A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 May to Sunday 14 May 2023.
Monday, 8 May 2023
Blockchain firm partners with Eleuthera development on real estate tech
Bahamas – Enterprise blockchain company Ubitquity has partnered with Bertram Village on Eleuthera to provide three Web3 real estate products and services, that include non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and record keeping on the blockchain… more
‘Improve existing services before 5G conversation’, URCA public consultation notes
Bahamas – There is currently limited understanding of the potential of 5G technology in The Bahamas, according the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)… more
Limited demand for 5G services currently, says URCA
Bahamas – Noting a limited understanding of 5G’s potential, especially among residential users, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) said more public education is needed on the potential use cases for enhanced internet connectivity and 5G services in The Bahamas… more
Central Bank’s cyber guide
Barbados – With cyber risk growing in the financial sector, the Central Bank of Barbados is urging all of its licensees to take action against the threat… more
AI’s sting in the tail for journalism
Caribbean – Amid all the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI), there hasn’t been much consideration about what is generating its output… more
Despite advances in technology, Guyanese citizens are still prohibited from applying for passports online
Guyana – Dear Editor, Last Thursday, my family and I went to the passport office on Camp Street to get our passports renewed. My family included 2 young children, one of whom had the flu… more
Tuesday, 9 May 2023
BTC suffers modest Q1 revenue, subscriber fall
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was yesterday revealed to have suffered modest year-over-year declines in both revenues and subscribers, with both largely flat for the 2023 first quarter… more
The UWI Press launches App
Barbados – The University of the West Indies Press (UWI Press), the leader in scholarly and academic works on or about the Caribbean, has announced the launch of its app available in the Google Play Store and iOS, or the Apple App Store… more
Bitcoin and small island Caribbean countries
Caribbean – How can the use of Bitcoin benefit small island developing countries in the Caribbean? Bitcoin is a type of digital currency, also known as a cryptocurrency, that was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto… more
Woman imprisoned under Electronic Crimes Act
Grenada – Police said a 43-year-old woman who failed to pay a fine to court for violating the 2013 Electronic Crimes Act in 2020 was recently imprisoned… more
Prepare and empower youth with necessary digital knowledge, says Vaz
Jamaica – Amid concerns that artificial intelligence will lead to loss of jobs by making some human tasks redundant, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Daryl Vaz, says Jamaica must prepare its youth with the best digital offerings to master the development of technology in their chosen field… more
The evolution of innovation
Trinidad and Tobago – The recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV consultation on T&T recommends to Government that “Reforming the foreign exchange market infrastructure remains a priority so as to eliminate foreign exchange shortfall (presumably to reduce imports to the level of availability of foreign exchange)… more
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Bahamas liquidators slam US FTX chief’s ‘underhand’ tactics
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators yesterday accused their US adversaries of employing “underhanded” tactics to seize control of all the crypto exchange’s clients and assets – including those that fall under their winding-up process… more
Bankman-Fried: US charges violate Bahamas extradition agreement
Bahamas – Embattled FTX founder Sam Bankman Fried is seeking to have all but three criminal charges against him dismissed as his lawyers contend that they violated the agreement under which he was extradited from The Bahamas to the United States back in December… more
Crypto mining ban ‘begs explanation’
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital assets entrepreneur says the Securities Commission’s decision to ban crypto currency mining in the revised Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Bill warrants further explanation… more
FTX EXTRADITION UNDER SCRUTINY: Bankman-Fried wants charges dismissed on claim US violated treaty
Bahamas – Sam Bankman-Fried yesterday sought to dismiss multiple fraud, bribery and corruption-related charges stemming from FTX’s collapse on the grounds that the US has violated The Bahamas’ Extradition Act and treaty… more
Mastercard appoints new president for LatAm. Caribbean
Caribbean – Mastercard today announced the appointment of Andrea Scerch as resident of its Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) business. Andrea will be responsible for the strategy, direction, and overall success of all aspects of Mastercard’s operations across the region. He will be based out of the company’s LAC headquarters in Miami, FL… more
E-ID cards team in Guyana
Guyana – The team from the company contracted to produce E-ID cards for residents of this country is here and has declared that the data technology to be used will be a first globally, President Irfaan Ali last evening announced… more
Are you ready to go cashless?
Jamaica – JAMAICA’S potential to become a cashless society is determined by an ecosystem requiring all efforts from the Government, businesses and consumers, according to one technology expert… more
Cash vs cashless
Jamaica – GOING cashless could reduce crime, provide greater financial inclusion, and help economic activity to be better measured, according to an economist lecturer… more
Electronic payments lacking interoperability
Jamaica – MOBILE wallet and payment systems are still lacking on the interoperability side but are winning financial inclusion for the unbanked… more
Girls Shine on ICT Day
Jamaica – Communications and entertainment provider Flow created an immersive experience for over 200 girls from 18 high schools across the country in recognition of Girls in Information, Communication and Technology (GIICT) Day… more
Innovate to excel
Jamaica – Over 200 girls, aged 13 to 16 years, left Flow’s recent Girls in ICT Expo feeling motivated and ready to innovate… more
Residents Urged to Protect Wi-Fi Hotspots
Jamaica – Residents of communities where free public Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed are being implored to protect the infrastructure for the benefit of generations to come… more
Road code, driving and fitness tests going digital, says Shaw
Jamaica – The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) has taken steps to digitise the processes of setting appointments to sit the road code test as well as driving and fitness tests… more
Security and fraud prevention
Jamaica – MOVING into a digital society with a population that is not cyber aware or cyber secure can open up the potential for more cyber fraud attacks… more
Thursday, 11 May 2023
5G connectivity: Its needs, necessity, capability and reliability
Bahamas – Dear Editor, One would expect that 5G service would be laid out first with equipment and deployments and with adequate education on the probabilities of service enhancements. Technology has been rapidly moving, but, unfortunately, the span between consumer education and technological advancement is vast… more
Bahamian software development company reaches major milestone
Bahamas – Plato Alpha, a Bahamian-owned and operated software development company, announced today that its proprietary human resources product, Triblock HR, has achieved a major milestone by reaching over 2,000 employees on the platform… more
Bahamas software developer targets Caribbean expansion
Bahamas – A Bahamian software developer yesterday said business is “picking up quite quickly” as it plans to expand its human resources and payroll platform to the wider Caribbean by year-end… more
Claims Bahamas ‘in cahoots’ with SBF are ‘shockingly inappropriate’
Bahamas – An FTX creditor/investor group yesterday leapt to The Bahamas defence by branding claims that the Government was “in cahoots” with Sam Bankman-Fried as “shockingly inappropriate”… more
Building an e-commerce website on the cheap
Caribbean – Last week, we gave you ten reasons why your business needs a website. If you have a business in the Caribbean, the only way to get paid online is through having an e-commerce-ready website, since none of the e-commerce features on social media are turned on for our region… more
UWI talks AI, ChatGPT in education system
Caribbean – As a result of recent artificial intelligence (AI) development, educational institutes are finding it difficult to decipher whether or not their students are actually grasping the learning material and producing original work… more
CSIRT Gnd warning: Purchasing vehicles online
Grenada – The Grenada National Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT Gnd) is advising Grenadians to perform due diligence before engaging with online entities purporting to be sellers of used vehicles… more
Deputy GG assents 2023 Data Protection Bill
Grenada – A date of effect was not included for the controversial 2023 Data Protection Bill when it was published in an extraordinary gazette of the Government Gazette on 10 May 2023. That publication is the penultimate step for the Bill to become law… more
Jamaica digital ID to enhance social inclusion of vulnerable persons
Jamaica – One of the objectives of Jamaica’s digital ID program (the National Identification System — NIDS) is to promote inclusion by making it possible for people with different forms of disability to easily access a variety of social services… more
Jamaica to Receive Funding for Cybersecurity
Jamaica – The Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology will be receiving funding to strengthen Jamaica’s cybersecurity framework… more
Chamber of Industry and Commerce leaders focus on cybercrime, boosting ESG policies, MSMEs
Trinidad and Tobago – The TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which has been serving the business community since 1879, has new leadership, with Kiran Maharaj as president since April and Stephen de Gannes as its CEO since February… more
TSTT introduces free Public WiFi to Eddie Hart Grounds
Trinidad and Tobago – On Thursday, 27th April 2023, the free public WiFi at the grounds was officially switched on by the CEO of TSTT and the Ministers of Public Utilities and Housing and Urban Development… more
Friday, 12 May 2023
Robotics transforms the lives of underprivileged children
Dominican Republic – Charís Liriano, an 11-year-old student at Francisco Arias Elementary School and a member of the Ciudad Santa María (Cisama) project, proudly states, “Robotics taught me that no matter the problem if we are willing to do that, we can achieve it.”… more
1,500 Residents From St. Andrew West Central Get Improved Internet Access
Jamaica – Approximately 1,500 residents from three communities in St. Andrew West Central now have greater access to the Internet… more
Jamaica urged to embrace AI
Jamaica – The country is being encouraged to embrace the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill says AI, if properly managed, can be a useful tool… more
PM to Make Announcement on Digital Transformation
Jamaica – The Government will shortly be announcing additional steps to advance Jamaica’s transition to a digital society… more
Saturday, 13 May 2023
WeSolveCX gets new Chief Customer Experience Officer
Guyana – Newly established Customer Experience (CX) Company, WeSolveCX on Friday announced that Global Technology Leader and Vice President of Information Technology at ATLANTIC Tele-Network (ATN) International, Nitin Chopra, will be the new Chief Customer Experience Officer (CXO) of WeSolveCX… more
Sunday, 14 May 2023
GK taps Unicomer and Lynk to expand remittance services
Jamaica – GraceKennedy Limited (GK) has named Unicomer Jamaica Limited and digital wallet Lynk as two of the latest partnerships through which it will be pushing growth for its remittance business… more
Images credit: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons
