A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 5 June to Sunday 11 June 2023.
Monday, 5 June 2023
ArawakX accounts unfrozen following battle with financier
Bahamas – Bahamian crowdfunding platform yesterday confirmed multiple accounts it holds with Bank of The Bahamas have been unfrozen after a dispute with one of its founding financiers impacted “probably thousands” of investors for months… more
DCash Turns 2
Caribbean – DCash, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s digital currency pilot, is marking 2 years of improving financial inclusion and modernising payment systems… more
Demand for Huawei Cloud service growing in Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean – The demand for Huawei Cloud service has been growing fast in Latin America and the Caribbean, making it now one of the top four cloud service providers in the region, senior executives from the company said on Thursday, May 25 at the Huawei Cloud Summit… more
Narrow band at eGov
Jamaica – WITH the Government trumpeting plans to establish eGov Jamaica Limited as the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Authority by the next financial year, concerns are again being raised about high attrition at the entity and its inability to attract highly skilled talent… more
Does the government need a new data centre?
Trinidad and Tobago – In March, the government, through iGovTT, invited tenders for a proposed Tier 4 data centre facility at Phoenix Park Industrial Estate… more
IT expert: Demand for soft skills ballooning
Trinidad and Tobago – ROSE IT Services Ltd’s managing director Omar Romero says the demand for soft skills in the global tech industry has ballooned over the last few years and is projected to be one of the most sought-after skills for years to come… more
Tuesday, 6 June 2023
Opposition hits back at PM for alleged confusion about existence of digital currency mandate for country
Jamaica – Opposition Leader Mark Golding has hit back at Prime Minister Andrew Holness, saying the country’s leader is confused about whether or not he has a digital mandate for the country… more
Central Bank: Cybersecurity a major priority
Trinidad and Tobago – Central Bank governor Dr Alvin Hilaire says while technology has changed the way business is done, it continues to be a disruptor… more
Technology can save the Scarlet Ibis
Trinidad and Tobago – TECHNOLOGY that has been recommended as a way to protect this country’s national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, in its major breeding habitat, has so far proven to be a success in Mexico… more
TSTT has me blinking mad
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: In November, our Blink Vigilance Security System failed and despite several promises from the provider, up to January 31, no technician ever visited to correct the issues. In fact Blink resorted to a stock answer: “Sorry, we have no batteries in stock.”… more
Wednesday, 7 June 2023
BTC targets Internet lead with 90% fibre coverage
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is aiming to cover 90 percent of New Providence with its new fibre network within the next nine months as it placed broadband Internet at the core of yesterday’s corporate rebranding… more
BTC unveils new corporate identity, upgraded logo
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) unveiled a new logo yesterday as part of a larger of a new “corporate identity” that includes the most fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections and the ability to support multi-gigabit download speeds, BTC’s Chief Executive Officer Sameer Bhatti said yesterday… more
BTC unveils new logo as company aims to become broadband leader
Bahamas – Highlighting plans to leverage its fibre infrastructure and expand home coverage on New Providence to 90 percent in nine months, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) unveiled a new logo at the Baha Mar Resort yesterday… more
Empowering Jamaica’s digital future
Jamaica – Digicel is pledging its support toward universal connectivity and digital transformation throughout the Jamaican economy… more
Mayberry clients urged to increase vigilance after cyberattack
Jamaica – With no indication of the extent of a data breach and cyberattack at investment firm Mayberry, the company yesterday urged clients to take immediate steps to protect themselves “against any possible adverse consequences”… more
tTech reverses loss
Jamaica – Managed IT services provider tTech Limited at the end of its first quarter ended March delivered net profit of $6.1 million, bouncing back from a disappointing loss of $4.8 million for the same period last year… more
Fiber damage disrupts Flow Service.
Sint Maarten – Flow customers in select neighborhoods of Sint Maarten are currently impacted by an outage to their Flow Internet and Chippie Mobile service… more
Thursday, 8 June 2023
$13.4bn flowed through FTX Bahamas accounts
Bahamas – Some $13.4bn flowed through FTX’s Bahamas accounts in the ten months immediately prior to the crypto exchange’s collapse, its liquidators revealed yesterday, as they sought to dispel allegations it was “a nullity”… more
ECCB pleased with progress of digital currency initiative
Caribbean – GOVERNOR of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy NJ Antoine, says he is pleased with the performance of DCash, the bank’s digital currency pilot aimed at improving financial inclusion and modernising payment systems… more
Nakiah’s 5 tips on becoming an influencer
Caribbean – The term “influencer” has become a daily part of our normal vocabulary over the years since companies around the world have been partnering with content creators to tap into their audiences to raise awareness about a product, service or event and use their connection to their audience to get them to take a specific action with their brand… more
WiPay’s FinTech solutions, initiatives taking over Caribbean
Caribbean – The future of currency in the Caribbean is here with WiPay, as CEO and founder Aldwyn Wayne explained, through the new projects being undertaken by WiPay… more
Digicel Guyana appoints Deonarine Gopaul as new CEO
Guyana – Digicel has appointed Deonarine Gopaul as its new CEO in Guyana. The appointment took effect yesterday… more
Elon Musk company gets T&T broadband concession
Trinidad and Tobago – Starlink, a company founded by controversial billionaire businessman Elon Musk, has received a concession to provide a satellite broadband service in T&T… more
Friday, 9 June 2023
FTX: $7.7bn owed to Bahamas ‘misleading’
Bahamas – A key financial adviser to FTX’s US chief yesterday disputed as “misleading” assertions that some $7.7bn is currently owed to the failed crypto exchange’s Bahamian subsidiary… more
‘Impossible situation’ fear on FTX Bahamas wind-up
Bahamas – FTX Bahamas’ liquidators yesterday warned they will be placed in “an impossible situation” if they are forced into a “never-ending” legal battle with their US counterparts as operating cash has dwindled to less than $1m… more
Teachers praised for work in online hub
Barbados – Two male primary school teachers, Henderson Carrington and Shamir Wickham, were the toast of their students, colleagues and principals on Tuesday… more
Caribcoin to be tested as currency for cross-border trade
Caribbean – Proponents of crypto assets are trying to make the case that trade among Caribbean countries can double from current levels of US$2 billion by adopting digital money as complementary currency for transactions… more
New digital currency coming
Caribbean – The ability to settle payments is a major obstacle to increasing trade among CARICOM countries, a challenge which has prompted the development of a new digital currency… more
Regional currency ‘Carib$’ readies pilot
Caribbean – Regional currency Carib dollar (Carib$) now awaits testing with pilot programmes scheduled to get underway in Jamaica and Barbados between the third to last quarter of this year… more
iCreate no longer plans to acquire Ideas Execution Limited
Jamaica – iCreate Limited has announced that its previously announced intention to acquire Ideas Execution Limited will no longer proceed as planned… more
Sagility adds fifth outsourcing centre in Jamaica
Jamaica – Sagility LLC, formerly known as HGS Healthcare, has added a fifth call centre operation in Jamaica, having spent US$7 million on kitting out space in Angels, St Catherine, to accommodate local employees… more
NTRC’s MyApp For Bequia And Kingstown
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) will hosting its eighth annual summer coding and application development initiative known as the MyApp summer program in two locations… more
bmobile set to award Local Innovator at TT Chamber Champions of Business
Trinidad and Tobago – The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s annual Champions of Business (COB) Awards serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Chamber and its partners to recognising and applauding exceptional achievements in the local business community. This year, the organisation has chosen the theme of Titans and Trailblazers to honour and recognise businesses of all sizes and industries in T&T… more
TSTT writes TATT about the legal status of Blue Mobile Network
Trinidad and Tobago – Following crowds at Invader’s Bay this morning by potential customers attracted to an offer of $1 phones and laptops, Lisa Agard wrote to the Telecommunications Authority to query the status of the mobile provider Blue Mobile Network… more
Updated: Digicel, TATT, Star Network issue statements on new service
Trinidad and Tobago – In a statement made before this morning’s attempt to sign up customers for its new service, Star Network noted that: “The Blue Mobile Network leverages the robust infrastructure of an existing mobile network, ensuring seamless connectivity and reliable service across the nation… more
Saturday, 10 June 2023
CANTO congratulates govt on removal of cell phone taxes
Caribbean – The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Operators (CANTO) has congratulated the Guyana Government on the intended removal of all taxes on cell phones… more
Digicel backs Star Network as TATT says no green light given to operate
Trinidad and Tobago – DESPITE the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s (TATT) statement that there is no third provider, Digicel, a licensed telecommunications provider, is offering support to Star Network to legally provide reliable connectivity… more
Sunday, 11 June 2023
AI lettersAI letters
Guyana – Dear Editor, Your letter column is becoming rather predictable. Same old, same old, same cast. You just have to scroll down to see the writer and you know the tenor and content. Dull… more
Tax removal on cell phones will transform communications sector
Guyana – Friday’s announcement by President Irfaan Ali that taxes will be removed from cell phones will transform the communications sector… more
Telecom Giants welcome removal of taxes on cell phones; promise to pass benefits to consumers
Guyana – Telecommunications providers GTT, Digicel, and ENet expressed their support and satisfaction with the recent announcement by President, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali to eliminate taxes on cell phones… more
Money stored in payment apps could be vulnerable, financial watchdog warns
Jamaica – Customers of Venmo, PayPal and CashApp should not store their money with those apps for the long term because the funds might not be safe during a crisis, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has warned… more
Images credit: Alpha Stock Images; Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago; BTC (Facebook); WiPay (Facebook); Caribbean Telecommunications Union; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
