A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 May to Sunday 22 May 2022.
Monday, 16 May 2022
#BTColumn – Caribbean state of cyber security
Caribbean – The Caribbean region continues to see an explosion of Digital Transformation and the use of technology in an integral way in the advancement of human development… more
iTel Call Centre investing in US$5 million upgrade
Guyana – One year after acquiring a Guyanese contact center, itel, the international award-winning customer experience provider, announced that it has already invested over US$1 Million dollars in upgrades to the facility with plans to invest a total of US$4 million to bring the site to a world-class standard by July 2022… more
Nearly all GTT workers being transferred to new entity are on contract – union
Guyana – Ninety-nine percent of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) employees who will be transferred to the new customer service business, Arrowhead Communications Incorporated by next month are contracted workers who will be paid all their benefits, GPTWU President, Harold Shepherd said… more
Tuesday, 17 May 2022
World Telecommunication And Information Society Day 2022
Caribbean – ICT is continuing to change the way we interact and do business. Many organizations across the Caribbean and Latin America have successfully adopted and used new technologies, particularly in the last two years of the pandemic… more
St Vincent gets green light for virtual asset legislation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines has become the fourth member of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to approve virtual assets legislation drafted by St Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)… more
Cybersecurity for parents
Trinidad and Tobago –THE EDITOR: Now more than ever hacks are taking place throughout the world and therefore here in Trinidad and Tobago, and as such parents are now more stressed for their children to stay safe online and taking part mobile games they may play, such as Roblox, etc… more
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
China donates 50 laptops to Barbados
Barbados – The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) remains appreciative of the diplomatic ties and relationship formed between Barbados and the Government of the People’s Republic of China… more
Data analytics could reduce strike threats
Caribbean – The recent strike and threat of strikes left the whole country in a mess. First, taps ran dry, followed by disrupted airport movements, and the nation waited with bated breath for the hammer to fall with an even larger strike across the public service… more
Digicel Appoints Hani Elkukhun as Regional CEO
Caribbean – Digicel yesterday announced the appointment of Hani ELKukhun as Regional CEO for several of the company’s operations in the Caribbean… more
ECTEL’s Story Must be Known
Caribbean – Before liberalisation, Cable & Wireless had exclusive long-term licences and provided all telecommunications services (local and international) in all OECS states; high tariffs even on local calls; no regulations and no recourse for consumers”; so said the feature speaker, Dr. James (Jimmy) Fletcher, as he skillfully recounted the journey of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) at its Inaugural Anniversary Lecture on May 4, 2022… more
Digital wallets to boost SMEs
Jamaica – The digital revolution — the rise of the Internet and social media — has undoubtedly changed the business landscape. Forty years ago business owners considered having a physical location for their businesses the hallmark of success, but now hundreds of successful businesses exist solely online… more
Portmore: The Silicon Valley of Jamaica
Jamaica – Against the backdrop of a growing global services sector in Portmore, as well as highly educated population, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has painted a vision of making the municipality the “Silicon Valley of Jamaica”… more
Digicel+ to hike cable, broadband prices
Trinidad and Tobago – COME next month, Digicel+ customers will have to pay a $5 or $6 more for broadband Internet plans, bundles and add-ons… more
Keron Rose — ‘MR DROID’ NOW DIGI BOSS
Trinidad and Tobago – Known as The Digi-Boss, Trinidad-born Keron Rose’s journey started from his early career in Canada, where he worked in telecommunications as a smartphones salesman… more
T&T’s craft sector going digital
Trinidad and Tobago – A NATIONAL digital ecosystem for Trinidad and Tobago’s craft sector has been launched to allow local artisans to ply their trade using e-commerce tools… more
Thursday, 19 May 2022
Bahamian software firm launches HR system customized for the local market
Bahamas – Plato Alpha, a Bahamian-owned and operated software development company, is echoing this year’s International Human Resources Day (May 20) theme – “HR Shaping The New Future,” through the launch of Triblock HR; a next-generation HR and Payroll platform that streamlines payroll, performance, and time management systems… more
DARE Act upgrade
Bahamas – Critical amendments to the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act not only strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering framework, but ensure The Bahamas is one step ahead of potential pitfalls in the emerging digital assets industry, Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday… more
Investment group involved in $400M seed funding round paid in cryptocurrency
Bahamas – Locally-based alternative investment group Global Emerging Markets (GEM) has participated in what it KaJ Labs is calling the second largest seed financing round in 2022, according to a statement on the $400 million deal from KaJ Labs, a decentralized research organization focusing on artificial intelligence and blockchain technology… more
OfReg reviewing rules on ICT outage reporting
Cayman Islands – OfReg has begun a public consultation on proposals to update the rules relating to reporting on outages of Information Technology and Communications (ICT) services by providers… more
PM launches Grenada’s National Cyber Security Incident Response Team
Grenada – Grenada has added a critical element to its overall ICT ecosystem with the creation of the National Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT)… more
Focus on Education — Parental Involvement: Encouraging Meaningful Reading in this Digital Era
Saint Lucia – One of the implications of the COVID -19 pandemic on the education system is our increasing dependence on contemporary technologies, which has resulted in the disbursement of thousands of eLearning devices to students… more
Friday, 20 May 2022
AG: Digital Bill Meets Obligations Under Law
Bahamas – ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said yesterday the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Bill 2022 fulfils both local and international obligations, while seeking to strengthen the economic regime that will bolster the middle class of the country… more
Placing modified Sand Dollar on int’l digital asset exchange suggested
Bahamas – The newly formed Digital Advisory Panel will consider listing a modified Sand Dollar on an international digital asset/crypto currency exchange, Attorney General Ryan Pinder said yesterday… more
Digital exhibition chronicling Chinese experience in Barbados
Barbados – The Barbados Museum & Historical Society in partnership with the Chinese community in Barbados is designing and developing a digital exhibition which chronicles the experience of Chinese people in Barbados and the relationship which has developed between the two nations… more
ECTEL marks 22nd anniversary with lecture on E-communications bill
Caribbean – “BEFORE liberalisation, Cable & Wireless had exclusive long-term licences and provided all telecommunications services (local and international) in all OECS states; high tariffs even on local calls; no regulations and no recourse for consumers”. So said the feature speaker, Dr.James (Jimmy) Fletcher, as he skillfully recounted the journey of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) at its Inaugural Anniversary Lecture on May 4, 2022… more
Urgent Need to Strengthen Internet Infrastructure in the Caribbean
Caribbean – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the Caribbean, a regional group of computer experts is calling for more to be done to keep critical systems secure, resilient and accessible in the face of mounting threats… more
Bill to move CBDC forward tabled
Jamaica – Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke on Tuesday tabled a Bill entitled ‘An Act to Amend the Bank of Jamaica Act’ which seeks to facilitate the national issuance of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), called Jam-Dex… more
Gov’t to tap BPO to boost customer service in health sector
Jamaica – Junior Health Minister Juliet Cuthbert Flynn has said that the Government will be revisiting customer service experience in public-health facilities and is partnering with a business process outsourcing (BPO) outfit to improve public confidence in… more
NTRC Makes Computer Donations
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) made donations of computers to two educational institutions here… more
Expert: T&T should not rush to establish a Central Bank digital currency
Trinidad and Tobago – What is needed for T&T to truly create an enabling fintech environment… more
Flow introduces self-installation initiative
Trinidad and Tobago – It’s sometimes hard waiting for something that you want. And so Flow has made it easier for customers hoping to get broadband and telephone access… more
Saturday, 21 May 2022
Opposition faction backs biometrics for future elections
Guyana – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is mulling the use of Biometrics, such as fingerprint and retina identification at the polling booths in future General and Regional Elections, a move that has since found support with at least one faction of the political opposition, the Alliance for Change (AFC)… more
Tech holds power to boost shipping efficiency across region, says KWL CEO
Jamaica – Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) showcased the benefits and efficiencies of the port community system (PSC) to a high-level public-private sector delegation from Barbados on Friday, with CEO Mark Williams using the occasion to impress upon them the need for regional integration in this area of the business… more
Sunday, 22 May 2022
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Images credit: kalhh (Pixabay); Wikipedia; ECTEL; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Bank of Jamaica
