A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 6 February to Sunday 12 February 2023.
Monday, 6 February 2023
FTX’s Bahamian liquidators move for US legal standing
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators will next Wednesday seek US legal recognition that will enable them to conduct investigations and pursue the local subsidiary’s assets held in the United States… more
FTX debtors want contributions, other payments returned
Bahamas – FTX Trading Ltd. and its affiliated debtors released a statement yesterday explaining that they are requesting money back from people who may have received contributions or other payments from former FTX executives before the cryptocurrency exchange collapsed in November last year… more
Game-Changing Procurement Platform Launched for CANTO Members
Caribbean – Telecom Operators in the Americas and the Caribbean now have access to a game changing platform that is projected to revolutionise their procurement systems, reducing the costs associated with the purchasing process and improving efficiencies… more
Schneider builds the Caribbean’s first Tier-IV certified data center
Caribbean – Businesses in Curaçao now have access to the world-class benefits of a Tier-IV certified data center through Blue NAP Americas, designed and built through the expertise of Schneider Electric. This data center is the only one with such certifications in the Caribbean region… more
Digicel warns of spike in online scamming
Trinidad and Tobago – WITH TT now in the full swing of Carnival, more scammers are on the prowl looking for their next online victim… more
Tuesday, 7 February 2023
DEREK SMITH: Balancing the risks of working at home
Caribbean – There is no doubt that remote working will continue to grow. With remote work becoming a significant business practice, it has quickly risen to the top of many executives’ agendas and become a vital component of talent attraction, employee retention and staff satisfaction… more
ECTEL hosts Council of Ministers Meeting in SVG
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) hosted its first in-person Council of Ministers (COM) meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic on February 3, in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)… more
UWI launches digital transformation project
Caribbean – Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has warned that economies of regional countries are “sagging” and there is urgent need for a makeover… more
Dominica: PM Roosevelt Skerrit invites youth to join Digital Literacy Skills Training
Dominica – Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, informed about the upcoming Caribbean Digital Transformation Project on February 6, 2023 and invited the youth to actively participate in the Digital Literacy Skills Training… more
Grenada Prime Minister to Share Stage with International Technology Experts at Grenada ICT Week
Grenada – His Excellency, The Honorable Dickson Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, will be joined by a lineup of international technology experts when he delivers the feature address at the opening of the Grenada ICT Week at the Grenada Trade Centre this month… more
Solid partnerships in ICT investment needed for regional development
Guyana – PRIME Minister (PM), Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who has oversight of the telecommunications sector, is looking forward to the dialogue and solutions that will come from CANTO’s 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) as he encouraged solid partnerships for investment in Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in pursuit of regional development… more
Fiserv eyes local fintech market
Jamaica – GIVEN the dynamic changes in the way banks serve their customers, and the customers’ demands for self-management options and better channels through which to interact with banks, Fiserv Central America and the Caribbean is looking to make inroads in the financial technology space by attracting more underbanked and unbanked users into the financial system… more
Government Wants a Digital Society
Jamaica – The Government is on a mission to transform the island into a digital society, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn… more
Safer Internet Youth Summit takes centrestage
Jamaica – The Flow Foundation marks the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day with its annual Youth Summit at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College on Tuesday… more
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Hi-tech boost for St George Secondary School
Barbados – Technology has become an integral part of today’s modern approach to education and schooling, which is why the teachers and students at the St. George Secondary School are “over the moon” after receiving a donation of 50 refurbished desktop computers from Sagicor… more
Online classes for Graydon Sealy students
Barbados – Classes at the Graydon Sealy Secondary School will continue online for the second straight day on Wednesday… more
Caribbean ICT watch
Caribbean – Trinidad & Tobago’s state-owned telecommunication company TSTT has invested US$120mn in the expansion of its fiber network… more
Caribbean Launches Global Early Warning System Plan
Caribbean – Caribbean and UN leaders were on hand for the first regional launch of a plan to ensure that every person on the planet is protected by early warning systems by 2027, held in Bridgetown, Barbados on Tuesday… more
CDB backs UWI as Caribbean Digital Transformation Epicenter
Caribbean – “The University of the West Indies must become, and will become the digital transformation epicenter of The Caribbean. That is where we’re going.”… more
The top 12 AI tools you need to know about and use
Caribbean – The new year has kicked off with cries that Terminator’s Skynet has risen and become aware. That’s how many are feeling today with the sheer amount of Artificial Intelligence tools that have grown in popularity overnight this month… more
ARIN Director of Caribbean Affairs visits Grenada to advance plans for 2023 ICT Week
Grenada – With Internet technology playing an increasing role in every aspect of Caribbean life, the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) is working with its Caribbean partners to promote its importance in the region… more
Digicel urges student leaders to share cyber-smart lessons with peers
Jamaica – Young Internet users are making a fresh commitment to staying safe online while making the Internet a better place for all… more
iCreate eyes growth of advertising business
Jamaica – iCreate Limited has entered an agreement to acquire 100 per cent interest in Ideas Execution Limited, a move that will see the company furthering the execution of its “aggressive” mergers and acquisition (M&A) strategy and strengthening its advertising division… more
Mobile or bust!
Jamaica – The transformation of traditional banking services to digital formats is a challenge that is not yet over. Banks are gradually becoming advanced technology hubs in order to compete in a new era based on non-presential financial experiences… more
Preparing for the Data Protection Act
Jamaica – COMPANIES have been urged to begin making preparations for the Data Protection Act which will come into effect December 1 this year… more
TelTV+ giving free access to regional channels through February – and beyond.
Sint Maarten – Anyone now wishing to make use of TelEm Group’s premier TelTV+ service now has the month of February to sample a diverse collection of regional programming – free of charge… more
bmobile launches World Cup streaming app, partners with Guardian Media for 2022 Qatar World Cup
Trinidad and Tobago – bmobile is excited to announce the launch of B+ (bmobile plus), an interactive, world class mobile application developed to connect football fans in Trinidad and Tobago more deeply and effortlessly to the game they love… more
Thursday, 9 February 2023
Bahamas liquidators explore FTX ‘restart’
Bahamas – FTX’s remaining Bahamas-based staff were paid a collective $635,297 through to end-January 2023 as provisional liquidators explore “options” that may include restarting its trading platform, it was revealed last night… more
Probe into ‘legitimacy’ of $7.7bn FTX withdrawals
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are probing whether $7.7bn was withdrawn from its local subsidiary via “legitimate” transactions as they yesterday revealed virtually all countries are represented in its 2.4m-strong client base… more
Caribbean faced 144 million cyberattack attempts in 6 months
Caribbean – One of the biggest lessons learned during this covid19 pandemic is technology can be everyone’s ally or be someone’s enemy… more
Here’s why you need Google Business
Caribbean – Google Business is a tool that helps businesses manage their online presence across Google, including Google Maps and Google Search… more
Telesur CEO Is New CANTO Chairman
Caribbean – Mr. Mike Paul Antonius, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Suriname’s national telecommunications company, Telesur, has emerged the new Chairman of CANTO for a two-year term in office beginning February 2023… more
Scotiabank and TAJ partner for digital payments
Jamaica – SCOTIABANK and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) have announced a partnership that will bring enhanced tax payment capabilities and convenience to the bank’s Internet bill payment platform… more
Friday, 10 February 2023
FTX’s Bahamas cash shrank 76% in month before collapse
Bahamas – Cash assets held by FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary were “materially depleted” to the extent they shrank by 76 percent – or more than three-quarters – in the five weeks immediately prior to the crypto exchange’s implosion… more
JPLs overseeing FTX ask for six-month extension
Bahamas – The joint provisional liquidators overseeing the provisional liquidation of FTX Digital Markets are seeking to extend the liquidation for six months to, among other things, “maximize returns” to FTX customers… more
Mastercard Jamaica collaborate to grow tourist arrivals
Jamaica – MASTERCARD International and Jamaica’s tourism authority, through the Kingston-based Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), have launched a partnership that both say will improve tourism marketing to the island… more
New standards to govern international mobile telecommunications needed – Taylor
Jamaica – Newly appointed head of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Rodney Taylor, says new standards to govern international mobile telecommunications are needed as the Caribbean moves inevitably towards 5G technology… more
Saturday, 11 February 2023
QEH criticised for failing to recover from cyber attack two months later
Barbados – That was the message Democratic Labour Party (DLP) spokesperson on health Paul Gibson delivered to management at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) which has still not been able to address the issues stemming from a cyber attack two months ago… more
ICube telecenters launched to support MSMEs in Belize
Belize – Оn Fеbruаrу 11, 2023, Веltrаіdе hоѕtеd thе lаunсh оf thе Вuѕіnеѕѕ Іnсubаtіоn Рrоgrаm іn Веlіzе Сіtу. Тhе рrоgrаm, whісh іѕ ѕuрроrtеd bу thе gоvеrnmеntѕ оf Веlіzе аnd Таіwаn аnd fundеd bу thе ТаіwаnІСDF, іѕ аіmеd аt еmроwеrіng wоmеn іn thе роѕt-раndеmіс еrа. Іt іnсludеѕ а mоbіlе сеntеr, knоwn аѕ ІСubе, tо рrоvіdе ѕuрроrt tо Місrо, Ѕmаll, Меdіum Еntеrрrіѕеѕ (МЅМЕѕ) іn Веlіzе… more
Sunday, 12 February 2023
Yaneek Page | Five ways to profit from ChatGPT right now
Caribbean – One of the best ways to thrive in this digital era is to be an early adopter of the latest technology, and profiting from ChatGPT is a fine example… more
Digicel Business Preparing Deep Blue One to Connect the Southern Caribbean on the back of Regional Oil & Gas Boom
Guyana – Having made a substantial investment in international submarine capacity with the installation of its Deep Blue One subsea cable infrastructure (coming early 2024), Digicel Business will supercharge connectivity in this area of the Caribbean and South America… more
Some cell phone etiquette tips to follow
Guyana – The progressive march of technology has brought with it many life changing developments that have completely revolutionized the way we live in these modern times. One such technological invention is the cellular telephone or cell phones as they are commonly called… more
ChatGTP: cheating engine or useful resource?
Jamaica – Just over two months since the launch of the new artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT, Jamaican educators are grappling with the question of ensuring academic integrity even as some point to the merits of the chatbot… more
Sagicor introduces facial recognition technology for pensioners
Jamaica – SAGICOR Group Jamaica, through a partnership with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), has implemented facial recognition technology in the proof-of-life process for pensioners… more
Ministry of Sports Launches Skilled 758 App
Saint Lucia – On Wednesday 9th February, the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports launched its Skilled758 mobile application aimed at assisting unemployed youth so to find job opportunities… more
Ookla announces TT’s fourth-quarter broadband speeds
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel topped the Ookla Speedtest rankings for the fourth quarter of 2022 for broadband speeds, with the telecommunications company taking the top spot for both mobile and fixed-line download speeds… more
Paywise welcomes other e-money competitors
Trinidad and Tobago – Last week TSTT and PESH Money began to unveil their plans for their upcoming mobile wallets after being granted E-money licenses by the Central Bank, but there has been a company that bolted out of the blocks since August of last year; Paywise… more
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