A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 21 February to Sunday 27 February 2022.
Monday, 21 February 2022
Cable Bahamas Group releases strong Q2 financial results
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Group of Companies, the leader in connected lifestyles, recently released its Q2 results for FY22. The communications provider of multiple powerful brands, including Rev, Aliv, Cable Bahamas Business Solutions and Our TV, attributes its success to management continuing to deliver on its strategy and growing in multiple business segments… more
A Bold Caribbean Experiment in E-Cash Hits a Major Obstacle
Caribbean – One of the world’s first central bank digital currencies is experiencing serious growing pains… more
‘Sweatshop’
Jamaica – A string of complaints, including salary alterations and unjust working conditions, have been unleashed by workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry… more
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Police inaugurate new Cyber Crime Center in Belmopan
Belize – Today, the Belize Police Department inaugurated its new Cyber Crime Center, in Belmopan City… more
Digicel completes swap-out of EOL ITP’s with BroadForward STP
Caribbean – Digital Operator Digicel has announced it has deployed the BroadForward Signaling Transfer Point (STP) to replace its current IP Transfer Point (ITP) systems in use at 26 of its markets in the Caribbean and Central America. Work is also ongoing to replace legacy Diameter routers with the BroadForward Diameter Signaling Controller (DSC)… more
Eastern Caribbean CBDC (DCash) Experiences Month-Long Outage
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank had to conduct urgent upgrades following an outage of the systems supporting their central bank digital currency… more
Dominica invests 75 million dollars to boost digital economy: PM Skerrit
Dominica – Under the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, the Government of Dominica has invested 75 million dollars in developing the digital economy and boosting digitisation in the country… more
PM Skerrit meets computer programmers, discusses opportunities in digital economy
Dominica – Roseau, Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit visited Jungle Bay and met a team of computer programmers and software developers on Saturday… more
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit hosts consultation on the digital economy
Dominica – Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit met with a group of computer programmers and software developers on Saturday, February 19, to discuss opportunities in the Digital Economy… more
Digicel rewards loyal customers in Guyana on 15th Anniversary
Guyana – Fifteen loyal customers of Digicel Guyana recently walked away with bright smiles and one of the most coveted mobile devices in their hands… more
C&WJ records $151-million profit for Q4
Jamaica – COMMUNITIES and Workers of Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union (C&WJ) Limited is reporting an unaudited net profit of $151.28 million for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021… more
Jamaica to Have Digital Currency
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica has completed a pilot project involving digital currency, and now digital currency will be introduced across the nation during the first quarter of 2022… more
Senior citizens receive tips on online safety
Jamaica – The Flow Foundation recently hosted a public virtual forum for senior citizens during its Safer Internet Week, staged between February 8 – 12, 2022. The session educated the group on safe internet practices, overcoming digital fears and protecting their digital property… more
The itel story
Jamaica – AFTER years of first being told by a mutual acquaintance to interview Yoni Epstein, I had finally got around to it, mainly to document the journey of a Jamaican business process outsourcing (BPO) company, 10 years into existence and which has undergone more than one name change in that short time… more
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Digitising our universities Managing content
Caribbean – For institutions to find higher value in their content services solutions, they must rethink their technology approaches. Instead of just digitising their filing cabinets, they should focus on data management by leveraging electronic forms (eforms) and workflow automation capabilities, for starters. Part of the challenge for most institutions is changing how departments think about possible changes… more
Download Windows 11 soon
Caribbean – Windows 11 has been out for about six months now and could soon be shutting the open window for downloads. While it has required an Internet connection for the Home edition since launch, Microsoft left the offline option for Windows 11 Pro, the operating system version used by IT professionals… more
Schlumberger donates laptops to Houston Secondary teachers
Guyana – Oilfield services company, Schlumberger yesterday handed over 30 laptops to the teachers of the Houston Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara as part of the company fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility… more
AI-enabled quality assurance software developed by Jamaican engineers
Jamaica – TEST engineers from Kingston, Jamaica, and a Jamaican-led team in Los Angeles are using the power of artificial intelligence and automation to help software developers build better products… more
Austin Whitter — TECHNOLOGY FASCINATION
Jamaica – Austin Whitter, managing director of DMA Limited, recounts his love for tech started while enrolled at Campion College. He was fascinated by how different elements of the world of websites worked together… more
Digicel targets remittance market
Jamaica – DIGICEL says its plan to deepen it penetration in the mobile money market in Jamaica is in high gear with expectations to launch a new service “in the coming months” that will also target the remittance market… more
JAM-DEX no way
Jamaica – THE Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is facing a barage of criticisms on Twitter about the decision to name the central bank digital currency (CBDC), JAM-DEX… more
Make it easier to monetise ideas
Jamaica – We’ve written before about the constraints felt by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with digitally transforming their businesses. The most significant remains the ease of doing business in Jamaica and the Caribbean region… more
‘Tough pill to swallow’
Jamaica – LEADERS in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry have rejected allegations made by employees who said they were experiencing unfair treatment in a slavery-like working environment… more
tTech awards UTech students with grants for 2022 tuition
Jamaica – Jamaican-based information technology (IT) services provider tTech Limited hosted a presentation ceremony on February 10 for four deserving University of Technology (UTech) students who were awarded grants to fund their 2021-2022 tuition. This initiative is the second education-focused activity in tTech’s 15th anniversary celebrations this year… more
Thursday, 24 February 2022
BTC Revenues $17.4m Off Pre-Covid Levels
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) 2021 full-year revenues were $17.4m below pre-COVID levels despite representing a 4.9 percent year-over-year gain on 2020… more
Cryptocurrencies, NFTs could pose new AML/CFT risks, notes AG
Bahamas – Just as The Bahamas achieved its delisting from the European Union’s (EU) anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) blacklist, new challenges are on the horizon, warned Attorney General Ryan Pinder, who said criminal groups are increasingly utilizing cryptocurrencies to fund their illegal operations… more
UB invited to share lessons in digital transformation at global conference
Bahamas – The systems, processes and procedures of University of The Bahamas (UB) are far more digitalized today than they were before Hurricane Dorian or even the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the university… more
PM Mottley to make major announcement soon as Digicel declares its support for the Caribbean’s bid for compensation
Barbados – On the heels of discussions with top officials of the Irish-owned Digicel Group on reparatory justice, Prime Minister Mia Mottley is expected to make a major announcement on the matter within the next two weeks… more
5 digital revenue streams you can create in your business
Caribbean – The world of business has changed and to be honest, it has done so for the better. One of the major advantages that the pandemic has given us is that it has forced the Caribbean region to start looking into e-commerce and expanding the radius of where our businesses operate… more
C&W official calls for level playing field
Caribbean – A top official of telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) has issued a call to Prime Minister Mia Mottley and other regional governments to do more to ensure greater uniformity among players in the information and communication technology (ICT) space and a reduction in the cost of doing business… more
Digicel Business stays ahead of the curve on social media
Caribbean – Facebook has 2.895 billion monthly active users; YouTube’s potential advertising reach is 2.291 billion, while Instagram’s potential reach is 1.393 billion, and all those numbers point to the biggest reason why businesses should be capitalising on social media… more
Fixed roaming rates for regional travel becoming reality
Caribbean – The way has finally been paved for residents of Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean to pay a fixed rate for roaming when they use their mobile phones when travelling throughout the region… more
Historic signing of Declaration on reduction of roaming charges to significantly benefit CARICOM citizens
Caribbean – Today, 23rd February 2022, brought the Caribbean one step closer to reducing roaming charges. CARICOM Heads of Government will be lauded in the annals of history for their leadership in spearheading the Signing of the Declaration of St George’s, Towards the Reduction of Intra CARICOM Roaming Charges, with regional network operators, Digicel Group and Cable & Wireless Communications… more
The many questions of governance in the metaverse
Caribbean – It was clear from the start of the conversation about the role of governance and national sovereignty in the metaverse, that there were far more questions than answers… more
Grenada’s Ambassador to US meets with SGU Chancellor on IT initiative
Grenada – Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States of America Yolande Y. Smith met with Dr Charles R. Modica, Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Directors of St George’s University, as a follow up to an Information Technology initiative announced at a joint Government of Grenada -SGU press conference last Thursday… more
Committee divided on provisions for cybercrime legislation
Jamaica – THE joint select committee (JSC) reviewing the country’s 2015 cybercrimes law is divided on a proposal by the education ministry for provisions from the Child Pornography Prevention Act to be subsumed into cybercrimes legislation, to bring harsher penalties for offences committed against children… more
Deno Crazy aims to break new ground with Flow campaign
Jamaica – Jamaican social media comedic star Deno Crazy will feature in a multimedia campaign for communications and entertainment provider Flow… more
E-payment market steaming
Jamaica – FINANCIAL houses are still eyeing the remnants of the Alliance Financial Limited (AFL) empire, the latest being the e-payment card market which the company once dominated… more
Jamaican businesses must prioritise cyber security – IT expert
Jamaica – Local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) must place more of an emphasis on cyber security, says President of the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance (JTDA) Stacey Hines… more
Skibo Primary School board secures tablets for needy students
Jamaica – THE board of Skibo Primary School has secured 13 more tablets for needy students at the Portland-based institution… more
Train the trainers coding programme empowers teachers, enthuses organisers
Jamaica – -The latest push to develop a computer coding culture in Jamaica has come in the form of the Amber Group’s Train the Trainer programme, which is targeting 940 educators of grade one to grade nine students islandwide… more
Gonzales: TSTT, police tackling copper vandalism
Trinidad and Tobago – PUBLIC Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales said the issue of copper vandalism from telecommunication cables “has absolutely nothing to do with any recent statement by the TSTT CEO (Lisa Agard) recently”… more
Man fined $5,000 for stealing TSTT cables
Trinidad and Tobago – A Barrackpore man who admitted to stealing TSTT cables has been fined $5,000… more
TSTT announces support for reduction in Caricoms phone roaming charges
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT congratulates CARICOM and the CTU on the historic announcement of the proposed reduction of intra-CARICOM roaming rates… more
Friday, 25 February 2022
Digicel commits to reduction in intra-CARICOM roaming charges
Caribbean – In a meaningful show of support to the CARICOM Heads of Government’s policy initiative to establish the CARICOM Single ICT Space in support of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Digicel Group and Cable & Wireless Communications this week signed a declaration to reduce intra-CARICOM roaming charges for citizens of CARICOM states… more
Digicel customers may now access NAU website free of cost
Caribbean – The Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development (MIISD) together with Digicel Cayman is pleased to announce a collaboration which will benefit the community at large… more
Flow donates 50 amazon fire tablets to support NTRC’s Net4All Social Broadband Program
Dominica – Flow Dominica is supporting the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC)’s Net4All Social Broadband Program with the donation of fifty amazon Fire tablets through the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF), a nonprofit organization that serves as C&W Communications’ corporate social responsibility arm… more
Digicel Business & Symptai Consulting to host cybersecurity workshop
Jamaica – With increasing reports of Jamaican entities falling prey to cyber criminals, the mission to detect and deter hackers has become a major challenge during the pandemic era… more
EduFocal coming to market with $130m IPO
Jamaica – EduFocal Limited, a provider of online study courses co-founded and led by Gordon Swaby, is going public via a sale of shares on the stock exchange, amid plans to resuscitate and grow its bottom line… more
Cyber Security Upgrades Lacking
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Less than a third of businesses (29%) of 1,900 businesses across the Caribbean, have had upgrades to their cyber security as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Saturday, 26 February 2022
– Nil –
Sunday, 27 February 2022
Health + Tech | Engendering community trust to reduce technophobia
Caribbean – A refusal to accept change is one of the primary reasons why projects tend to fail, or not proceed in the manner intended by project managers and transformation teams. In the digital age, a major aspect of change is moving from analogue, or paper-based, systems to digital ones throughout an organisation… more
Cryptocurrencies not a recommended investment for retirement funds
Jamaica – As Digicel closes Safer Internet Month, the focus shifts to using digital money safely. A casual scroll through social media pages these days will show a plethora of posts and adverts about investing in cryptocurrency, Blockchain and other new digital currencies… more
Flow aims to bridge the Internet gap with new consumer offer
Jamaica – Flow is betting that its new “game-changer” consumer campaign will be an important step in its mission to help bridge the digital divide. With the increased dependence on the Internet for daily tasks, digital inclusion has been a key focus for the business… more
Shaming children for perceived cybercrime unwise, says official
Jamaica – IRONICALLY, when some parents find out their children have been engaged in activities that aren’t age appropriate on social media, they choose to punish them via the same media… more
Students get insight into cyber safety
Jamaica – Flow Foundation recently observed Safer Internet Week, which kicked off with its virtual Safer Internet Day Teen Summit… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; The Eleutheran; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Facebook
