A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 4 September to Sunday 10 September 2023.
Monday, 4 September 2023
AI driven cars, mini-buses and big trucks
Bahamas – Dear Editor, Quite by chance, I turned on to Fareed Zakaria’s GPS programme on which he had an intriguing presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI), exploring its possible impact on various topics like knowledge acquisition, organizing societies, nuclear Armageddon and visual art… more
DEREK SMITH: Combine AI with human expertise on compliance
Bahamas – Regulatory compliance is undoubtedly a key component of trust between institutions and consumers in the financial services industry… more
FTX chief orders Bahamas: Hand over SBF interviews
Bahamas – FTX’s US chief is accusing his Bahamian counterparts of seeking to “shield from scrutiny” details of their interviews with Sam Bankman-Fried and other key insiders that he now wants handed over… more
‘Road map’ for 5G plan amid Starlink pushback
Bahamas – Regulators have pledged “to develop a road map” for deploying 5G (fifth generation) technology in The Bahamas amid continuing concerns from the two incumbent operators about the arrival of Elon Musk’s Starlink… more
What are tomorrow’s jobs?
Caribbean – Today, hundreds of thousands of children return to school; tens of thousands of them entering a new phase of their scholarship in an education system thats still largely geared to prepare them for industrial age employment… more
A total of 100 participants are set to commence training in coding
Jamaica – A total of 100 participants are set to commence training in coding, under the 2023 Universal Service Fund (USF) Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) III Residential Coding Course… more
Gordon Brown | Is there synergy between AI and utility services?
Jamaica – Artificial Intelligence (AI) has, without a doubt, been the most popularly used term since the beginning of 2023. While the technology is not new, significant advancements have shed new light on creating greater opportunities for the use of AI in all facets of life. Its incorporation in utility services is, therefore, no exception… more
Growth & Jobs | The future is digital – Williams
Jamaica – A TOTAL of 100 participants are set to commence training in coding under the 2023 Universal Service Fund (USF) Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) III Residential Coding Course… more
Paulwell extorted
Jamaica – FORMER Cabinet member Phillip Paulwell is urging Jamaicans to pay keen attention to their cybersecurity after his phone was cloned and his bank accounts hacked by scammers who are demanding US$50,000 from him to not make his information public… more
Tuesday, 5 September 2023
BTC continues to invest in Bahamian talent
Bahamas – BTC has recently onboarded its 2023 “Graduate” in the person of 23-year-old Kaneisha Victoria Johnson… more
BRA boosting online options as more taxpayers opt for online payment
Barbados – The Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) is hoping that greater use of digital platforms will help with compliance as it seeks to collect the over $1.5 billion owed by taxpayers… more
B.H.S. Robotics Team Prepares Robot for Global Competition
Belize – The Robotics team from Belize High School is keenly working on a robot that they will take to compete in this year’s FIRST Global Robotics Competition… more
Digicel being linked to data theft in Africa
Caribbean – The Pacific’s largest mobile phone operator, Digicel is being linked to organized data theft in Africa… more
One Great Studio makes IPO allotment
Jamaica – Following its successful Initial Public Offer (IPO) of shares, which was closed early due to an oversubscription, One Great Studio Company Limited (1GS) has made its allotment of shares… more
Student innovators recognised at Robotics and Coding Summer Camp Awards
Jamaica – Imagination and creativity were on full display at the Robotics and Coding Summer Camp Awards Ceremony held on Monday, August 28 at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology in Kingston… more
Urgently needed: A summit on the future of work in Jamaica
Jamaica – Globally, work is changing unprecedentedly as technology, climate change, and artificial intelligence (AI) disrupt how we work… more
NTRC St. Kitts and Nevis Partners with Local Systems Engineer for Vital ICT Project
Saint Kitts and Nevis – In a significant stride towards advancing healthcare technology infrastructure, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) of St. Kitts and Nevis has inked a momentous agreement with Mr. Garvin Newton, a distinguished local Systems Engineer… more
A VIRTUAL REGIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE PLATFORM POWERED BY AI
Trinidad and Tobago – The Wizdom CRM University Stock Market Game has introduced a groundbreaking digital financial literacy platform that leverages public corporate data and real-time stock exchange information from the US, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange… more
Education Ministry distributing 8,000 laptops to schools
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Education has begun distributing 8,000 laptops to more than 500 primary and secondary schools… more
Regulatory clarity for crypto assets needed
Trinidad and Tobago – THERE is an urgent need for regulatory clarity on crypto assets in this country, Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire has said… more
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
#BTEditorial – A national cybersecurity strategy needs a cybersecurity czar
Barbados – If we sound like a broken record, so be it; some things are too important not to be repeated. This is an era of a deeply interconnected world in which a digital landscape poses both boon and bane to nations… more
Number portability soon to be a reality – PUC
Guyana – The day is drawing closer when cell phone users in Guyana will be able to switch service providers without changing their telephone numbers… more
BTC and Cable Bahamas say they cannot bear the cost of 5G rollout alone
Jamaica – Cable Bahamas Ltd. (CBL)/Aliv and Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are concerned with the eventual cost of the rollout of 5G – with BTC noting in the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) recently released ‘Public Consultation on the Demand for Enhanced Internet Connectivity and 5G in The Bahamas’ – that the two mobile companies cannot bear the cost of 5G alone… more
Mastering executive presence in the digital age
Jamaica – In today’s fast-paced and interconnected business landscape, a strong executive presence has become more critical than ever before… more
TJH aims for 80 per cent cashless by 2028
Jamaica – TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH) is looking to increase the usage of its T-Tag from 39 per cent to 80 per cent over the next five years as it seeks to cut cash handling costs and improve its operational efficiency… more
Central Bank registers three e-money issuers
Trinidad and Tobago – THREE companies that were previously given provisional status have now been officially registered to operate as electronic money (e-money) issuers in this country, the Central Bank has said… more
Thursday, 7 September 2023
5G three to five years away, says CBL/Aliv
Bahamas – The deployment of a 5G network is still three to five years away, though the rollout of the newest mobile network could come sooner for some areas, Cable Bahamas Ltd. (CBL/Aliv) said in one of its responses to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) recently released consultation document “Public Consultation on the Demand for Enhanced Internet Connectivity and 5G in The Bahamas”… more
BTC explains recent family island outages
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) said the Family Islands have recently experienced service disruptions chiefly due to power issues and “malicious acts”, the company said in a statement yesterday… more
DEIDRE BASTIAN: Is artificial intelligence a benefit or a threat?
Bahamas – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzz word as it has not only become an integral part of our daily lives but has a rapidly growing field of technology that has already made a significant impact on many businesses globally… more
Opening Remarks: Introductory Webinar for the Bridging the Mobile Gender Gap
Caribbean – Good [morning/afternoon/evening], and a warm welcome to this pivotal training course on “Bridging the Mobile Gender Gap.” I am truly honored to address you today on behalf of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), one of the proud partners in this transformative initiative… more
WiPay, Grenada partner for digital grant programme
Grenada – WiPay has once again partnered with the Government of Grenada and the country’s Ministry of Education for its “digital grant” payment solution. The digital grant solution would be utilised for the distribution of funds for school uniforms and supplies for the current school year, which began on Monday… more
JaCIRT: Jamaica’s cyber security vulnerable
Jamaica – A “SIGNIFICANT amount of inertia” in generating a culture of cyber hygiene has left Jamaica’s cyber security vulnerable, head of the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT) Lieutenant Colonel Godphey Sterling has said… more
Cryptocurrency isn’t for everyone
Trinidad and Tobago – CRYPTOCURRENCY, in one form or another, has been around since 2009, and is quickly growing into an alternative to fiat currency – government-issued currency not backed by a commodity like gold or oil – for many people around the world… more
Digital transformation: what is means for Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – Digital Transformation may seem like the new “economic diversification”, a term that has been buzzing among business professionals and government officials… more
How e-commerce has changed business
Trinidad and Tobago – In the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary business, e-commerce stands out as a formidable force of change and innovation… more
T&T to get crypto regulations next year
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) acting chief executive officer, Lystra Lucillio, “cryptocurrency” reform is needed to allow for investor protection where crypto assets were considered as securities… more
Friday, 8 September 2023
Guilty – FTX exec admits illegal campaign donations
Bahamas – THE former co-chief of executive of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan Salame, yesterday pleaded guilty to making tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to US politicians and engaging in a criminal conspiracy to operate an unlicenced money transfer business… more
New partnership opens door to crypto property loans
Cayman Islands – A partnership between bitcoin banking platform Ledn and crypto real estate broker Parallel will enable people to buy property in Cayman using cryptocurrency… more
Saturday, 9 September 2023
Bajan and Kenyan agencies team up for online job training
Barbados – Barbados and Kenya have announced a groundbreaking partnership to use technology to provide distance learning for Kenyan job-seekers… more
Man charged with using computer system to humiliate woman
Guyana – Twenty-nine-year-old Keshawn D’Aguiar appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly where he was charged with a cybercrime… more
Lynk discontinues referral programme
Jamaica – NCB-powered digital wallet provider Lynk is discontinuing its incentive referral programme… more
Sunday, 10 September 2023
Digicel customers win millions in “Deal or No Deal” Game Shows
Guyana – Digicel has concluded a summer promotional campaign aimed at expressing gratitude to its loyal customer base. As part of this initiative, the company hosted two iterations of the popular television game show “Deal or No Deal,” offering five customers who qualified for each show the opportunity to compete for a two million dollar cash prize… more
Tech skills gap
Jamaica – TECH experts have noticed a worrying trend — a rise in tech jobs, but a shortage of skilled tech graduates… more
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