A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 21 August to Sunday 27 August 2023.
Monday, 21 August 2023
JSE suspends trading of iCreate shares
Jamaica – The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has suspended trading of beleaguered digital media and training company iCreate Limited’s shares on its Junior Market with immediate effect… more
Flow offers gigabit speeds to customers
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow, through its fibre-powered network, will be offering customers gigabit speeds and improved gaming capacity… more
The price of the single point of failure
Trinidad and Tobago – After TSTT’s network experienced widespread failures on August 09, the company issued general apologies about the issue, promising prompt restorative action… more
Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Add Digicash to your DigiWallet for free via Atlantic Bank’s Online Bill Pay feature
Belize – DigiWallet has simplified the transportation of cash. Atlantic bank users are now able to transfer their funds from their bank account to DigiWallet… more
The Caribbean and Latin America on the Cutting Edge of AI Adoption in the Region
Caribbean – On the third day of the 38th Annual Conference and Trade Show of CANTO, delegates heard that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is aiding firms bring improved customer experience and service delivery and that Caribbean and Latin American firms are in the forefront of the innovation… more
Digital Minister: Probe into cyberattack on AG’s office near completion
Trinidad and Tobago – DIGITAL Transformation Minister Hassel Bacchus says the threat that led to a cyberattack on the Office of the Attorney General in July is “no longer there.”… more
Stand out but don’t be fooled by social media
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: All the attention that we place on social media, wishing to create an endless stream of happy, smiling faces, wealthy and successful lifestyles, picture-perfect moments, awesome inspiring lives, envious moments that make our world look pretty darn fabulous, is a false picture, because it’s not real life… more
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
FTX’s Bahamas liquidators gain mediator in Ray battle
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators will aim to resolve multiple disputes with their US counterparts when mediation begins next month following the appointment of a retired US judge to act as referee… more
A Digital Connect Center is Inaugurated in Caribbean Shores
Belize – The Government of Belize, through the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, BELTRAIDE, has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme for the installation of digital connect centers across the country… more
Protecting young Belizeans online: Parents cautioned against excessive social media posts
Belize – Іn а dіgіtаl еrа whеrе еvеrу mоmеnt іѕ роtеntіаllу ѕhаrеаblе, раrеntѕ аrе bеіng wаrnеd аbоut thе іmрlісаtіоnѕ оf оvеrѕhаrіng іmаgеѕ оf thеіr сhіldrеn оn ѕосіаl рlаtfоrmѕ lіkе ТіkТоk аnd Іnѕtаgrаm… more
Digicel optical fiber cut in Martissant
Haiti – Tuesday, August 22, Digicel informs the population in general and the inhabitants of the Great South in particular that it is facing a technical difficulty because of its optical fiber infrastructure which has been cut in the area of Martissant since 11:30 a.m… more
Caribbean Assurance Brokers spending big on tech
Jamaica – After its regional expansion plans were grounded to a halt because of the pandemic, Caribbean Assurance Brokers Limited (CAB) has ramped up its spending on technology as it looks to improve its growth profile… more
Thursday, 24 August 2023
BTC opens fully digital retail store in Abaco
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has done it again, this time, with the snip of a ribbon signifying the opening of its brand new retail store in the Marsh Harbour community… more
FTX Bahamas demanding $9.15bn from US affiliates
Bahamas – FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are seeking to recover a total $9.15bn from the crypto exchange’s US entities with some 84 percent of this sum involving assets that were “misappropriated” prior to its late 2022 collapse… more
FTX’s Bahamas properties rack up $450k unpaid fees
Bahamas – FTX’s US chief has revealed that the collapsed crypto exchange’s Bahamian property empire has amassed $450,000 in unpaid fees to local services providers over the ongoing impasse over how to sell the portfolio… more
FTX US chief blasts ‘meddling’ liquidators
Bahamas – FTX’s US chief has resumed battle with the crypto exchange’s Bahamian liquidators by asserting that their “meddling is hindering” efforts to return recovered assets to former clients and creditors… more
Growing partnership between Mastercard and Bahamas
Bahamas – The Bahamas is becoming a “solid” partner with Mastercard, the company’s Country Manager for the West and Dutch Caribbean Markets Jimena Elia told Guardian Business yesterday, adding that fintech companies should not be afraid to approach Mastercard to expand their capabilities… more
National cyber breach plan may ‘take years’
Bahamas – A Bahamas-based cloud services provider yesterday said developing a comprehensive national response strategy to deal with cyber security breaches can be “complicated” and “take years”… more
PM: FTX ‘lessons learned’ will make Bahamas better
Bahamas – The Prime Minister yesterday pledged that “the lessons we learned” from the FTX crypto exchange’s collapse will enable The Bahamas to better strengthen its regulatory regime and emerge as a regional digital assets hub… more
PM: Lessons learned from FTX collapse will propel The Bahamas’ digital assets sector forward
Bahamas – Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday that the lessons learned from the collapse of FTX will only strengthen this nation’s digital assets framework and propel the sector forward… more
PM: Survival of financial services sector depends on innovation
Bahamas – Prime Minister Philip Davis opened the first-ever MasterCard Fintech Summit held in The Bahamas yesterday, explaining to the audience of local and foreign fintech professionals that the survival of this country’s financial services industry hinges on its ability to innovate and adapt to changes in the industry… more
CTU to advance Caribbean internet governance
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) hosted the 19th edition of its Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) and its Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) from Tuesday-Thursday, at the CTU headquarters in Port of Spain and virtually… more
Digital currency for everyone, everywhere
Caribbean – Approximately 90 per cent of central banks around the world are exploring central bank digital currency (CBDC) – a new digital form of money that has the potential to provide central banks the possibility to offer consumers and merchants access to central bank money in much the same way cash does today but in an entirely digital experience… more
SEO specialists can help your marketing
Caribbean – One of the most important roles and specialities that needs to be a part of your marketing team is the search engine optimisation (SEO)… more
Telecom companies in Haiti report severed fibre optic cables, gangs suspected
Haiti – Two telecommunication companies in Haiti said their fibre optic cables were severed this week, temporarily leaving customers without service in what were suspected acts of sabotage by criminal gangs… more
Digital marketing outfit 1GS acquires US-based SEO firm
Jamaica – On the heels of the announcement of its initial public offering (IPO), digital-first marketing agency One Great Studio (1GS) has announced the acquisition of High Voltage SEO (HVSEO), a high-growth US digital agency… more
Digital skills deemed key in evolving teaching, learning methodologies
Jamaica – Educators are being encouraged to improve their digital skills to keep pace with evolving teaching and learning methodologies… more
Friday, 25 August 2023
Cayman Crime Stoppers goes digital
Cayman Islands – Cayman Crime Stoppers has gone fully digital, introducing a new app and website for people to submit tips instantly via their cellphone, or online… more
Telephone companies in Haiti denounce sabotage
Haiti – Two telecommunications companies in Haiti have reported intentional cuts to their fiber optic cables, leading to service disruptions for their clients. These alleged acts of sabotage are attributed to criminal gangs operating in the country… more
More financial institutions to deploy CBDC wallet soon
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica says more financial institutions are looking to deploy their own central bank digital currency, Jam-Dex, wallet… more
Saturday, 26 August 2023
CXC detects exam irregularities, expresses concern over usage of cellphones and smart watches
Caribbean – The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has identified several irregularities during the 2023 exam period, with the use of cellphones and smart watches emerging as a prominent concern… more
Mastercard takes fintech ecosystem to next-level at Fintech Summit 2023
Caribbean – Future opportunities for the Caribbean fintech ecosystem were debated yesterday (August 25) as leaders from the technology, financial services and government sectors gathered at Mastercard’s first Fintech Summit in the region… more
Retrenchment now underway at NCB subsidiary, Lynk
Jamaica – The planned lay-offs at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) subsidiary of TFOB (2021) Limited, operators of the Lynk’s mobile wallet, has started… more
ICT centre opens in Cascade
Trinidad and Tobago – A new ICT Access Centre has been opened in Cascade. On Monday, the Cascade ICT Access Centre, which is located inside the community centre, was opened… more
Sunday, 27 August 2023
Discussion needed on future of automation, robotics in employment sector
Barbados – Barbados needs to have a serious discussion on the future of automation and robotics within the employment sector, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds said… more
Digicel debt scheme bound for court approval
Caribbean – Digicel Group and its affiliates have started the legal process to reorganise the company and reduce the control of founder Denis O’Brien, new market filings show… more
No to remote work
Caribbean – A new study has found that finance professionals in the Caribbean strongly prefer to work from the office rather than engage in either remote or a hybrid work arrangement… more
BPO security alert
Jamaica – Although winning the battle in minimising fraud within the sector, there are concerns that in the absence of an information sharing system and proper background checks, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry might never be purged of… more
CYBERCRIME ON THE RISE
Jamaica – Cybercriminals have targeted Jamaica’s security systems more than 19 million times in the first half of this year, and experts believe that figure could be much more as hackers launch more sophisticated global attacks… more
Flow issues resolved
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I have been trying since December 7, 2022 to resolve an issue with Flow regarding their Ya’ad and Road service… more
NCB cuts Lynk jobs in hunt for cash to pay dividends
Jamaica – NCB Financial Group is restructuring its fintech subsidiary TFOB (2021) Limited, which trades as Lynk, resulting in job losses particularly among employees engaged as contractors. It is also likely to affect some department heads… more
Recharged Lifestyle caters to holistic living via online hub
Jamaica – IT was out of a need to join the health and wellness revolution entrepreneur Shavanie Dillon-McDonald became inspired to set up her online company, Recharged Lifestyle, as a one-stop shop for natural health-care products… more
Third place on a second chance
Jamaica – Toni-Ann Williams, owner and founder of the organic farm Mosa Estate, emerged third place in the 2023 Flow Business InKnowvation challenge held recently in Kingston, Jamaica… more
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