A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 7 February to Sunday 13 February 2022.
Monday, 7 February 2022
$500,000 Grant For University To Develop Centre
Bahamas – UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas received a $500,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Friday for the development of the Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at its Grand Bahama campus… more
Cable Bahamas Group CEO to address CANTO virtual conference
Bahamas – Franklyn Butler, chief executive officer and president of the Cable Group of Companies, is set to present at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organization’s (CANTO) 38th annual general meeting, under the theme “Stronger Together: Supporting Gender Equity Through Male Allyship”… more
PM: “B.T.L. Has Been Fleecing G.O.B.”
Belize – A few weeks ago the Prime Minister admitted a contract given to Smart as a telecoms provider for various ministries had been approved without first going to the Contractor General for final review… more
RVIPF Marks Safer Internet Day
British Virgin Islands – The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is joining its counterparts worldwide in recognising Safer Internet Day by bringing awareness to the local fight to keep the internet safe for children… more
Digital transformation report reveals security ranks low on pandemic priorities
Caribbean – 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
Installation of 1,000 free internet hubs underway – PM’s office
Guyana – The Government through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has commenced the installation of 1,000 free internet access hubs across five regions… more
Jamaica’s broadband rollout gets support from electricity distributor
Jamaica – According to local news reports, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) is supporting the country’s National Broadband Initiative by offering the use of its utility poles for the running of aerial fibre… more
TelEm Group carrying out cabinet/cable repair in Belair area Tuesday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians and contractors will be carrying out maintenance works on a telecommunication cabinet in the Belair area Tuesday – including the replacement of corroded equipment that connects to surrounding properties… more
CWU keen to meet Imbert on TSTT forensic audit
Trinidad and Tobago – COMMUNICATION Workers Union (CWU) head Clyde Elder told Newsday on Monday he has heard nothing yet from the Government to arrange a meeting to discuss a forensic audit of TSTT, after the Prime Minister last week directed Finance Minister Colm Imbert to meet the union over its call for such scrutiny… more
‘The only TSTT millionaires are the company’s exes’
Trinidad and Tobago – The revelation that employees of majority State-owned company TSTT who are to be retrenched by the company will on average receive between $1.1 million and $1.3 million is not going down well with the Communication Workers’ Union… more
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Prime Minister says SMART Microsoft contract got approval after the fact from Contractor General
Belize – Lеgаllу, thе Fіnаnсіаl Ѕесrеtаrу Јоѕерh Wаіght аnd Сеntrаl Іnfоrmаtіоn Тесhnоlоgу Оffісе (СІТО) wаѕ nоt іn thе wrоng іn hіѕ hаndlіng оf thе rеnеwаl оf Місrоѕоft 365 lісеnѕеѕ соntrасtеd tо Ѕрееdnеt Соmmunісаtіоnѕ lаѕt уеаr – ехсерt fоr nоt tеllіng thе Соntrасtоr Gеnеrаl, Оmаr Міtсhеll, ѕооnеr… more
Digicel reports 380 businesses upgrade their cyber security since 2020
Caribbean – Digicel Business’ Digital Transformation Report has revealed that only 29 per cent of businesses have upgraded their cyber security since COVID-19… more
Liberty Latin America marks Safer Internet Day with global campaign to raise internet safety across the region
Caribbean – Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or “LLA”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) has launched a global education and advocacy campaign in support of Safer Internet Day (SID) under this year’s theme “Together for a better internet” … more
Marilyn Sealy appointed Senior Director, Head of Communications, C&W Communications
Caribbean – C&W Communications is pleased to announce the appointment of Marilyn Sealy to the position of Senior Director, Head of Communications effective February 1, 2022… more
Safer Internet Day: Influencers unite for a powerful message
Caribbean – Some of social media’s most influential personalities are speaking at Flow’s Safer Internet Week Teen Summit on Tuesday where they are discussing building a positive self-image in the digital age… more
GTT apologizes for inconvenience to Hadfield St residents
Guyana – Dear Editor, In response to your February 4, 2022 letter headlined, “Hadfield St Residents complain about GTT’s generators”; GTT has been conducting daily tests, typically between 5:30pm-8:00pm for approximately 40mins, of our standby generators as part of enhanced readiness… more
Growth & Jobs | The future of money: The 101 on digital currencies
Jamaica – GIVEN THE recent launch of the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ) digital currency pilot project and the general positive performance of cryptocurrencies on the world market, many Jamaicans have taken an interest in the new and modern method of exchange… more
IT specialist urges J’cans to get cyber awareness training
Jamaica – As the world celebrates Safer Internet Day today, local information technology expert Christopher Reckord is touting the importance of cybersecurity awareness training… more
Wednesday, 9 February 2022
Digitising our universities
Caribbean – In today’s fast-paced and competitive environment, higher education institutions are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of documents, inbound information and unstructured data… more
Are smartphones computers?
Jamaica – Dear Editor, There is a proverb which says, “One pound of learning requires 10 pounds of common sense to apply it… more
Local e-commerce successes
Jamaica – Kaii .Bees and De La Enzie Essentials reported a boost in holiday sales due to their participation in the ShopLocalJa e-commerce initiative… more
Never been hacked
Jamaica – LOSSES associated with Internet banking fraud rose 17 per cent last year, according to data from the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)… more
Putting more tech in agriculture
Jamaica – AS supply chain issues and inflation force more countries to evaluate their food security predicament, Jamaica is moving to ramp up its food production by integrating technology more in agriculture… more
Rock Connect, IFC to support greater connectivity in Jamaica
Jamaica – ROCK Connect, Jamaica’s newest licensed telecommunications provider, has signed an agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) to further support the buildout of its network ahead of its 2022 quarter-four launch… more
Safety and security are key
Jamaica – Right on the heels of Data Protection Day comes news of a recent flurry of reports concerning hackers accessing data in several of the island’s universities and government institutions… more
The New Age of Hybrid and Virtual General Meetings
Jamaica – How did we get here? COVID-19 has caused great change and upheaval around the world, many people have had their routine way of doing business altered drastically… more
TelEm Group says interruption in internet service Wednesday due to capacity upgrade.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group has apologized to internet customers for an interruption in bandwidth services early Wednesday morning… more
Thursday, 10 February 2022
BTC to launch video essay competition in recognition of SID
Bahamas – Users of the internet, especially children, are exposed daily to various threats, from cyberbullying to online predators and identity theft. The need to keep users safe while surfing the internet has taken off in more than 150 countries as they celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) each February… more
Central Bank To Explore Cross-Border Sand Dollar
Bahamas – The Central Bank aims to explore the Sand Dollar’s use outside The Bahamas within the next three years, it was revealed yesterday, with 20 percent of this nation’s adults having no bank account… more
The metaverse in the Caribbean: What it is and why it’s important
Caribbean – On January 31, the government of Barbados and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) presented a webinar titled, Traversing the Metaverse: A Caribbean Perspective… more
High banking fees: The antithesis of financial inclusion
Jamaica – I was sitting in First Global Bank in Liguanea waiting for a customer service agent. There was a queue of people, social distancing, waiting on tellers. The next available teller beckoned a gentleman at the front of the line to approach the counter. While conducting the transaction the gentleman exclaimed, “Suh mi haffi pay fi lodge mi money. This wuss dan Dudus extortion… more
Mastercard, GCS International to bolster financial inclusion in Jamaica
Jamaica – Mastercard and GCS International have extended their partnership to develop and deliver digital payments solutions to underserved consumers in Jamaica… more
Government of St Lucia appoints new NTRC board of directors
Saint Lucia – The government of Saint Lucia via the ministry of infrastructure, ports, transport, physical development and urban renewal on February 1, 2022, announced a new board of directors to govern the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) for three years… more
Digital expert pundit Shiva Maharaj: Don’t use internet as a babysitter
Trinidad and Tobago – Protecting your online presence has become critically important as technology evolves and expands, and it not only relies on cyber security applications to do so, but also an awareness of the do’s and don’ts of simple internet usage… more
Friday, 11 February 2022
FOI Trial To Start With Ten Govt Agencies
Bahamas – THE Ministry of Finance, the Department of Public Procurement, Bahamas Power and Light and the Ministry of Works are among the ten government institutions that will be initially involved in the launch of the Freedom of Information system… more
IDB’s 37% Digital Woe ‘Totally Different’ Now
Bahamas – A digital payments provider yesterday said a survey that found 37 percent of Bahamian firms have challenges accessing electronic payments would have “a totally different result” if done today… more
URCA Outlines 2022 Regulatory Agendas
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday pledged it will consider further liberalisation of the communications sector once the “market is ready for competition”… more
Faulty online system the major factor behind work permit backlog
British Virgin Islands – One of the general consensuses emerging from the stakeholders meeting about the issues faced at the Labour Department is that the transition to an online application platform last year has caused a severe backlog in processing work permits… more
Traversing the metaverse
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) is urging regional thought leaders to start considering where the Caribbean fits into emerging metaverse technology… more
St. Lucian national replaces Nikima Royer-Jno Baptiste as Digicel Dominica CEO
Dominica – A telecoms veteran -Shervin Bruno- who originally hails from St.Lucia, has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Digicel’s Dominica operation, replacing the first female and Dominican-national ever to be appointed in the role Nikima Royer-Jno Baptiste… more
The Future of Money: Gearing up for Central Bank Digital Currency
Guyana – Let me start by thanking the Atlantic Council for providing a fitting venue to discuss central banks’ forays into Digital Currencies… more
Elder: No million-dollar offer for retrenched TSTT workers
Trinidad and Tobago – COMMUNICATION Workers Union (CWU) president Clyde Elder said the union prefers VSEP to retrenchment of its members at TSTT. He said contrary to recent reports in a newspaper (not Newsday), none of his members will be made millionaires by any such payouts… more
Roach’s term ends as TSTT chairman
Trinidad and Tobago – MINISTER of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales told Newsday on Wednesday that the term of office of Sean Roach as TSTT chairman has ended… more
Saturday, 12 February 2022
BTC welcomes govt-appointed directors
Bahamas – BTC this week officially welcomed its newly appointed government directors who will serve on the company’s board of directors… more
FIRING PETER TO HIRE PAUL?: Investigation launched into allegations of BTC foreign hires after redundancies
Bahamas – The Department of Labour yesterday revealed that it has commenced an investigation into allegations that the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is now seeking short and long-term work permits for Jamaicans after making a number of its technical staff redundant… more
VAX POLICY IN FULL FORCE: Several contract workers at BTC let go over vaccination status
Bahamas – A handful of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) contractual workers who did not wish to become vaccinated against the coronavirus did not receive new contracts due to the company’s vaccination policy that took effect January 1, 2022… more
FLOW, UNICEF join safer Internet Day
Barbados – More than 290 regional educators and guidance counsellors are now better equipped to identify and deal with online threats facing adolescents and young adults… more
ICT Ministers Approve Plans To Fast-Track Digital Transformation
Caribbean – Ministers of ICT on Friday unanimously approved the CARICOM Secretariat-led action plans to accelerate the Region’s digital transformation… more
PM: TSTT retrenchment talk is ‘hearsay’
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Prime Minister said talk of retrenchment at TSTT is “hearsay” at this time, as he declined to be drawn in by opposition questions in the House of Representatives on Friday… more
Sunday, 13 February 2022
IDB Invest to boost LAC tech industry
Caribbean – IDB Invest has provided an equity investment of up to US$10 million to grant early growth capital to emerging, technology enabled, high-growth companies across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)… more
International Internet bandwidth expanding
Caribbean – DATA from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) suggest that global Internet bandwidth expanded in 2021 due to a ‘COVID connectivity boost’. However, the world’s poorest are still being left far behind… more
ISOC launches an ICT funding program, call for projects
Haiti – “The Internet Society” Haiti Chapter (ISOC-Haiti) continues to advocate for high-speed Internet service, essential to access vital services such as education and employment while expanding economic and entrepreneurial opportunities for all… more
Another telecom vying to enter market
Jamaica – Broadband By Home Town Limited to set up wireless Internet across underserved areas, but it needs a licence first… more
Driving innovation in the creative industries & the Digital Age(Part Two)
Jamaica – WITH all this information and technology at our fingertips and unlimited access to global audiences, you may wonder why all creators aren’t rich… more
Make Internet safety for seniors a family affair
Jamaica – THE international community celebrated February 8 as Safer Internet Day, an occasion for everyone to join forces to advocate for a safer Internet for all… more
There’s a social media link to human trafficking, claims JCF
Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says because of improper and unmonitored Internet use among children, it has noticed a link between social media and human trafficking… more
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