A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 September to Sunday 2 October 2022.
Monday, 26 September 2021
Attorney general highlights vital DARE amendments
Bahamas – A new tranche of amendments to the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act, dealing with a wide range of vital issues in the digital assets space, will soon be released for public consultation, Attorney General Ryan Pinder said… more
Central Bank: With 18 percent unbanked, push to improve CBDC adoption
Bahamas – Researchers at The Central Bank of The Bahamas estimate that 18 percent of people in The Bahamas are unbanked, and if that number is cut in half, The Bahamas could see a reduction in economic volatility… more
Digital asset ‘disruptors’ to shrug off EU blacklist
Bahamas – A Bahamian accountant is voicing optimism that this country’s latest threatened blacklisting by the European Union (EU) will have “minimal” impact on its ambitions to become a global digital assets and crypto hub… more
DEREK SMITH: How information and cyber security team
Bahamas – Over the past five years, the increase in data breaches, ransomware, legislation and third-party requirements have compelled companies to recognise the importance of comprehensive information security (infosec) and cyber security strategies… more
Govt: Bahamas likely to be added to EU’s non-cooperative list
Bahamas – The Bahamas will likely be added once again to the European Union’s (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions when the European Council meets in October, the government revealed in a statement on Friday… more
CARICOM launches online market place – CIMSUPro
Caribbean – CARICOM is launching a major regional platform to facilitate intra-regional trade in goods and agricultural products. This CARICOM Marketplace dubbed CIMSUPRO (CARICOM Market Place and Suspension Procedure) will register suppliers and buyers of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) originating goods… more
New e-company connecting Diaspora with grocery shopping in Jamaica
Jamaica – Jamaicans across the United States are now able to shop for their loved ones back home through an innovative move by just the click of a button… more
TATT revives discussion on OTT services
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Authority (TATT) published its new discussion paper on the issue of over the top (OTT) services at the end of August… more
TSTT wants to take $26m lawsuit to Privy Council
Trinidad and Tobago – LOCAL telecom provider TSTT and its internet service provider subsidiary Amplia are hoping for permission to challenge a ruling of the Appeal Court at the Privy Council… more
Tuesday, 27 September 2021
Union signals ‘brain drain’ fears at BTC
Bahamas – Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) president Sherry Benjamin said yesterday that the union that represents line staff at The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is “hopeful” for positive developments with a new CEO… more
Flow: OfReg jumped the gun on pricing dispute
Cayman Islands – Flow said it was “deeply concerned” by the press release last week from OfReg about its official notice to the local branch of the telecom provider informing it of “possible contraventions of licence conditions” under the Utility Regulation and Competition Act… more
Minister Of ICT Attends The International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is among the delegation for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-22) held in Bucharest, Romania. The conference begins today, Monday 26th 2022 at the Palace of the Parliament in the Romanian capital… more
Wednesday, 28 September 2021
AG accuses FNM of politicizing financial services sector
Bahamas – Attorney General Ryan Pinder yesterday accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of politicizing the financial services sector… more
Free Laptops for Excelsior Students from Ministry of Education
Belize – It’s one of four Belize City high schools that have been selected for the Education Upliftment Program dubbed Together We Rise. Students who attend the four institutions: Sadie Vernon, Excelsior, Maud Williams and Gwen Lizarraga high schools are given uniforms, education, lunch and other resources free of cost to them… more
CARICOM carries out training in preparation for upgraded regional Labour Market Information System (LMIS)
Caribbean – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is hosting two training sessions on the Regional Labour Market Information System (LMIS) for CARICOM National Data Managers, on September 27 – 28, and October 4 – 5, 2022. The first activity is on LMIS data production… more
Arvel Grant — Technology advocate
Jamaica – Technology Strategy and Business Planning Manager at the National Commercial Bank Financial Group, Arvel Grant, has always been passionate about technology… more
Cordell Green and Dr Ricardo Anderson for today’s AI virtual forum
Jamaica – Two highly respected Jamaican leaders in the local, regional, and global digital, media, and regulatory spaces will be among over 40 international experts to address the virtual 3rd Annual Artificial Intelligence for Information Accessibility (AI4IA) today to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI)… more
Doing it right — the tTech story
Jamaica – Comfort is the preference of anyone for anything they do. However, there comes a time when you have the chance to try something different and do it a different way… more
E-commerce is the new horizon
Jamaica – The importance of leveraging e-commerce to drive exports, given changing consumer patterns globally, was one of the major talking points underscored at the launch of the EXIM Bank/JMEA e-Commerce Funder last week Friday, September 16, 2022… more
Media boss calls for more gov’t support to facilitate digital switchover
Jamaica – Local media stakeholders are calling for greater support from the government for the effective implementation of the mandatory television digital switchover… more
Not every leader is ready for digital transformation
Jamaica – Humans drive digital transformation so we must scrutinise the people leading the change effort. The C-Suite and senior leadership team members as a whole are ultimately the keys to the success of any significant change effort… more
Thursday, 29 September 2021
Bahamas ‘leads pack’ over digital adoption
Bahamas – A senior Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) executive yesterday hailed The Bahamas as “a bit of a bellwether” for the Caribbean on digital payments adoption with more than 50 percent of its local clients now using such channels… more
‘Free’ Sand Dollars to give currency lift
Bahamas – “Free” Sand Dollars will be issued to incentivise early adoption of a Central Bank-backed digital currency that remains “on the runway”, its governor said yesterday, despite a 305 percent circulation increase during 2021… more
SCB to tackle stablecoins, NFTs in DARE amendments
Bahamas – The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) is set to recommend amendments to the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act in order to remain in lockstep with an industry that is evolving almost daily, the commission’s Executive Director Christina Rolle said yesterday… more
Securities regulator beefing up DARE Act to address crypto market crash concerns
Bahamas – In the wake of the crypto market crash several months ago, the Securities Commission’s top executive yesterday noted that the regulator has made several recommendations to beef up the Digital Assets and Regulated Exchanges (DARE) Act, particularly as it relates to stablecoins… more
Telecom providers donate $20,000 towards ‘Walk for the Cure’
Barbados – This year’s CIBC FirstCaribbean ‘Walk for the Cure’ has received a significant financial boost from Barbados’ leading telecommunications provider… more
National Cyber Security Strategy towards a Secure Cyber Space
Belize – Technology is ever changing and the threats surrounding these technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Our increasing dependency on internet-based platforms has opened doors to vulnerabilities and increased cyber threats… more
Allen calls for incentives, delay of full digital switchover
Jamaica – RJRGLEANER Communications Group CEO Gary Allen is calling for a review of the January 2023 deadline for full digital switchover (DSO), noting that all players in the local broadcasting landscape and members of the public will not be ready in time… more
6 things small businesses can do post-budget
Trinidad and Tobago – The budget has been read and we know the news isn’t too great. However, regardless of what stage we are in our business or even if we are thinking about starting a business, there is still massive opportunity available for us… more
Tech startup wants your face to be your ID
Trinidad and Tobago – Ignition Innovation, a new technology startup, has forged a partnership with a UK facial verification company, iProov, to bring biometric facial identification to TT… more
Friday, 30 September 2021
Bahamas must decide if ‘to hell with’ the EU
Bahamas – The Bahamas must soon decide whether to tell the European Union (EU) “to hell with it” and refuse to be cowed by its repeated ‘blacklisting’ threats, an ex-Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader argued yesterday… more
Kanoo calms fears of detractors who say totally digital festival is a bad idea
Bahamas – Kanoo Pays, the official digital wallet company of the upcoming International Culture, Wine and Food Festival (ICWFF), is ensuring that all recognized digital wallet companies will be able to be used at the festival, as ICWFF pilots a cashless event that will trade in only the central bank digital currency (CBDC) the Sand Dollar, one of Kanoo’s founders Nicholas Rees told Guardian Business yesterday… more
Securities Commission hopes to attract 3,000 to fintech festival in January
Bahamas – The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB), along with the government of The Bahamas, are throwing a financial technology (fintech) festival in January that they hope will draw around 3,000 fintech and Web3 leaders and entrepreneurs from across the world… more
A Digital Transformation for B.T.L.
Belize – C.E.O. Jose Urbina, a member of B.T.L.’s board of directors, himself a telecommunications expert, spoke about the future of the service provider in the context of embracing greater digitization in the future… more
B.H.S. Robotics Team Heading to Geneva for First Global Competition
Belize – Belize High School was established in 2010 and since then has been leading the charge in robotics, as its students have been representing Belize internationally at a host of international robotics competitions… more
B.T.L. Optimizes Its Internet-based Services
Belize – In breaking down the company’s financial performance, Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum acknowledged that there is a growing shift away from established services such as the use of a regular line to place phone calls… more
B.T.L. Reports $16 Million in Profits for 2021/2022
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited hosted its sixteenth annual general meeting this morning. The A.G.M., held virtually by means of Microsoft Teams, was used to announce the company’s profits over the past fiscal year. B.T.L. reported a profit of sixteen million dollars after expenses during the financial period 2021/2022… more
A contract has been signed for the construction of the new Digital Innovation Hub
Dominica – A contract has been signed for the construction of the Digital Innovation Hub, that is according to the Parliamentary Representative of the Roseau South Constituency, Hon. Chekira Lockhart- Hypolite… more
GTT aiming to up number of MMG+ agents
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has announced that it is seeking to extend access to its Mobile Money, Guyana (MMG+) service by increasing the number of agents beyond the 800-odd operatives currently providing the service across the country… more
OUR still deliberating on telecoms licences for Elon Musk’s Starlink
Jamaica – amaicans may soon be able to access the internet through satellite transmission, if the licence being sought by Starlink Services Jamaica Limited gets the nod from regulators… more
Flow supports K1 DIRECT Disaster Training.
Sint Maarten – LOW team members joined volunteers of the K1 Disaster Relief and Crisis Team (K1 DIRECT) during a recently held disaster management training session focused specifically on providing psycho-social support to the community in disaster situations… more
Saturday, 1 October 2022
Barbados to make fintech history
Barbados – More than 300 delegates from across the globe and varying sectors within the fintech industry will converge in Barbados at the Hilton Barbados Resort from October 5 to 7, 2022 for the first ever global fintech conference in the Caribbean… more
BTL “doubles up” on dividends after $10.7 million profit rebound
Belize – Frіdау wаѕ а “Dоublе Dау” аt Веlіzе Теlеmеdіа Lіmіtеd (ВТL) – but іf уоu аrе а ѕhаrеhоldеr іn thе соmраnу уоu аlѕо hаd dоublе thе rеаѕоn tо bе ехсіtеd… more
Online ferry booking system will help conserve fuel, weed out corruption
Guyana – Guyana’s first online ferry booking system will help the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) to decide whether to postpone trips with few bookings as well as weed out corruption by staff who facilitate priority vehicle crossings, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said Saturday… more
Sunday, 2 October 2022
Barbados to host global fintech conference
Barbados – Over 300 delegates from across the globe and varying sectors within the fintech industry will converge in Barbados at the Hilton Barbados Resort from October 5 to 7, 2022 for the first ever global fintech conference in the Caribbean… more
Images credit: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Wikipedia; TATT (Facebook); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Central Bank of the Bahamas (Twitter); Wikipedia; Wikipedia
