bahamas – FTX, the global cryptocurrency exchange that recently moved its headquarters to The Bahamas, has announced plans for a new crypto conference in Nassau… more

CEO: Bahamasair OK for now on US 5G rollout 

Bahamas – As airlines grounded certain flights this week, as a result of the rollout of 5G systems, Bahamasair Chief Executive Officer Tracy Cooper said yesterday the national air carrier is “OK for now” regarding any disruptions in flying… more

REV media VP honored with international award

Bahamas – REV Media Vice President David Burrows has been honored with an international award, making a splash as one of the Top 100 cable communications executives of 2021… more

Digi remains dominant in Belize

Belize – One of the smaller countries in Central America, Belize in many respects has closer affinities with English speaking countries of the Caribbean than with its immediate neighbours… more

Huawei reports on 2021 regional, international initiatives

Caribbean – HUAWEI’s commitment to the Caribbean Basin continued this year with several projects to deepen economic and technological development in the region… more

Interview: Usain Bolt on gaming and Virgin Media hyper-fast Gig1 broadband “To see myself in 4k as a hologram was mind blowing”

Caribbean – As Virgin Media O2 celebrates its superfast Gig1 broadband going into its 15 millionth UK home, it showed us just how speedy it is with high-quality PORTL hologram technology… more

The price of progress in technology

Caribbean – Speaking about innate immune system ability to prevent and fight natural, created by nature, health hazards… the body’s own defence mechanism… more

Transitioning to a digital currency

Jamaica – In recent years central banks across the globe have been researching and following a new trend. This is due to the reduction of physical cash payments and the rise of digital wallets and payment services, such as Alipay and PayPal from China and the US, respectively… more

 

Friday, 21 January 2022

Major crypto conference set for The Bahamas as FTX teams up with SALT

Bahamas – The Bahamas is set to play host to a major new crypto conference to be held in April… more

CTU to host Caribbean forum on ICT in education

Caribbean – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) says it will host a two-day forum to discuss the serious ramifications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the education system… more

ECTEL Launches Campaign to Promote Electronic Communications Bill in Member States

Caribbean – The Telecommunications Acts in the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority’s (ECTEL) five (5) Member States have been in force for over 20 years, as such ECTEL is thrilled to launch its Electronic Communications Bill (EC Bill) Education and Public Awareness Campaign… more

Jamaica positioning as Caribbean innovation hub, says PM Holness

Jamaica –  Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says the government is taking deliberate steps to position Jamaica as the technology and innovation hub of the Caribbean… more

No labour shortage in BPO sector

Jamaica – President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) Gloria Henry is refuting claims that there is a shortage in the labour supply to the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector… more

Digital Crowd-Sourced Mapping to Kick-off in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia is to become the first island in the Caribbean to benefit from a unique global partnership between the Humanitarian Open Street Map team (HOT)… more

Mas in the metaverse?

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has put forth bold intentions of hosting a carnival in the metaverse, which would make it the first nation to do so in the digital world… more

A transparent and accessible ocean through data, info and tech

Trinidad and Tobago – There is something about the start of a new year that can bring a whiff of green optimism and a breath of fresh ocean air… more

T&T gets another telemarketing job

Trinidad and Tobago – INVESTT, in its role as the national investment promotion agency, has facilitated the formation of a partnership between Customer Acquisition Group (CAG) and locally owned contact centre DirecOne for the establishment of a 30-seat pilot project in the outsourcing industry… more

 

Saturday, 22 January 2022

GTT Fibre now in Mahaica

Guyana – GTT in a release said that it is continuing to fulfill its promise to reliably connect customers as it is set to roll out its GTT Fibre to the community of Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara… more

Digital birth certificate roll-out in coming months

Jamaica – The roll-out of digital birth certificates is the next on the agenda as the Government gears up towards implementing the National Identification System (NIDS) that will see bedside birth registrations done electronically, and millions of records stored at the Registrar’s General Department (RGD) digitised in coming months… more

 

Sunday, 23 January 2022

WiPay enters the metaverse

Caribbean – Regional payment portal provider WiPay Caribbean, which has been ramping up its business in Jamaica in recent times, hopes to later this year offer its clients in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean, the opportunity to use its payment platform to buy the controversial unbacked digital cryptocurrencies that continue to draw divergent sentiments in the investing and financial communities… more

Infrastructure, ICT among sectors for major investments in budget, Jagdeo says

Guyana – The government’s 2022 national budget, which is set to be presented to the nation on Wednesday, focuses heavily on investments for the future that will enrich the lives of Guyanese, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who signalled major projects in the public infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and oil and gas sectors aimed at propelling development… more

 

 

Image credits: carterse (flickr); Marketing Magazine; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Facebook; CTU; Guyana Chronicle