A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 22 May to Sunday 28 May 2023.
Monday, 22 May 2023
Caribbean leaders commit to regional digital integration
Caribbean – Nine Caribbean ministers and two senior advisors with responsibility for Digital Transformation have signed the ‘Port of Spain Commitment on Digital Integration’… more
GTT CEO charges telecoms operators to use new CANTO technology
Guyana – Chief Executive Officer of GTT Damian Blackburn has called on local telecommunication operators as well as those in the region to partner in support of newly launched innovative eMarket cloud-based procurement solution, designed to streamline the Request for Proposal (RFP) process… more
Jamaica plans digital marketplace to trigger CBDC adoption
Jamaica – Jamaican administrators have confirmed the development of a digital marketplace for merchants and residents to interact using its central bank digital currency (CBDC)… more
Tuesday, 23 May 2023
THE E-ID CARD PROJECT IS LACED WITH INCONSISTENCIES
Guyana – Dear Editor, Kaieteur News – Contracts in Guyana have the tendency to sweeten the palate and plunge headlong into the labyrinth of misuse and inflated costs to outright theft of state funds. Up comes the PPP’s decision to issue a new brand of ‘hi-tech’ Identification cards… more
Wednesday, 24 May 2023
URCA in ‘final touches’ on third mobile player review
Barbados – Regulators are completing the “final touches” to their assessment of whether The Bahamas can sustain a third mobile operator and have submitted their recommendation to the Government for its final decision… more
Caribbean countries agree to pursue cross border digital ID efforts
Caribbean – Leaders of eleven countries of the Caribbean have put pen to paper on an agreement which spells out a number of actions needed to incite or expedite digital transformation and innovation efforts among members countries… more
Telecoms Minister joins regional group on increasing collaboration in digital technology space
Caribbean – Information Minister Melford Nicholas was among 11 regional telecommunications leaders who met recently seeking to build stronger regional capability in digital technology… more
Caribshopper inks deal with TrueBlue
Jamaica – Regional e-commerce platform Caribshopper has signed a partnership deal with TrueBlue — a subsidiary of JetBlue — that will see the company increasing its distribution points and visibility to a wider customer base… more
Editorial | Prepare for online exams
Jamaica – The education authorities have been noticeably quiet about the revelation that the leak of a mathematics paper for this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams originated in Jamaica… more
Flow, UNICEF renew partnership supporting youth development
Jamaica – Flow and UNICEF have recommitted to changing the lives of Jamaican youths using mobile technology and have renewed their partnership in support of youth empowerment through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)… more
Managing personal finance digitally
Jamaica – A cashless society could spell trouble for those who are already not good at managing their personal finance, let alone in the digital space… more
EXCLUSIVE:– GEBE ordered to pay Temmer over half million guilders or reinstate him as ICT manager.
Sint Maarten – The Court of First Instance has ordered N.V GEBE to pay former Chief Operations Officer (COO) and ICT Manager Merril Temmer over half a million guilders within 30 days or he should be reinstated in his position as the ICT manager. Failure to comply with the ruling handed down on Wednesday will cost NV GEBE a daily fine of NAF. 500.00… more
AG: New software for companies, land registries
Trinidad and Tobago – ATTORNEY General Reginald Armour, SC, has said efforts are being made to improve computer systems used by the Companies Registry and the Land Registry… more
Contribute to broadband costs
Trinidad and Tobago – Chief executive officer of majority state-owned Telecommunications Service of T&T (TSTT), Lisa Agard, disclosed yesterday that regional telecommunication providers are planning to hold negotiations with global tech heavyweights such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Netflix and Meta to help the Caribbean operators to offset the cost of providing broadband data… more
TSTT CEO: Retrenchment of 468 saves $12m a month
Trinidad and Tobago – THE retrenchment of 468 TSTT employees is saving the company $12 million a month, said TSTT CEO Lisa Agard. She made this revelation while engaging journalists at a workshop on covering technology and the changing landscape on Tuesday at the TSTT hospitality suite, Queen’s Park Oval… more
Thursday, 25 May 2023
#BTEditorial – The digital shift gains momentum
Barbados – Who would have thought…? Just over three years ago before the world was caught up in the vortex of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbadians were being criticised for their high degree of disinterest in the delivery of and use of services and products via online transactions… more
DIGITAL DONATION
Barbados – Students of St Catherine’s Primary School were all smiles when they got a gift of technology from Sandals Foundation – 20 new laptops. The children at the St Philip school weren’t just presented with the devices, however, as they were left with some knowledge as well… more
Digital maps to aid in census data gathering
British Virgin Islands – Daunting hills and winding paths are just some of the various obstacles shared by residents who expressed concerns about how enumerators will achieve success in accounting for all residents once the long-overdue census begins next month… more
CARICOM Secretariat, CANTO Agree To Collaborate on Advancing Single ICT Space For Region
Caribbean – CANTO, the regional trade association for the telecommunications industry and ICT providers, on Thursday 18 May 2023, met with a team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat to cement their agreement to aid and collaborate on the development of the CARICOM Single ICT Space for members of the Community… more
Digital exams are the future
Caribbean – THE EDITOR: The CXC maths leakage is pointing us to digital examinations. Who knows, there may have been previous leaks and no action taken… more
Announce fifth edition of the technology fair “ElectronicDayRD”
Dominican Republic – The fifth edition of the “ElectronicDayRD” technology fair, which showcases advancements in the technological field in the Dominican Republic, is set to take place on Saturday, May 27… more
More than 20 companies testing products in BOJ’s technology sandbox
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica says more than 20 companies are testing various digital financial products in its technology sandbox… more
Friday, 26 May 2023
Jamaica taps into AI wave with DISA
Jamaica – A new conversational AI program called DISA (Digital Intelligence Sales Agent), which automates telesales and customer service processes, is being introduced to the Jamaican outsourcing sector… more
NIDS inspectorate expected this financial year
Jamaica – The National Identification and Registration Inspectorate (NIRI) should be operational by the end of this financial year… more
SmartTerm partners with Government to digitize education system
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – SmartTerm, a pioneer in educational technology solutions, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)… more
SVG now on ECSC E-litigation portal for the Family Court
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has become the seventh member state to commence proceedings on the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) E-Litigation Portal for the Family Court… more
Saturday, 27 May 2023
– Nil –
Sunday, 28 May 2023
Health+Tech | The role of AI chatbots in healthcare access, diagnosis and treatment
Caribbean – There has been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased role it will play in the future of several industries, including healthcare. AI has for a long time been a part of healthcare but with the development of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the incorporation of AI in everyday life as a routine part of work has taken on new meaning… more
Senator Dr. Morris Dixon Sworn in as Cabinet Minister
Jamaica – Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon was sworn in as Cabinet Minister during a ceremony at King’s House on Thursday (May 25)… more
Taiwan Gifts SMART Classroom to Belle Vue Human Resource Centre
Saint Lucia – Residents of Vieux Fort North now have greater access toward bettering their socioeconomic potential, thanks to a SMART classroom that was recently introduced at the Belle Vue Human Resource Centre… more
Images credit: Karolina Grabowska (Pixabay); Guyana Chronicle; Crunchbase; Wikipedia; Caribbean Jobs; Wikipedia;
