A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 May to Sunday 29 May 2022.
Monday, 23 May 2022
Derek Smith: ‘Digital Transformation’ – The Second Part Is Key
Bahamas – Every company has been forced to reinvent itself, or re-evaluate how it does business, due to a digital evolution that some might call a revolution… more
Digital Assets Are No ‘Silver Bullet’ To Rescue Economy
Bahamas – A Cabinet minister and a member of the Government’s Digital Advisory Panel have both warned that digital assets are not a “silver bullet” that will rescue the Bahamian economy by themselves… more
US confident in Bahamas’ commitment to cryptocurrency regulations
Bahamas – The Biden administration is confident in The Bahamas’ commitment to the regulation of the emerging multi-trillion-dollar cryptocurrency industry, according to United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols… more
Haynes wants more done to prepare youth to function in digital age
Barbados – Director of the Barbados Youth Advance Corps Hally Haynes wants a greater emphasis in preparing young persons with the tools necessary to function in the new digital age… more
What’s happening with regional data protection legislation?
Caribbean – At a webinar on May 18, Eamonn Sheehy, Public Sector Head of Cloud Carib and Rishi Maharaj, Data Protection Advisor with Privicy, discussed the current state of data protection legislation in the Caribbean… more
Not the mark of the beast
Jamaica – THE Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is advising that its central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is called Jam-Dex, is not tied to the biblical reference of the mark of the beast in any way… more
GPF looking for skilled civilians to boost IT department
Trinidad and Tobago – With technology rapidly advancing almost every day, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is now opening its doors to citizens with no training in law enforcement, solely for the purpose of enhancing the capabilities of its Information Technology Department (IT).. more
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Digital asset fraud and asset tracing: An update from the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands – The BVI is a popular jurisdiction for companies providing services relating to cryptocurrencies and digital assets. It is home to various exchanges, token issuers, blockchain projects and crypto funds. Inevitably, there are an increasing number of related disputes with a BVI nexus… more
Flow Foundation champions internet safety during Child Month
Jamaica – The Flow Foundation is celebrating Child Month with its internet safety educational forums that empower parents to be more vigilant while teaching their children how to protect themselves… more
Jamaica 60 Diaspora conference to focus on digital transformation, innovation
Jamaica – SENATOR LESLIE Campbell, state minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, says the upcoming Jamaica 60 Diaspora Conference will focus on the Government’s ongoing plans to reinvent Jamaica as a digital society… more
Gonzales: TSTT tackling cable theft
Trinidad and Tobago – PUBLIC Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales has said the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is tackling the issue of copper cable theft head-on… more
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Caribbean to benefit from EU-funded digital connectivity in the face of COVID-19
Caribbean – The European Union (EU) is providing funding for the Digital Response Connecting Citizens (DIRECCT) program aimed at strengthening the resilience of the health, education, and small business sectors in the Caribbean to cope with current and future crises… more
GTT has now given me a landline
Guyana – Dear Editor, Out of fairness Editor, I think I have an obligation to update you on what GTT has done after a letter I had written was carried in the Stabroek News. The caption of the letter was: `GTT says my street is un-engineered thus depriving me of landline services’ and was published on May 7, 2022… more
GTT’s technicians to get performance-driven salary increases, promotions; contracted technicians to be reduced
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GTT) is moving to phase out its reliance on contracted fibre-optic cable technicians, and employ its own who will be promoted and paid increased salaries based on training and performance, company and union officials said Wednesday… more
Deidre Cousins, leading IT with Grace
Jamaica – Hard-working, determined, serving with purpose, and committed to doing and being her best in both work and family are virtues that sustain Deidre Cousins, chief information officer at GraceKennedy (GK). She believes that the synergy between her values and the company’s culture is at the heart of her current success… more
Engaging the metaverse for business growth
Jamaica – As the digital space expands and technology is engaged as a useful tool, businesses are being urged to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the metaverse or virtual extension of the Internet as they create immersive and interactive experiences to engage customers and to foster growth… more
Jamaica leads English-speaking offshore destinations
Jamaica – JAMAICA continues to make inroads in the global services sector, with the destination ranking among the top 10 in the Ryan Strategic Advisory’s 2022 Most Favored CX (customer experience) Offshore Delivery Points… more
Tourism $$$ in the billions
Jamaica – HELLO Jamaica, have you ever gotten lost? Stood in a line you didn’t have to join? Or had to stop what you were doing to search your phone for directions? … more
Thursday, 26 May 2022
An estimated 8000 Belizeans employed by BPO’s
Belize – Today, Prime Minister John Briceno hosted the first-ever Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) stakeholder meeting… more
Dominican Republic acquires satellite system to monitor sargassum
Dominican Republic – In recent years the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region have felt a significant increase in sargassum, directly affecting tourism and other economic activities, including energy generation… more
GTT signs new two-year wage pact with union
Guyana – Workers attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company are expected to receive a pay hike based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) and the Ministry of Labour… more
High-income digital skills to consider learning
Trinidad and Tobago – It’s hard not to get depressed or upset (depending on how you view it) when you see the headlines that speak of the two per cent wage increase when the Central Bank announced that inflation for 2022 is at 4.1 per cent. That doesn’t make much of a difference for you… more
Friday, 27 May 2022
Aliv Connect Aims To Assist The Disabled Community
Bahamas – ALIV presented an initiative yesterday to bring greater assistance to the disabled community called ALIV Connect… more
Data protection concerns spark calls for Caricom legislation
Caribbean – Regional data protection experts are recommending the need for umbrella legislation to govern the evolution of data protection laws across the Caribbean… more
Jam-Dex reluctance
Jamaica – GOVERNOR of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Richard Byles is seemingly suggesting that commercial banks are slow to get onboard with the central bank digital currency (CBDC) because they do not stand to profit from it… more
Digicel St. Lucia Singled Out for Best Mobile Network Coverage & Fastest Internet Network
Saint Lucia – Digicel offers customers in St. Lucia the fastest home internet network as well as the Best Mobile Network Coverage– that’s according to Ookla, the global leaders in internet testing and analysis… more
T&T has too much red tape
Trinidad and Tobago – UNNECESSARY red tape in Trinidad and Tobago is what drove the founder of WiPay, Trinidadian Aldwyn Wayne, to move the headquarters of his financial technology (fintech) company from T&T to Jamaica… more
Saturday, 28 May 2022
Digicel supports Tiger Bay education project with laptop donation
Guyana – In support of the Tiger Bay project facilitated by members of the Community Open Door Alliance, Digicel Guyana has delivered on its promise to donate several laptops… more
Sunday, 29 May 2022
Data privacy in the Caribbean
Caribbean – LAWS surrounding data privacy, security and protection — and compliance with those laws — have become increasingly important with the novel coronavirus pandemic accelerating the digital transformation of companies while also driving e-commerce… more
GTT, telecoms workers union sign MoU for pay hikes
Guyana – All employees of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) who are members of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union (GPTWU) will see a hike of 6 per cent in their wages and salaries effective from January 2023 unto 2025, along with further training for technicians in the company… more
Help for Flow customer
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I am so tired of Flow. I have been back and forth at the main office several times and have spoken to several of their representatives since the end of August 2021 about copper wire that has been stolen in my area… more
Reducing harmful e-waste for a cleaner future
Trinidad and Tobago – E-waste made up of cellphones, computers, tablets and other electronic devices pose a great threat to the environment and water supplies, if not disposed of properly… more
Images credit: brotiN biswaS (Pexels); Bank of Jamaica; Guyana Chronicle; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia
