A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 3 October to Sunday 9 October 2022.
Monday, 3 October 2021
Caribbean economic forum to discuss digitization of region’s payments systems
Caribbean – Senior financial officials from the region will on Thursday discuss how Caribbean people can benefit from the digitization of their country’s payments systems when the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) hosts the latest edition of its Caribbean Economic Forum… more
WiPay opens Ghana office
Caribbean – WIPAY Caribbean last week opened a physical office in the West African country of Ghana, creating a trans-Atlantic network to drive commerce and trade between the Caribbean and Africa, using the company’s payment platform… more
USF Launches ICT Clubs for High Schools
Jamaica – Students from 27 high schools will benefit from information and communications technology (ICT) Clubs being initiated by the Universal Service Fund (USF), with the aim of strengthening the integration of technology in learning… more
Minister Maynard Affirms St. Kitts And Nevis’ Commitment To Achieving Universal Affordable Broadband Connection Before 2030
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Honourable Konris Maynard, said that the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to achieving Universal Affordable Broadband Connection to residents and citizens of the Federation before 2030… more
Digital transformation questions the budget doesn’t answer
Trinidad and Tobago – The 2022-2023 national budget presented by Finance Minister Colm Imbert last week once again used this national planning document to laud the excellence of the government in power and its great financial wisdom… more
Tuesday, 4 October 2021
New eProcurement portal launched
Bahamas – The utilization of the GoBonfire eProcurement platform is a necessary change in the government’s move to completely overhaul the Public Procurement Act, Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday… more
Barbados set to make Fintech history
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 for the first- ever global fintech conference in the Caribbean… more
Barbados to host two fintech fora this week
Barbados – BARBADOS is due to host two conferences this week, which will address issues of the development of fintech in the Caribbean region and the digital transformation of the region… more
Fintech Islands Experience to boost regional fintech industry
Barbados – THE Fintech Islands Experience (FiX) Summit has attracted over 300 experts from across the globe and varying sectors of the financial technology industry who will converge in Barbados at the Hilton Barbados Resort from October 5 to 7, 2022… more
Financial Services Commission approves digital asset exchange
British Virgin Islands – Global digital asset service provider Huobi announced that it has secured approval from the Financial Services Commission to operate an exchange for cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets under its subsidiary Brtuomi Worldwide Limited… more
Tourism, tech on agenda at Inter Virgin Islands Council
Virgin Islands – The first formal meeting since 2020 between the governments of this territory and the United States Virgin Islands resulted into boost the tourism and marine industries and improve wireless technology… more
Wednesday, 5 October 2021
A computer program that ‘didn’t cut it’ led to The Bahamas being listed by the EU as non-cooperative
Bahamas – A deficient computer application led to The Bahamas being added to the European Union’s (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions on tax matters, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson told Guardian Business yesterday, explaining that the country will have to spend $4 million to $5 million on new software… more
Blockchain on the Beach Barbados to launch Krypto for Kids Caribbean at the University of West Indies Barbados
Barbados – Blockchain on the Beach, an educational gathering exploring blockchain technology, is partnering with the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Bermuda’s Ministry of Economy and Labour, Sandy Lane Trust, and Thirty Global LiveStream Partners including the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship to launch Krypto for Kids Caribbean October 8 in an oceanside conference geared toward young people and highlighting financial literacy and emerging technologies… more
New digital payment options on horizon
Barbados – Barbadians can now pay their bills at self-service kiosks and have greater access to digital alternatives to physical cash thanks to Bahamian fintech company Island Pay… more
Technology grows access to learning, says new research from ACCA and edX
Caribbean – THE latest research from ACCA and edX — a leading, global, online learning platform from 2U, Inc (Nasdaq: TWOU) — explores the post-pandemic role of educational technology, or edtech, and identifies tips and trends for users… more
The first stages of digital maturity
Caribbean – Understanding where your company is in its transformation journey makes the change process easier to cope with. For some, we have already accepted that change can be messy. Still, for others, there’s the hope that through some extraordinary occurrence, we won’t experience the challenges that change often brings… more
E-guana app launched to help monitor local lizards
Cayman Islands – The National Trust of the Cayman Islands’ Blue Iguana Conservation programme has launched a new free ‘E-guana’ app, with the aim of gathering data on all kinds of iguanas found across Cayman’s three islands… more
David Wright; from dabbler to cyber protector
Jamaica – With 25 years of experience in the technology industry, David Wright is currently a cyber and information system security manager at Symptai Consulting Limited. He expresses his love for tech as ever-evolving, in the sense that there is always something new. Now he credits cybersecurity as enhancing his area of expertise… more
Fortinet offering region training in cyber security
Jamaica – Fortinet has announced the availability of its security awareness and training service for companies in the region to further protect their security posture by advancing their employees’ cybersecurity skill sets and knowledge… more
JMMB beefs up digital with Johanna
Jamaica – ACCELERATING the pace of digitisation across its operations, financial conglomerate JMMB Group is moving to bring new products to market, including the roll-out of its virtual assistant Johanna, which it expects to be fully on board by year end… more
NGOs urged to embrace digitalisation
Jamaica – A LOCAL technology expert has urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to embrace digital transformation in a bid to improve organisational efficiency and increase stakeholder engagement… more
Readynet unfazed by Starlink
Jamaica – Jamaican Christopher Dehring, whose company Readynet offers internet services via satellite technology, says the added competition from Starlink Jamaica would be in the country’s interest… more
Technology makes Sagicor insurance easier
Jamaica – With the ever-changing digital landscape, customer experience is also evolving, and more companies are using technology to improve customer experience and services and increase brand loyalty… more
Transforming literacy learning spaces
Jamaica – The internet has had a revolutionary impact on the education system and how we learn. Traditional classrooms have been transformed into interactive learning spaces and many of our students now rely on the internet and smart devices for critical research that supports their learning goals… more
Thursday, 6 October 2021
CAP Radio interrupts installed at four radio stations
Antigua and Barbuda – Four private radio stations are now part of the national early warning system, the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), that will interrupt regular programming to carry specific emergency alerts… more
DLP asks Why? IDB got their answers, ‘we want answers too’
Barbados – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) wants to know what is the next step in light of the grave breach of privacy of students and their families by the alleged “Computer Science pre-test” conducted by code.org and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)… more
IDB issues apology
Barbados – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has accepted full responsibility for the controversial Computer Science test that was administered to first form students in Barbados on Monday… more
Drones to help track sargassum in the Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands – To help address the increasing amounts of sargassum washing up on the territory’s shores, public officers are learning to use drones to monitor and report deposits of the seaweed in real-time… more
Digital Investigation in the Caribbean Netherlands: A Cybercrime Case Study.
Caribbean – As of April 2021, the KPCN has established a special cyber team with the aim of providing proper cybercrime support in the coming years. Besides the Digital Investigation Teams (TDO), the Cyber Crime Unit (CCU) contributes immensely to the development of digital investigation specialisms within the force… more
‘e-Learning Jamaica donates 183 devices to DCS juvenile rehab programme
Jamaica – e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited has donated 63 laptop and 120 tablet computers to the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) South Camp Road Juvenile Correctional Centre in Kingston, in support of the rehabilitation of young detainees… more
Hacker’ to deliver keynote at C&W cybersecurity forum
Trinidad and Tobago – Hacker-turned-computer security specialist Hector Monsegur will give a feature presentation at two cybercrime online forums hosted by C&W Business this month… more
Why your business needs to be Googleable
Trinidad and Tobago – This is a major gap for many businesses across TT: they cannot be found via the number-one way that people learn about businesses today – Google… more
Friday, 7 October 2021
New call center offers fresh opportunities for residents
Antigua and Barbuda – Approximately 20 residents are leading the charge for Arringo Limited, a market leader in the financial technologies sector, that officially launched its operations in Antigua and Barbuda Thursday evening… more
Island Pay enters Barbados, heads for 100K users
Barbados – CANADIAN/Bahamian Richard Douglas, CEO and co-founder of digital payment system Island Pay, indicates that users have passed the 50,000 mark and include workers in The Bahamas who receive their salaries on the platform… more
New E-passports to be launched on October 24; no more long lines, promises Minister, but possibly higher prices
Belize – The humble passport is the literal gateway to the world, offering both ease of travel and a sense of belonging… more
CTU inks deal to accelerate digital transformation in the region
Caribbean – THE Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) signed a joint declaration with the Organization of American States (OAS) to accelerate digital transformation in the region… more
Police review threats and cyber-bullying of Miss Cayman Islands Universe Committee
Cayman Islands – Following claims of cyber-bullying and alleged threats against members of the Miss Cayman Islands Universe committee, police have confirmed they are reviewing a complaint from the members “to determine whether it meets the threshold for criminal investigation”… more
EduFocal pursues regional expansion
Jamaica – Currently working to strengthen its capital position, edtech company EduFocal Limited said it will in the short term undertake plans that will see it building out a stronger regional footprint… more
Elon Musk’s Starlink granted licence to offer Internet services in Jamaica
Jamaica – The Ministry of Science and Technology is reporting that a licence has been approved for American billionaire Elon Musk’s company Starlink to offer Internet services via satellite technology in Jamaica… more
Fake TT Post phishing email circulating
Trinidad and Tobago – A recent mass email purporting to be an invoice from TT Post is a well-crafted phishing attempt… more
TT tech startup wants your face to be your ID
Trinidad and Tobago – Ignition Innovation, a new technology startup, has forged a partnership with UK facial verification company, iProov, to bring biometric facial identification to TT… more
Saturday, 8 October 2022
Cyber threats likely to grow in 2023
Caribbean – One in four companies (27 per cent) globally has suffered a data breach costing US$1 to $20 million or more in the past three years, according to PwC’s annual Global Digital Trust Insights Survey, which surveys more than 3500 senior executives across 65 countries… more
Shields advocates for more high-tech security solutions
Jamaica – Security consultant Mark Shields believes that security companies should provide more technology-based services instead of relying solely on manpower… more
Sunday, 9 October 2022
GTT should resolve this matter expeditiously
Guyana – Dear Editor, I have decided to write this letter since previous efforts to resolve the below-mentioned matter with GTT remain unsuccessful… more
Images credit: carterse (flicker); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Island Pay (Facebook); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
