A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 27 March to Sunday 2 April 2023.
Monday, 27 March 2023
E-procurement platform has saved govt $2.6 million, says Halkitis
Bahamas – Since it launched its new e-procurement platform last November, the government has realized a savings of more than $2.5 million, Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis said… more
Technology to be introduced in social homes to tackle loneliness
British Virgin Islands – Minister of Health & Social Development Marlon Penn has highlighted that his ministry is exploring ways to improve interactivity for persons in social homes, particularly seniors who remain in isolated spaces to prevent unwanted illnesses such as COVID-19… more
Altspace, we hardly knew ye
Caribbean – It hasn’t been a good month for tech as the fallout from the shrinkage in the US technology sector creates continuing contractions and fractures in a growth surge that seemed unstoppable just a year ago… more
Crypto revival
Caribbean – The current plight of the banks brings back memories of the 2008 financial crisis. Calls for alternatives are getting louder. Bitcoin supporters are feeling encouraged… more
Jamaica prepares for digital ID awareness campaign, biometric passport rollout
Jamaica – The government of Jamaica says a sensitization campaign on the implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) will soon begin as a procurement process to that effect is being finalized after the process failed last year. This comes as the country is looking forward to the rollout of its new generation biometric passport from 31 March… more
Digicel moves call centre to Jamaica: 126 laid off
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel has retrenched some 126 workers after a decision to move its Trinidad consumer contact centre to a consolidated regional hub in Jamaica… more
TSTT CEO tells parents: Do not push your children into traditional fields
Trinidad and Tobago – PARENTS are being advised to encourage their children to pursue careers in technology as opposed to traditional fields… more
Union challenges Digicel’s firing of 126 workers employees
Trinidad and Tobago – Less than a month after Digicel entered a debt restructuring plan, the company has announced plans to lay off 126 employees based in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Senate Sitting on Data Protection Bill postponed
Grenada – The Regular Sitting of the Upper House of Parliament or the Senate that was scheduled for 29 March 2023 will not take place. A new date will be announced… more
Seniors equipped to avoid falling victim to online scams
Jamaica – In light of increasing anxieties concerning online frauds as well as other cyberattacks, a group of senior citizens were educated on Saturday on how best to use the Internet and its applications in a safe and responsible way… more
Bmobile launches offshore plans
Trinidad and Tobago – Bmobile yesterday announced the launch of its new Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan and its Maritime Plan, two mobile offerings designed to provide continued connectivity to people and businesses involved in offshore and maritime activity… more
InvestTT offers hope for retrenched Digicel workers—Minister
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel T&T Ltd has made efforts to get the 126 employees who will be retrenched on May 10 introduced to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agents, or businesses that already exist in T&T and are expanding, says Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon… more
Labour Minister: Ex-Digicel workers can’t challenge retrenchment
Trinidad and Tobago – MINISTER OF LABOUR Stephen Mc Clashie said the 126 retrenched Digicel workers cannot challenge their termination as the process was done in accordance with labour laws… more
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
FTX chief hit with fresh $40m bribe accusation
Bahamas – FTX’s founder was yesterday hit with fresh accusations that he sought to pay a $40m bribe to Chinese officials to obtain the release of more than $1bn in crypto assets frozen by that nation’s authorities… more
Smart Belize celebrates 18th anniversary with Double up, Triple up and giveaways
Belize – Smart is celebrating 18 years of service, a monumental achievement with double up, triple up and tons of giveaways… more
French regulator awards 5G bands to 8 carriers in Caribbean
Caribbean – France’s telecoms regulator Arcep has assigned 5G spectrum bands to eight mobile carriers in the Caribbean territories of French Guiana, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin… more
New Starlink satellites may be visible in Cayman Wednesday
Cayman Islands – A mysterious bright light in the skies over Cayman last month turned out to be SpaceX Starlink satellites. If you missed that, there’s a possibility newly launched Starlink satellites will be visible to local skygazers tomorrow evening, Wednesday, 29 March… more
Government and GNTA sign MoU
Grenada – As part of the ongoing thrust for digitisation and economic transformation, the Government of Grenada and the Grenada National Training Agency (GNTA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), to formalise the role of the NTA as the implementing agency for Grenada’s Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), a World Bank funded project… more
‘Bangers’, smartphones can make payments with MyCash app
Jamaica – Paymaster Jamaica launched its new digital wallet MyCash yesterday (March 28), promising to make electronic transactions possible for all Jamaicans using their handsets, even ‘banger’ phones, on any network… more
Digicel joins digital wallet game with MyCash
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Digicel launched its MyCash mobile wallet, with the technology minister lauding such technology one way of countering the risk of carrying cash amid a series of robberies… more
Thursday, 30 March 2023
FTX Bahamas liquidators accuse FTX US of violating cooperation agreement
Bahamas – Liquidators for FTX Digital Markets have accused the company’s US arm of violating a cooperation agreement reached back in January as both sides appear locked in a jurisdictional battle regarding the ownership of customer accounts amounting to billions of dollars… more
B.T.L. Introduces Digi One!
Belize – This morning at the Biltmore, Belize Telemedia Limited introduced its latest offering, an all-in-one product called Digi One. It’s a quad play service that includes Internet and television, as well as other features. B.T.L.’s Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum told us more… more
Understanding advanced people search
Caribbean – Finding people has never been easier thanks to the internet and more specifically, due to the widespread popularity of people search websites. With the click of a button, you can find friends or family members you lost touch with years ago, or even locate new acquaintances using these types of online resources… more
Why your business needs e-mail marketing
Caribbean – These days social media can be a pretty crazy place behind the scenes. Think about it: Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri have been really changing up Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp every week, making it more confusing as the days pass… more
Concerns about Data Protection Bill founded in “political mischief”
Grenada – Attorney General Claudette Joseph told a town hall meeting that they should not be drawn into empty noises from some people regarding legislation that the Government will put forward to the Houses of Parliament for approval… more
Nadia Nivens Jarrett— CHARGE LEADER
Jamaica – Nadia Nivens Jarrett is the senior marketing manager at fintech firm Lynk. Having served in communications for over 15 years, she now leads the charge as one of several female leaders at Lynk which operates in what is a male-dominated field… more
MC Systems inks partnership to strengthen microfinancing industry
Jamaica – MC Systems (MCS), through its fintech subsidiary Phoenix International, this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jamaica Association of Microfinancing (JAMFIN) to bolster the digital capabilities of the local microfinancing industry… more
Treasure beach and Mountainside get free Wi-Fi service
Jamaica – ST JAMES, Jamaica – The communities of Treasure Beach and Mountainside, in St Elizabeth, have been provided with free Wi-Fi service by the Universal Service Fund (USF)… more
Puerto Rico aiming at universal internet coverage
Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico aims to achieve universal internet coverage within five years, allocating “a historic amount of state and federal funds,” governor Pedro Pierluisi said during a presentation before the legislative assembly… more
Friday, 31 March 2023
Deltec agrees $50m FTX loan resolution
Bahamas – The role played by FTX’s former Bahamian chief in arranging a $50m loan to Deltec Bank & Trust’s parent company yesterday came under scrutiny through fresh legal filings… more
FTX’s Bahamas liquidators slam ‘inflammatory’ claims
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators yesterday slammed their US counterparts for “bizarre” and “inflammatory” claims while they themselves were accused of seeking to “torpedo” the Chapter 11 proceedings for the failed crypto exchange… more
JPLs fire back at FTX US
Bahamas – The joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) overseeing the winding up of cryptocurrency exchange FTX Digital Markets yesterday fired back at FTX’s US debtors, who are seeking to strip them of any claim or access to FTX’s assets… more
OKX to turn over frozen assets in FTX bankruptcy case
Bahamas – Cryptocurrency exchange OKX revealed in a statement yesterday that it will turn over to FTX debtors $157 million in frozen assets on its exchange that are linked to bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX and cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research… more
New Digital Connect Center to support MSMEs inaugurated in Corozal
Belize – Оn Маrсh 28, 2023, thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе, thrоugh thе Веlіzе Тrаdе аnd Іnvеѕtmеnt Dеvеlорmеnt Ѕеrvісе (ВЕLТRАІDЕ), undеr thе Вuіldіng Rеѕіlіеnt МЅМЕ’ѕ Ассеlеrаtіng Dіgіtіzаtіоn Рrојесt wіth а vаluе оf UЅD$360,000.00 fundеd bу thе Unіtеd Nаtіоnѕ Dеvеlорmеnt Рrоgrаmmе (UNDР), ореnеd іtѕ ѕесоnd Dіgіtаl Соnnесt Сеntеr аt thе Соrоzаl Рublіс Lіbrаrу іn Соrоzаl Тоwn… more
Cenerva and University of Strathclyde Partner to Offer MSc in Communications, Technology Policy & Strategy
Caribbean – Cenerva, a leading international telecoms consultancy, and Strathclyde University, a world-renowned academic institution, announce a new partnership to offer an MSc in Communications, Technology Policy & Strategy. This cutting-edge programme will equip students with the practical knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the dynamic and evolving telecoms sector… more
Digicel bondholders given more time to strike deal as grace period extended
Caribbean – Bondholders involved in a deal to reduce the debt of Denis O’Brien’s Digicel by taking an equity stake in the business have been given more time to reach a final agreement, the company said in an update on Friday… more
Digicel clears key hurdle in debt restructuring
Caribbean – Denis O’Brien’s Digicel said on Friday it has managed to secure backing from two key groups of creditors to advance a massive debt restructuring that would see $1.8 billion (€1.66 billion) of borrowings written off and the businessman’s stake fall as low as 10 per cent… more
Huawei calls for acceleration of 5G roll-out
Caribbean – Huawei is calling for regional governments to consider giving away the spectrum on which 5G operates to encourage telecom providers to accelerate investments in the technology for faster economic growth… more
Gov’t committed to boosting cyber resilience – PM
Guyana – Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday underlined the Government’s commitment to supporting investments to strengthen Guyana’s cyber resilience as it looks towards ICTs to facilitate the country’s transformation… more
Digital transformation has to be CEO-driven, says Hylton
Jamaica – Jamaica’s largest banking group has grown its loan portfolio sevenfold since the start of its journey towards digital transformation in 2015… more
Saturday, 1 April 2023
Huawei revenues increase in region despite global fall in profits
Caribbean – Huawei’s revenues have increased in the Americas and in TT, despite the global company showing a decrease in profits by more than half, amid heavy US sanctions and restrictions… more
Sunday, 2 April 2023
Remittance via digital wallets top US$1m year to date
Jamaica – Nearly eight thousand remittance transactions have been recorded since the start of this year via two digital wallets approved so far by the Bank of Jamaica, the central bank has said… more
Images credit: Ono Kosuki (Pexels); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; MC Systems; Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons
