A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 10 April to Sunday 16 April 2023.
Monday, 10 April 2023
Crypto still has issues
Trinidad and Tobago – IF cryptocurrency is to be further developed there must be a sense of market integrity… more
Huawei’s quiet business retooling
Trinidad and Tobago – At a press conference called by HuaweiTT on March 31, the company presented itself as a business entity in a state of transition… more
BPO employment in T&T could grow eight times
Trinidad and Tobago – InvesTT president Sekou Alleyne says the employment of locals by Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operators could grow by seven or eight times, given the advantages that T&T offers the call centres… more
Tuesday, 11 April 2023
BTC does away with restrictive parental leave policy
Bahamas – Liberty Latin America has made another improvement to its already progressive parental leave policy, removing the qualifying period for the leave, making it allowable despite employment date, according to a statement from its subsidiary Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more
Cyber security group hoping to bolster govt, private sector protection
Bahamas – Bahama Mobile Services has partnered with US-based Visium Technologies to offer security against cyber threats, according to a statement from Visium… more
Goolsarran calls for cancellation of e-ID contract
Guyana – Calling for its cancellation, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran has upped the pressure on the government over a contract for an electronic ID (e-ID) which was hurriedly concluded virtually with a German company via the United Arab Emirates (UAE)… more
Ministry urges GTT to fix access to utility corridor on Sheriff St/Mandela Ave
Guyana – The Ministry of Public Works today said that it wished to publicly correct an erroneous news item in a daily newspaper which stated that there was damage to a section of the Sheriff Street/ Mandela Avenue, in the vicinity of Duncan Street. The Ministry did not name the newspaper but the report in question appeared in the Kaieteur News today… more
BPO jobs on the line
Jamaica – The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology could lead to thousands of jobs being lost in Jamaica’s global services sector in the next few years… more
bmobile launches T&T’s first Maritime and Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan
bmobile, Trinidad and Tobago’s leading communications provider, is proud to announce the launch of its new Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan and its Maritime Plan, two robust and reliable mobile offerings designed to provide continued connectivity to people and businesses involved in offshore and maritime activity… more
Flow rates to increase in May
Trinidad and Tobago – The cable and internet bills of Flow customers are set to rise by next month. The company has been sending out notices to customers, explaining that based on their subscriptions there would be price increases… more
VISA to collaborate with TTIFC on Cashless Society drive
Trinidad and Tobago – Visa (NYSE: V) and Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Centre (TTIFC) are collaborating to drive financial inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
FTX’s Bahamian liquidators possess own data leverage
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian provisional liquidators have their own data bargaining chips, it has emerged, as they control “electronic devices” used by Sam Bankman-Fried and his inner circle that their US counterparts are eager to access… more
URCA lays out guidelines for communications license fee reductions
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday issued a final decision on how it will assess and verify communications license fee reductions to electronic communication providers that make a minimum $100,000 investment annually in infrastructural upgrades… more
Govt accuses GTT of failing to maintain ‘metal chamber’ on Sheriff Street
Guyana – One day after it was reported that a huge hole along the $6B Sherriff/Mandela road is damaging vehicles, the Ministry of Public Works came forward to clarify that GTT (Guyana Telephone Telegraph Company) is to blame… more
5 ways Jamaican artiste can earn money digitally
Jamaica – IN the digital age that we are in, there has never been a better time to become a musical artiste in any genre. We have numerous platforms that allow for the discoverability of new talent, and various content distribution platforms and we have new ways to create revenue as an artiste… more
Digital-first agency drives profits and purpose
Jamaica – One Great Studio is a “digital-first agency” focused on using digital marketing assets “to drive profits and purpose”, according to CEO Djuvane Browne and Chief Operating Officer Gina DeLisser… more
Thursday, 13 April 2023
Governor General warns public of social media scams using his name and likeness
Antigua and Barbuda – The Office of the Governor General has once again been notified that recently, false information purporting to be associated with the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, has been circulating on Facebook… more
How to get paid on Shopify and Wix in the Caribbean
Caribbean – Have you been looking at how to accept Credit Cards on Shopify in the Caribbean but have been unable to find the information you need to take advantage of the Shopify platform?… more
Cellular phone services activated for Princess Alice Hospital
Grenada – The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Religious Affairs (MOHWARA) advises the public that cellular phone service has been activated for the Princess Alice Hospital, at Mirabeau, St Andrew… more
GTT apologises for not maintaining manhole on Sherriff Street
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone, Telegraph Incorporated (GTT Inc.) on Wednesday apologized for not maintaining a hole that has been damaging vehicles on Sheriff Street… more
Universal Service Fund launches first ICT club at Central High
Jamaica – STUDENTS at Central High School in Clarendon are basking in the first Universal Service Fund (USF) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Club for high schools, aimed at promoting digital literacy and bridging the digital divide among Jamaica’s youth… more
Airbnb growing in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Airbnb continues to increase globally and in T&T significant growth has been experienced over the last seven years, with Tobago gaining increased popularity… more
Huawei TT graduates 3rd cohort of interns
Trinidad and Tobago – Huawei graduated four of its interns from the third cohort of Huawei TT’s internship programme… more
Wild crypto-coaster ride: Digital currencies’ fluctuating fortunes red-flagged
Trinidad and Tobago – Cryptocurrency has been touted by financial gurus and economists as the currency of the future since its inception, and as more countries continue making strides toward becoming cashless societies, they may be right… more
Friday, 14 April 2023
PM mum on FTX
Bahamas – Prime Minister Philip Davis declined to answer any questions about the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arguing that the matter is sub judice… more
An E-Course for the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse, Human Trafficking & Family Violence
Belize – Today, an electronic course was launched to train primarily teachers, but also other key stakeholders for the mandatory reporting of child abuse, human trafficking and family violence… more
itel expands to Belize
Belize – Business process outsourcing giant itel will be expanding its footprint to another Caribbean country — Belize… more
Prime Minister says new E-passports valid for 10 years rather than five
Belize – On April 1, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Eamon Courtenay signed into law the new passport fees… more
GTT donates one year free fibre service to children’s home
Guyana – Chief Operating Officer of GTT’s Home Solutions & Fixed Networks, Eshwar Thakurdin , recently donated one year of free Fibre service, a desktop computer, printer, stationary and personal care items to the Hope Children’s Home in Enmore, East Coast Demerara… more
Is GTT liable for damage incurred due to defective manhole?
Guyana – Dear Editor, Now that GTT has accepted responsibility for the defective manhole on Sheriff Street, are they now liable for damages incurred due to said defect?… more
Call Centre to commence operations in May says Nevis’ Premier
Saint Kitts and Nevis – A new call centre will commence operations on Nevis next month, according to Premier of Nevis and Minister of Foreign Investment, et.al, Hon. Mark Brantley… more
Flow set to increase prices
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecoms provider Flow will increase prices next month… more
Saturday, 15 April 2023
– Nil –
Sunday, 16 April 2023
Caribbean business process outsourcing firm Itel comes to Belize
Belize – Јаmаіса’ѕ Іtеl, whісh dеѕсrіbеѕ іtѕеlf аѕ thе Саrіbbеаn’ѕ lаrgеѕt hоmеgrоwn buѕіnеѕѕ рrосеѕѕ оutѕоurсіng (ВРО) fіrm, іѕ рlаnnіng tо lаunсh ореrаtіоnѕ іn Веlіzе Сіtу іn Осtоbеr 2023 ассоrdіng tо МЕNАFN аnd Саrіbbеаn Nеwѕ Glоbаl… more
Draft Data Protection Bill open for public input
Guyana – The Government of Guyana intends to lay in the National Assembly shortly, the Data Protection Bill 2023… more
Draft Data Protection Bill unveiled
Guyana – Seeking comments from the public, the government yesterday published a draft Data Protection Bill which envisages the appointment of a Data Protection Commissioner and sets stiff penalties, in one case a fine of $100m and five years of imprisonment… more
AIS makes digitalisation push in wider Caribbean
Jamaica – DIRECTOR OF Health Applications at Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS), Shekar Sanumpudi, indicates that the company is targeting a growing healthcare technology market within the wider Caribbean… more
Oran A. Hall | Benefits of a central bank digital currency
Jamaica – A DIGITAL currency is legal tender issued by the central bank, such as the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), and complements physical forms of currency like notes and coins… more
Penny Pinch Announces Exciting Updates
Saint Lucia – Penny Pinch, a licensed payment service provider, is thrilled to announce some exciting updates that will make sending money easier, more convenient, and cost-effective for its valued customers… more
Images credit: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons; Guyana Chronicle; Wikimedia Commons; Council of Voluntary Social Services
