A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 January to Sunday 30 January 2022.
Monday, 24 January 2022
Digital transformation using open source software
Trinidad and Tobago – A declared pillar of the Digital Transformation Ministry a year after its formation is a commitment to working with local developers and using Open Source software (OSS) to develop solutions for TT”s digitalisation effort… more
Gonzales denies opposition claims of privatising TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – PUBLIC Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales is denying allegations by the Opposition that the restructuring exercise at TSTT is just a ruse to privatise the company… more
PADARATH QUESTIONS PLANS FOR TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – Member of Parliament for Princes Town Barry Padarath is questioning the plans for TSTT, including what is being done to put the company back into a competitive and profitable state. He has also questioned whether the government plans on privatising TSTT… more
Tuesday, 25 January 2022
Farm powered by artificial intelligence, robotics could be operational by mid-2023
Bahamas – A $60 million, majority Bahamian-owned farm powered by artificial intelligence and robotics, growing 1.4 million pounds of leafy greens and herbs, could break ground at the beginning of the second quarter of 2022 and be fully operational by mid-2023, one of the project’s principals told Guardian Business yesterday, explaining that the project is designed to lower the country’s food import bill… more
All VI laws to be posted online, AG says
British Virgin Islands – Government is finalising an “accessibility of the laws” scheme that will consolidate Virgin Islands legislation on a website on an ongoing basis, Attorney General Dawn Smith said during the closed-door Standing Finance Committee deliberations late last year… more
Ex-Brac candidate to fight ICT harassment case
Cayman islands – The lawyer acting on behalf of Elvis McKeever (63), who stood as a candidate for Cayman Brac East in the 2021 elections, has said her client will be pleading not guilty to the charges against him when he is served with papers… more
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES REVISED TIMLINE FOR E-PASSPORT
Dominica – A shift in policy with reference to the migration period from the machine readable to an e-passport means Dominicans at home and in the diaspora now have less time to make that transition… more
Digital payment integration now easier for local businesses
Jamaica – Jamaican businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises (MSEs), will now find it easier to begin accepting digital payments with the assistance being offered through the Go-Digital website, a collaboration between the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance (JTDA) and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ)… more
Information technology — the backbone of 2022
Jamaica – Information technology(IT) is the backbone that has been powering the movement of economies around the world for the last two years throughout the massive onslaught on human lives brought on by the numerous variations of the deadly novel coronavirus… more
PAC to hear from PICA bosses about information security breaches
Jamaica – THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to get answers from the leadership of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) today based on an auditor general information technology audit which found critical information security weaknesses that could put records and Jamaicans’ identities at risk… more
WiPay Caribbean fortifying its management team in Jamaica
Jamaica – Growing regional fintech firm WiPay Caribbean is moving to strengthen the management team at its Jamaican subsidiary with the first in a series of appointments… more
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Bahamas First launches country’s first online portal to purchase insurance
Bahamas – Bahamas First General Insurance Company is now the first insurance provider in The Bahamas to allow for the purchase of insurance polices online, specifically personal auto and home insurance policies… more
Bahamas First Says Portal ‘Won’t Marginalise’ Agents
Bahamas – Bahamas First’s top executive yesterday reassured that its new online insurance portal will “not marginalise” agents and brokers, and had been created “in lock step” with the law and regulations… more
New information management system for Dominica’s disaster shelters
Dominica – A new information management system for the island’s disaster shelters was launched this month… more
Bethlehem Primary and Flow increase online student engagement
Jamaica – Eight months after being gifted 30 LTE-enabled tablets and a free internet upgrade from the Flow Foundation, the Bethlehem Primary and Infant School has increased its student online learning enrollment from 50 to 90 per cent… more
BPO sector working through Omicron challenges
Jamaica – PRESIDENT of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) Gloria Henry is confident that the local outsourcing sector is well positioned to withstand the negative impacts of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, despite Nearshore Americas warning about the risks associated with low vaccination in countries such as Jamaica… more
Court goes digital
Jamaica – THE Court Administration Division (CAD) is improving the handling of payments at the Supreme Court, allowing digital collection of court-approved payments and reimbursements… more
Digital first!
Jamaica – As digital assets and digital currencies become more prevalent across the globe, NCB Capital Markets Ltd said it is preparing to offer those products and services to Jamaican investors as well… more
Fresh prospects for NFTs
Jamaica – The buzz around Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) continues to swirl as the once niche technology has blossomed to mainstream news in several ways. NFTs are a unique and potentially extremely valuable digital artefact built on the blockchain… more
No breaches of IT networks, says PICA boss
Jamaica – Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Andrew Wynter, says an auditor general’s assessment last year did not identify any unauthorised access to any of the agency’s secured information technology (IT) networks… more
$ocial Sense: E-mail marketing trends
Jamaica – E-mail marketing is getting more and more competitive. As brands look for ways to reach their consumers during the pandemic, their inbox space is up for grabs… more
T&T regulator issues warning after radio station broadcasts interview with prison inmate
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has warned broadcasters to comply with all the conditions set out in their concessions after a radio station last month broadcasted an interview with an inmate at the island’s Golden Grove Prison… more
Thursday, 27 January 2022
US$2 million assistance for blockchain businesses
Barbados – Barbadian Blockchain Company OneLedger Technology has launched a US$2 million Ecosystem Bounty that supports ambitious and creative developers to build the next generation of applications… more
99 Laptops for Primary Schools
Belize – It’s been over two weeks since classes have been reopened to hybrid learning. But, not all students have the resources to access learning material virtually… more
Teachers trained in distance learning
British Virgin Islands – Thirteen teachers recently received training designed to help them deliver distance education and use information and communications technology during and after the Covid-19 crisis, according to government… more
Barbados and C’bean Telecoms Union to host webinar on the Metaverse
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), in partnership with the Government of Barbados, will host a webinar, Traversing the Metaverse – A Caribbean Perspective, on Monday, January 31, from 9am to TIME, AST… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Flow supports Ministry of Education’s digital learning drive
Dominica – Flow, Dominica’s leading telecommunications provider, is donating tablets to the Ministry of Education in support of the national drive to provide a device to every child requiring equipment to facilitate home schooling during the pandemic… more
Cops catch, detain three for stealing TSTT copper
Trinidad and Tobago – Three men were arrested and charged by officers of the Southern Division early on Wednesday morning after they were caught red-handed stealing a quantity of cable which is the property of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago in Ste Madeline… more
TSTT and Digicel lament impact of digital communication platforms
Trinidad and Tobago – In 1979 British new wave group the Buggles sang the song “Video killed the Radio Star” to highlight the increased popularity of television as a form of information and entertainment to the detriment of the radio industry… more
TSTT, CWU to meet on Tuesday
Trinidad and Tobago – COMMUNICATION Workers Union (CWU) head Clyde Elder recently told Newsday his union is due to meet with TSTT officials next Tuesday… more
Friday, 28 January 2022
Promoting and Reviving Cultural Heritage through Digital Literacy
Belize – More Belizean artisans and entrepreneurs will be able to reach more customers thanks to the Enhancing the Economic Empowerment of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean project… more
Creative internet connectivity and classroom solutions to support Caribbean online learning
Caribbean – Satellites and their associated technologies are being used to solve severe Internet connectivity issues for schools in remote areas in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Jamaica… more
Digital Transformation Report reveals security ranks low on pandemic priorities
Caribbean – Today, Digicel Business launched its Digital Transformation Research Report and Guide, looking at the attitudes towards digital transformation and the impact the pandemic has had on businesses in this respect… more
FOCUS BEING PLACED ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Caribbean – INFORMATION Communication Technology (ICT), while a fundamental element in and of itself, is only part of the solution needed to support the online de- livery of content and the eventual digital transformation of the education system for Caribbean students… more
Slack with cybersecurity
Caribbean – Less than 30 per cent of almost 2,000 businesses across the Caribbean have upgraded their cybersecurity as a direct result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. This is at a time when the scale and number of global cyber threats have increased significantly… more
Customs to shut down IT system for transfer
Cayman Islands – Importers are likely to experience more disruptions with customs over the weekend as the Customs and Border Control Service will be shutting down its customs online system (COLs) this evening to allow for it to be redirected to the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) eServices sign-in page… more
Digicel Dominica CEO Nikima Royer-Jno Baptise to take over as the head of Digicel St Lucia
Dominica – Nikima Royer-Jno Baptiste, the first female and Dominican-national to ever be appointed in the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Digicel’s Dominica operations, will on February 1, 2022, be appointed as the CEO of Digicel’s St. Lucia operations… more
Data protection is a constitutional right, says attorney
Jamaica – Attorney and founder of consulting firm, Design Privacy, Chukwuemeka Cameron, says data protection is important in the Jamaican context, as it is a constitutional right that allows for those in authority to protect the use of citizens’ information… more
Digital assets for JSE listing this year
Jamaica – The Jamaica Stock Exchange, JSE, expects to allow trading of tokenised listings this year through a platform developed by Blockstation, its Canadian partner… more
Environment hazard app officially launched today
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – An application that will allow Vincentians to quickly and easily report environmental hazards to the relevant authorities is officially being launched today… more
Flow launches new Business brand
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Local businesses have been promised seamless connectivity, added value and business class support under the newly launched FLOW Business brand… more
The MyHAZ-VCT App To Be Launched
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Today, Friday 28th January will see the launch of the myHAZ-VCT Application at the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Conference Room. The activity will be conducted by The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC) in collaboration with NEMO… more
Saturday, 29 January 2022
Zeemoney launched in Barbados
Barbados – One of the world’s fastest growing financial technology firms based in Africa is about to tap into the estimated US$7 billion remittance market in the Caribbean to make it easier for individuals to receive and send funds… more
ECCB Launches Artificial Intelligence Data Challenge
Caribbean – University students and practitioners in the field of data science are invited to participate in the Climate Resilience Data Challenge, a component of the 6th Growth Resilience Dialogue (GRD) organized by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in collaboration with the OECS Commission, The World Bank and University of the West Indies… more
ICT lab commissioned at Redeemer Primary School
Guyana – Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Friday commissioned an Information Communications Technology (ICT) laboratory at the Redeemer Primary School in Georgetown… more
FITUN: Govt and TSTT must talk with CWU and workers to save company
Trinidad and Tobago – The Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-Governmental Organisations (FITUN) is calling on Government, and the senior management at the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), to sit down with the workers’ representative union—the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU)—and work out a way to save the telecoms company… more
Sunday, 30 January 2022
Check and double-check
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I see where you have assisted people who seem to have various issues. I have now fallen into that category… more
Health + Tech | Using speech-to-text software to boost efficiency in healthcare
Jamaica – The use of speech-to-text software can be a game-changer in healthcare as we continue to evolve with the incorporation of more advanced technology in our efforts to digitise the sector… more
NCBCM pushing tech hub
Jamaica – NCB Capital Markets is complementing the Government’s thrust to transform the island into becoming the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean… more
New push for ‘open banking’
Jamaica – A new study conducted by think tank Caribbean Policy Research Institute, CaPRI, has revealed that the real cause of the slow crawl towards financial inclusion is largely due to banks’ disinterest in tailoring products to meet the needs of society’s most vulnerable… more
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