A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 2 January to Sunday 8 January 2023.
Monday, 2 January 2023
AI shows its creative potential…sometimes
Caribbean – In the last six months, the art world and photographers, have been tossed into the spin wash of artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the emergence of multiple computing clusters that turn text and image input into output that looks very much like art… more
Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Central Bank warns merchants over point of sale scam
Bahamas – The Central Bank is warning merchants over a point of sale (POS) systems scam, noting that it has been made aware that a person or persons purporting to represent the regulator have approached local merchants seeking to validate their POS systems… more
Commission denies claims by FTX’s chief executive
Bahamas – The Securities Commission of The Bahamas has denied allegations of directing the failed crypto-exchange FTX to mint $300m tokens prior to its collapse… more
FTX claim over $300m in assets
Bahamas – THE new ownership of FTX has accused the joint provisional liquidators (JPL) in The Bahamas of conspiring with the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) in hiding $300m in assets during the liquidation process… more
FTX debtors in US seek ‘return’ of digital assets seized by SCB
Bahamas – FTX founders Sam Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang had no right to transfer FTX digital assets to The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) in the days after the cryptocurrency exchange’s collapse, FTX’s debtors, who are involved in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States allege in a new statement… more
FTX execs spent $10 mil. on hotel accommodations
Bahamas – Recent Delaware court filings made by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy team reveal that collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX Digital Markets (FTXDM) spent about $10 million on hotel accommodations in The Bahamas between January 2022 and September 2022, and almost $1 million on catering from one local company alone… more
2022 Flashback: Delivering digital inclusion
Jamaica – Over the past year, the Flow Foundation has proudly supported schools, communities, and public and private organisations as Jamaica advances to becoming a truly digitally-enabled society… more
HDC going cashless
Trinidad and Tobago – The Housing Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (HDC) has become the the first officially recognised Government corporation to provide customers with cashless payment options for both the banked and unbanked… more
Wednesday, 4 January 2023
‘Collusion’ document contradicts such claim
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are asserting that the document being cited as evidence of this country’s alleged collusion with Sam Bankman-Fried sparked the very court action that led to his removal… more
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty in New York
Bahamas – FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court Tuesday to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on his cryptocurrency trading platform… more
FTX US chief ‘in contempt’ over Bahamian court order
Bahamas – The Securities Commission’s top executive has accused FTX’s US chief of being “in contempt” of the Supreme Court by blocking access to the collapsed crypto exchange’s cloud-stored system and digital assets… more
Everyone is using Google Photos wrong — Pt 2
Caribbean – Ever-expanding cloud storage presents more risks than you might think… more
Technological knowledge diversifies Dominican exports
Dominican Republic – Technology enables developing economies to diversify their exports. This enables the development of knowledge-based services (KBS), which represent a productive transformation opportunity in Latin America and the Caribbean… more
iCreate ‘fully ready’ for migration to Main Market
Jamaica – Just shy of five years since listing on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), digital and creative outfit iCreate Limited is preparing to migrate to the Main Market index… more
Digicel phases out select bundles as it announces price adjustment
Trinidad and Tobago – Several Digicel+ customers will see an increase in their bills from February after the company announced it would be phasing out select bundles… more
Thursday, 5 January 2023
FTX US and JPLs working to reach agreement over access to FTX’s data
Bahamas – FTX’s US debtors, who are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the joint provisional liquidators (JPL) who are overseeing the winding up of FTX Digital Markets (FTX DM) in The Bahamas are once again working to reach an agreement over access to the exchange’s data… more
Mitchell questions how FTX will claw back donations
Bahamas – Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell has questioned how the US arm of FTX will claw back donations made by the organization in The Bahamas… more
QEH reports further progress in recovering from cyber attack
Barbados – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) said Wednesday that its Information Technology (IT) teams are making progress in recovering from last month’s cyber attack that impacted the hospital’s services… more
Digicel wins case against US rival it accused of fraud
Caribbean – Digicel has won an eight-year legal battle involving a US rival it accused of fraud… more
JN launches digital wallet for JAM-DEX
Jamaica – Jamaica has another digital wallet for the local central bank digital currency, JAM-DEX… more
Friday, 6 January 2023
FTX’s Bahamian customers financed SBF’s $546m deal
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary, and its customers/investors, were yesterday said to have unwittingly helped finance a $546m investment by Sam Bankman-Fried that has now been seized by US federal authorities… more
FTX Trading Limited agrees on ‘mutual cooperation’ terms
Bahamas – FTX Trading Limited has agreed on terms for “mutual cooperation” on the chapter 11 in the US and the provisional liquidation in The Bahamas… more
Minnis: FTX statements about lack of trust are ‘very serious’
Bahamas – FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis called statements from US lawyers and representatives of FTX about not trusting The Bahamas “very serious”… more
PSVs being tagged under electronic vehicle registration system
Barbados – Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are being registered under the Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) programme which will monitor registration and insurance compliance of vehicles travelling on the island’s road… more
Cayman’s online ticket hubs head for court battle
Cayman Islands – Cayman’s two main online ticket platforms are heading for court amid allegations of a “flagrant” copyright infringement… more
NEPA rejects Flow cell tower for St Elizabeth community
Jamaica – PORTSEA, St Elizabeth — The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has refused an application for an environmental permit by telecommunications company Flow for a cell tower here… more
New Minister of TEATT set to take office next week.
Sint Maarten – The coalition of 8 has selected Leo Lambriex policy advisor to Member of Parliament Akeem Arrindell to take up the position as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) that has been vacated by former minister Roger Lawrence in 2022… more
Saturday, 7 January 2023
– Nil –
Sunday, 8 January 2023
Update on Electronic Vehicle Registration System in Barbados
Barbados – Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are currently being registered under the second phase of the Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) programme. The PSV category comprises taxis, maxi taxis, route taxis, minibuses, tour coaches, omnibuses, and hired vehicles… more
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