A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 July to Sunday 23 July 2023.
Monday, 17 July 2023
Ransomware hackers released compromised data after Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) missed ‘deadline’
Belize – Ѕоmе 355 gіgаbуtеѕ (GВ) оf соmрrоmіѕеd dаtа frоm Веlіzе Еlесtrісіtу Lіmіtеd (ВЕL) wаѕ rеlеаѕеd оn Frіdау bу #RаgnаrLосkеr, а rаnѕоmwаrе grоuр thаt hаd арраrеntlу bееn tаrgеtіng thе utіlіtу соmраnу ѕіnсе Мау… more
“I will not be intimidated or bullied into silence” – Melly Mel responds to cybercrime charges
Guyana – In response to several cybercrime charges being initiated against her by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Melissa Atwell popularly known as ‘Melly Mel’ has responded saying, “I will not be intimidated or bullied into silence.”… more
More smart classrooms for primary schools on the horizon
Guyana – Ten more smart classrooms will soon be established in primary schools, President Irfaan Ali announced last week at a press conference held at Office of the President… more
Cybersecurity must be driven from the top
Trinidad and Tobago – Leading the June 29 panel discussion on building a security minded culture at the AMCHAM Tech Hub Islands Summit, Bryan Kane, Innovation Director for Digicel Business, offered a provocative question… more
Tuesday, 18 July 2023
‘FTX chief planned $256m sell-off behind our backs’
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators have accused their US adversary, aided by its local law firm, of going behind their backs in attempting to sell $256m worth of real estate domiciled in this jurisdiction… more
SBF’s trading arm, Alameda Research, operated in Bahamas without licence
Bahamas – The private trading entity created by Sam Bankman-Fried, and alleged to have played a key role in FTX’s multi-billion dollar implosion, was based and controlled in The Bahamas despite not being licensed to operate in this jurisdiction… more
B.E.L. Breaks Silence on Cyber Attack
Belize – The management of the Belize Electricity Limited held a press conference today to provide the media with a high-level overview on the infiltration of its information technology network by cyber criminals… more
B.E.L.’s C.E.O. Extends Apology to Customers Following Cyber Attack
Belize – According to C.E.O. Mencias, the company has taken steps to employ further security measures. He emphasized the fact that data such as credit card information was not leaked, because B.E.L. does not store such information on its system… more
B.E.L.’s Online Payment System Down, Until Further Notice
Belize – The Belize Electricity Limited is now working to restore its online services. Following the cyber attack, key pieces of hardware for its online server were damaged. As a result, customers are no longer able to pay their bills online… more
C&W Issues a Strong Call for the Acceleration of Digital Connectivity Across the Region at CANTO 2023
Caribbean – The 38th Annual CANTO Trade and Exhibition Conference kicked off at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort in Aventura, Florida on July 16th, 2023. The conference, which has been headline sponsored by C&W Communications (CWC) since 2019, attracted a record number of attendees this year with over 600 registrants… more
Capitalism, digital technologies and labour
Caribbean – WE have all heard the old adage: the economic model of capitalism is poor but it is the best of all that now exists… more
Caribbean phone companies suffering from “market failure” due to Over-The Top services, Social Media
Caribbean – A recent study shows that telecommunication companies in the Caribbean are operating at a loss due because people are making more calls, mostly international calls, via Over-The-Top (OTP) services and the majority of data are being consumed through Social Media, according to a senior representative of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO)… more
Symptai Consulting to showcase expertise at Canto 2023 Conference
Caribbean – Symptai Consulting Limited, a provider of IT Consulting services, is pleased to announce its participation in the highly anticipated Canto 38th Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, set to take place from July 16th to July 19th in Miami, Florida… more
AI representation of ideal ‘Miss Grenada’
Grenada – Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been rapidly on the increase in popularity over the past few months, with a seemingly limitless range of possibilities and uses in every sector… more
GTT’s conneX bundle scoring big on fibre
Guyana – GTT’s conneX voice and data bundle for businesses now accounts for 60 percent, as a result of engaging businesses in organisations and the general public, Chief Operations Officer, GTT’s Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson said Tuesday… more
Digicel scores high in Ookla broadband-speed ranking
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel topped all of Ookla’s broadband-speed tests for quarter two of 2023… more
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Bank account in Bahamas used in crypto scam
Bahamas – Millions of dollars landed or passed through a Deltec Bank and Trust account in The Bahamas after criminal money laundering syndicates operating cryptocurrency investment scams “fooled victims into investing in cryptocurrency through multiple fraudulent investment platforms, which instead allowed the scammers to steal their money”, a US court document shows… more
B.E.L. Beefs Up Cyber Security Measures
Belize – Sean Fuller, the General Manager of Finance and Business Support at B.E.L., went on to explain all the additional measures the company is putting in place in an attempt to ensure that any further cyber attacks does not result in a data leak… more
Belize Electricity Limited confirms cyber leak of over 10,000 customer application forms
Belize – Оn Јulу 18, 2023, thе Веlіzе Еlесtrісіtу Lіmіtеd (ВЕL) hоѕtеd а рrеѕѕ соnfеrеnсе tо іnfоrm thаt thе соmраnу іѕ аwаrе оf thе lеаk оf іnfоrmаtіоn bу суbеr сrіmіnаlѕ… more
Is PlusTV’s Email Hack Linked to B.E.L.’s Ransomware?
Belize – Louis Wade Junior says that the media house has been decentralizing apps attached to that Gmail account, but it has affected the company significantly because there were several other activities connected to that account… more
PlusTV Gmail Account is Hacked
Belize – There have been several persons reporting of their emails having been hacked; they’ve been locked out and security barriers put in place preventing them from regaining access… more
Why businesses should be posting their prices online
Caribbean – IN today’s fast-paced digital landscape, small business owners face the challenge of capturing the attention and trust of potential customers amidst intense competition… more
Businesses embracing technology despite AI concerns
Jamaica – More than 70 per cent of Jamaican firms have indicated their intention to invest in technology, even amid growing concerns about the impact that artificial intelligence (AI) will have on jobs… more
From new BOJ banknotes to central bank digital currencies
Jamaica – CHANGE is often met with scepticism and fear, especially when it comes to anything having to do with money. Recently, Jamaica introduced new polymer banknotes, a move that has been met with apprehension and some resistance among sections of the population… more
Foundation Catholic Education completes Tech Summer Camp
Sint Maarten – The Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten completed of its first-ever Tech Summer Camp… more
GEBE Hacking Scandal: A Wake-Up Call for Change.
Sint Maarten – In March 2022, St. Maarten’s utility company GEBE fell victim to a devastating cyberattack that resulted in the loss of all its billing information. The consequences of this breach have been far-reaching, exposing a web of nepotism and favoritism within the company, which has left us, the citizens, grappling with confusion and soaring bills… more
Trade Ministry enhances TTBizLink
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) launched the Enhanced TTBizLink Application Software to usher in a new era of efficiency and transparency for businesses navigating the intricate web of trade and business processes… more
Thursday, 20 July 2023
Barbadian telecom gets green light to provide services in Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados – Neptune Communications, a telecommunications provider based in Barbados with operations in Jamaica has been granted a licence to operate in TT by the Telecommunications Authority… more
C&W Communications launch initiative to bridge digital divide
Caribbean – C&W Communications, as part of a private-public partnership between some Caribbean countries, has launched an initiative to help bridge the digital divide… more
ARIN and CARICHAM strengthen collaboration
Grenada – The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and the Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM) have affirmed their commitment to collaborate on advancing digital resilience and Internet development in the Caribbean… more
Guarding against cyberattcks – infrastructure, policies needed experts say
Trinidad and Tobago – Calls for proper infrastructure and legislation pertaining to cybersecurity were made by president of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce Kiran Maharaj and director and professor of computer engineering at Caribbean Cybersecurity Institute Dr Yufei Wu, who is assigned to the University of TT… more
Neptune Communications offering satellite broadband in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Last week, the Telecommunications Authority of T&T announced that the Minister of Digital Transformation, Hassel Bacchus, had approved a recommendation from the T&T telecommunications regulator to grant ten-year concessions to a company named Neptune Communications… more
Friday, 21 July 2023
FTX chief targets Bahamas property ‘misappropriation’
Bahamas – FTX’s founder and two of his closest associates were last night accused of “misappropriating” some $4.86m of client monies to acquire high-end Bahamian real estate that they subsequently put in their personal names… more
CARICOM Cyber Security Training in Belize
Belize – Over the last two days, the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) held a timely workshop on cyber security… more
Saturday, 22 July 2023
AI is ‘not a threat’ – outgoing UWI Five Islands principal
Caribbean – The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked concerns about negative impacts, one of which is job redundancy… more
Performance of internet service providers in Haiti (Q2 2023)
Haiti – The “Speedtest by Ookla” market report for the Second Quarter (Q2) 2023 on the state of mobile and fixed internet networks in Haiti which has just been published, reveals… more
UTT launches Caribbean Cybersecurity Institute
Trinidad and Tobago – National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said he is comforted to know that while his ministry is working on other elements of security, the issue of cybersecurity is being addressed by those with those the expertise… more
Sunday, 23 July 2023
AI laws needed — tech experts
Jamaica – JAMAICA is in dire need of comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) laws to govern and regulate the implementation of the technology, according to technology experts… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Guyana Chronicle; Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia
