A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 4 July to Sunday 10 July 2022.
Monday, 4 July 2021
‘No Bahamas slowdown’ from crypto winter freeze
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ top digital assets regulator says there has been no slowdown in applications to do business from this jurisdiction despite the collapse in global cryptocurrency valuations, and is predicting that interest will only increase… more
Online tax system to launch next year
British Virgin Islands – More than three years after the deputy head of the Inland Revenue Department called the agency’s computer system “outdated” and “unstable,” government is scheduled to introduce a new online tax receivable system next year as part of efforts to streamline collections… more
Coordinator of the Digital Economy says Hurricane Maria highlighted the need to make Dominica digitally resilient
Dominica – Coordinator of the Digital Economy, Robert Tonge, during recent DIGI- Talk, a virtual Digital Transformation Expert Series with Guest Speaker Helen Gradstein, stated that Hurricane Maria highlighted the need to make the private sector, citizens, and the government more resilient… more
ICT the key to enhancing education
Jamaica – The coronavirus pandemic and its implications on the educational system are without a doubt one of the key areas that have demonstrated that more work needs to be done to implement more information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the schooling system… more
Tuesday, 5 July 2021
Cable beats target by $50m on ‘largest ever refinancing’
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas yesterday revealed it beat its preference share rollover target by $50m as it hailed completion of “the biggest refinancing the market has ever seen”… more
Primary school graduates urged to be safe, responsible online
Jamaica – Graduates of Grove Primary School who are preparing to enter high school in September received some powerful words of advice at their recent school-leaving ceremony… more
The Cable Is Proud To Partner With MoENT To Launch Local TV Channel
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Patricia Walters, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of The Cable, said that the company is extremely proud to partner with the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Entertainment and Talent Development (MoENT) to launch a local TV Channel that will cover four priority sectors namely film and photography; music and entertainment; literary and performing arts, and technology and innovation… more
Wednesday, 6 July 2021
RF helps Cable Bahamas successfully raise historic $219 mil.
Bahamas – RF Bank and Trust Bahamas Limited has completed the largest private placement in The Bahamas to date, helping Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX)-listed Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) to raise $219 million… more
A Phishing Scam Targeted at Unsuspecting Belizeans
Belize – There’s a public warning being issued tonight from the financial sector about a phishing scam that’s targeting Belizeans… more
CARICOM Digital skills Taskforce begins series of virtual Consultations
Caribbean – The CARICOM Digital Skills Task Force will begin a series of public virtual Consultations from 7 July to 30 August 2022, from 2pm – 4pm Eastern Standard time, via Zoom… more
IDC report: IT investment to grow in the Caribbean
Caribbean – A study conducted in the Caribbean region by IDC, a leading provider of global IT research, points to prefabricated and modular data centres as the answer to challenges that IT strategists face in the accelerating innovation and demand for data and services… more
National Security and Home Affairs Minister announces an extension to obtain new E- Passports
Dominica – The Minister of National Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore announced a 6-month extension for citizens to obtain the new e-passports… more
Protection against cyber attacks is urgent
Jamaica – Cybersecurity attacks have been rising globally since the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Caribbean is no exception, and no organisation is immune. Experts have flagged the Caribbean region’s vulnerability to breaches for several years… more
Romeich talks business at Flow’s InKnowvation: Small Business Fridays
Jamaica – Artiste manager and producer Romeich Major shared knowledge and strategies with entrepreneurs on how to advance their businesses in the digital age… more
Telehealth provider MDLink acquires Fleet Diagnostic Lab, plans pharmacy acquisition
Jamaica – Telehealth service provider MDLink has acquired private medical lab Fleet Diagnostic Laboratory Limited in a move expected to bring the company closer to its goal of creating an ecosystem around online healthcare… more
Two weeks for Jam-Dex
Jamaica – THE National Commercial Bank (NCB) has indicated that customers of its Lynk digital wallet will be able to start using Jam-Dex in mid-July… more
Saint Lucia implements ePassport in July
Saint Lucia – Two Saint Lucian delegates recently participated in a critical aspect of the implementation of the passport system in Saint Lucia… more
Digitisation still possible despite challenges
Trinidad and Tobago – After relying solely on technology for the past two years, the full transition to a digital economy is possible but there are still challenges, Public Administration Minister Allyson West told stakeholders on Wednesday… more
Thursday, 7 July 2021
Telecoms firm displeased at lack of consultation for extension of windfall tax
Antigua and Barbuda – The government recently extended the number of years that companies must contribute a 10 percent tax on their net profits to the UWI Five Islands campus – and not everyone is happy about the decision… more
Experts agree national digital ID should be single proof of identity
Bahamas – Experts engaged with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Identification System (NIS) Committee agree that any national digital identification should function as “the one source of truth as proof of identity for transactions with public and private entities”, a statement from the Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) explained… more
FTX good for Bahamas, good for Baha Mar, says president
Bahamas – The relocation of cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s headquarters to The Bahamas is a “big deal”, Baha Mar President Graeme Davis told Guardian Business, explaining that it has created global awareness for this country… more
Metaverse: Internet’s evolution is full of opportunities and risks
Cayman Islands – There are few corporate presentations today about the future of technology that conclude without a reference to the metaverse… more
TATT agrees to award $240,000 in ICT bursaries
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has signed agreements to provide selected students with a total of $240,000 in bursaries to pursue studies in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the State’s three tertiary-level education institutions… more
Friday, 8 July 2021
EXPANSION: E-commerce marketplace Aeropost launches in Freeport
Bahamas – Aeropost Bahamas is expanding its breadth of operations in the country, recently announcing that it has opened its doors in the nation’s second city: Freeport, Grand Bahama… more
Innovation & digitization in MSME’s will drive Caribbean job growth
Caribbean – The micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) of the Caribbean can drive job growth, especially through digitization in a “post-COVID” environment… more
New initiative to expand business education programme in Caribbean
Caribbean – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it has entered into a partnership with the Jamaica-based technology company, TechBeach to expand access to the business curriculum for entrepreneurs and start-ups across the region… more
Financial services minister cool on cryptocurrencies, favours blockchain technology
Cayman Islands – Financial services minister André Ebanks has made some frosty remarks about the digital asset industry… more
Minister looks to jobs of the future
Cayman Islands – Healthcare, the digital economy and environmental and social governance investing have been highlighted as key industries for Cayman’s future… more
Digicel Grenada is giving more
Grenada – Digicel customers are in for a Primetime treat with the news that Digicel is launching its Prime Up 4 D’Return Carnival Promotion… more
Saturday, 9 July 2022
Huawei: Digital transformation will be faster in post-covid Caribbean, LatAm
Caribbean – Digital technologies could play a key role in facilitating the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts said at a regional industry summit in Cancun, Mexico, held from June 23 – 24, and organized by Huawei with the support of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and GSMA Intelligence… more
Flow restates support for SMEs at DigiMark conference
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow Business was the diamond sponsor of the recently hosted two-day DigiMark Conference, hosted by the NOVA Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce… more
Sunday, 10 July 2022
Thrust to digitalise the police force
Jamaica – The 21st century has seen the emergence of powerful technological advancements. The rapid development of major technologies such as computer technology, communication technology, and geospatial technology, has made a number of solutions available to law-enforcement departments… more
Images credit: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Bahamas Local; Caribbean Jobs; Flow (Facebook); Wikipedia; Wikipedia
