A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February 2023.
Monday, 30 January 2023
Online tax system promised in March
British Virgin Islands – Starting in March, a new online tax system will allow residents to pay their taxes via the government’s e-payment gateway, according to the Inland Revenue Department… more
ArawakX comes on board as stock exchange partner of CARIFTA
Caribbean – With about 70 days remaining before the start of the 50th CARIFTA Games, crowdfunding platform ArawakX joins the CARIFTA family as the stock exchange partner. The Local Organizing Committee of the games (LOC) is moving full steam ahead in ensuring the region can come together at their own level of financial comfort and support the young athletes for the upcoming event… more
More Jamaican children addicted to pornography
Jamaica – Warren Thompson, Director of Children and Family Programmes at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), says his office has seen an increase in the number of children being addicted to pornography… more
The education transformation challenge
Trinidad and Tobago – In her prerecorded feature address to the seventh TT Internet Governance Forum, Education Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly was soberly resolute, if irritatingly vague, in her commitment to bring the value of ICT to schools nationwide… more
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
BTC launches scholarship program, invests $120k in first run of scholars
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has officially launched its scholarship program, creating opportunities for the next generation… more
Digicel to give away $16M for anniversary promotion
Guyana – Digicel Guyana yesterday launched its 16th Anniversary promotion whereby it will award a million dollars each to 16 customers in 16 days… more
Bridgeview Foundation changing lives with online access
Jamaica – In only a few years, the Bridgeview Foundation has become a pillar of community transformation in Maryland, rural St Andrew… more
More than 96% of Scotia T&T’s transactions done digitally
Trinidad and Tobago – Scotiabank T&T’s focus on digital transformation continues to help the bank deliver better customer experiences, its Senior Vice President and Managing Director Gayle Pazos has said… more
TSTT promises high-speed broadband in 95% of Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT CEO Lisa Agard has announced that the company recently approved an investment of more than $120 million for an accelerated deployment of fibre infrastructure over the next 18 months, throughout Trinidad and Tobago… more
Wednesday, 1 February 2023
Bahamian liquidators say ‘no’ to DOJ FTX examiner
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are opposing the US Justice Department’s bid for an investigator to probe the crypto exchange’s collapse on the grounds it is overkill and will cost creditors “tens of millions of dollars”… more
FTX Digital Markets staff terminated
Bahamas – Several employees of FTX Digital markets have been made redundant, with the joint provisional liquidators indicating that due to the company’s financial position, they are unable to make redundancy payments… more
Island FM radio station goes silent
Bahamas – ISLAND FM 102.9 has announced that it will be closing its doors and taking a “hiatus” after more than two decades in service… more
Radio station blames COVID for closure
Bahamas – A BAHAMIAN radio station yesterday confirmed it will close today after COVID-19’s financial fall-out for advertisers eroded its main income source… more
150 receive cyber security training
Barbados – The Government of Barbados remains committed to strengthening its cyber security defence capabilities in all sectors on the island… more
Bank hailed for digital transformation
Barbados – CIBC FirstCaribbean has copped another prestigious award for the great strides the regional bank has made in the digital banking space… more
Local Number Portability live and free in Barbados now
Barbados – Telecoms customers in Barbados can now switch or hop from service provider to service provider without facing financial consequences and take their mobile or fixed telephone numbers with them as well… more
Data-driven decisions needed in gov’t — Penn
British Virgin Islands – Health Minister Marlon Penn has called for decisions to be made on the territory’s budget on the basis of properly informed, evidence-based material… more
Top-of-mind cyber solutions to consider in 2023 — Part 2
Caribbean – Now for the recommedations… Recently when I talked to the customers and partners they are especially interested in Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS)… more
Flow Foundation promoting digital literacy, safer internet use
Jamaica – The Flow Foundation is continuing work to improve digital literacy and promote safe practices in the online space through its ‘Connected + Protected Safer Internet 2023’ campaign… more
Flow rolls out year-long online safety campaign
Jamaica – FLOW Jamaica is embarking on a year-long comprehensive, online safety awareness programme called Connected and Protected, which is expected to promote better Internet use among parents, elders, children and young people… more
One on One partners with CSF to drive regional expansion
Jamaica – ONE on One has announced that it has finalised an agreement with Community Systems Foundation (CSF) to implement its National Digital Education Eco-System across several new markets… more
Bankers warn about new scam
Trinidad and Tobago – The Bankers Association of Trinidad & Tobago (BATT) yesterday warned the public to be on the lookout for an online account sharing false information about a partnership with commercial banks in Trinidad and Tobago… more
TSTT announces $120M expansion of fibre network across T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications company TSTT has invested over $120 million in the expansion of its fibre network infrastructure across T&T… more
TSTT gets go-ahead to issue e-money
Trinidad and Tobago – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday announced that it issued provisional registrations to majority State-owned TSTT and a company called PESH Money Ltd as e-money issuers… more
Thursday, 2 February 2023
EVR centres accepting digital proof of address from PSV owners
Barbados – Owners of minibuses, ZRs, ZMs, taxis, tour coaches, and hired vehicles can now submit their proof of address digitally to Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) centres… more
Government cybersecurity boost in the works
Barbados – With thousands of cybersecurity attacks occurring across the Caribbean each day, the Government of Barbados is putting measures in place to protect digital data… more
12 AI tools you need to know about and use
Caribbean – The 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 (AI) tools that have grown in popularity overnight this month… more
JCF receives over $6 million in ICT devices to boost operations
Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) has handed over $6 million worth of information communication technology (ICT) devices to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to boost its efficiency at select police stations as well as its training capacity… more
Central Bank authorises TSTT’s PESH for e-money, extends PayWise probationary period
Trinidad and Tobago – On February 1, 2023 the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago issued provisional registrations to 2 additional companies as electronic money (e-money) issuers: the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Limited and PESH Money Limited (PESH)… more
E-learning needs to be pursued
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: The acceptable new normal of online teaching/learning, as necessary today, brings back memories to me of 50 years ago. In 1973, as the main part of my “special study” for my elective course at the Port of Spain Teachers College (PoSTC), I chose “education television.”… more
TSTT and PESH get green light to issue e-currency
Trinidad and Tobago – From March 1, TSTT, national telecommunications company, and PESH Money Limited, a digital wallet provider, would be able to issue e-currency for a six-month period… more
Friday, 3 February 2023
AG says FTX owes Bahamas ‘some real property tax’
Bahamas – Attorney General Ryan Pinder said yesterday that as far as he is aware, the only money FTX owes to The Bahamas is “some real property tax” and said the government did not apply to be listed as creditors in the FTX Chapter 11 bankruptcy case… more
Call for select committees on immigration and FTX
Bahamas – FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has called for the establishment of select committees in Parliament on matters relating to the country’s immigration crisis and the collapse of FTX… more
ECTEL Staged Council of Ministers Meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) hosted the first in person Council of Ministers (COM) meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Broadcasting Commission taking steps to increase digital literacy
Jamaica – Efforts are being taken by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) to establish a digital literacy skills framework for Jamaica, which will equip citizens, particularly children, to make better decisions when using the internet… more
iCreate acquires ownership of Ideas Execution Limited
Jamaica – Digital media and edu-tech firm iCreate, has acquired 100 per cent ownership of branding & trade marketing company Ideas Execution Limited… more
One on One partners with CSF to facilitate regional expansion
Jamaica – Online learning solutions company, One on One, has partnered with Singaporean company Community Systems Foundation (CSF)… more
Nevis Island Administration hit by Cyberattack
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Nevis Island Administration has been the victim of a Cyber Attack over the weekend. A Cyber Attack is any attempt to gain unauthorized access to a computer, computing system or computer network with the intent to cause damage… more
FLOW Donates To NSPD
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The National Society of Persons with disAbility (NSPD) got a recent boost to its preparation towards resuming face to face classes for its members and others, after an extended break occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Digicel warns about surge in scams
Trinidad and Tobago – Within the last two months, Digicel T&T Ltd has seen a surge in scammers appearing online, exposing thousands of its customers to the possibility of being duped… more
Saturday, 4 February 2023
Belize’s high demand for E-Passports prompts new order: Immigration Minister
Belize – Веlіzеаnѕ саn nоw аррlу аnd rеnеw thеіr раѕѕроrtѕ wіth еаѕе, thаnkѕ tо thе nеw оnlіnе арроіntmеnt ѕуѕtеm. Тhе ѕуѕtеm mаkеѕ bооkіng арроіntmеntѕ аnd gаthеrіng nесеѕѕаrу dосumеntѕ а ѕtrеѕѕ-frее рrосеѕѕ… more
Sunday, 5 February 2023
SkyBlue Transactions makes payments ‘ezee’
Jamaica – Exemplifying the adage “necessity is the mother of invention”, co-founder and CEO of SkyBlue Transactions Solutions Narda Ventura found herself drawing on her expertise as a former banker to create two e-commerce products: SchoolFeePayments.com and EzeePayments.com… more
E-tickets surge post pandemic
Trinidad and Tobago – In Carnival’s past, fete-goers would listen attentively to ads or intensely scour flyers or online posts for ticket outlets or committee members in their general area to know when and how they could get tickets in their hands… more
Digicel Business invests millions to protect against cyber criminals
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel Business continues to pump millions of dollars into its cybersecurity services as the company has seen an uptick in fraudsters not only emanating from T&T but also Eastern Europe, Russia, China, North Korea, and most recently Brazil in South America… more
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