A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 25 September to Sunday 1 October 2023.
Monday, 25 September 2023
ArawakX attorney hit at ‘degradation ceremony’
Bahamas – ArawakX’s attorney blasted that he was “not going to sit here in a degradation ceremony” after regulators voiced concern that the crowd-funding platform was using “delaying tactics” in response to its solvency concerns… more
No third mobile operator during Davis Gov’ts term
Bahamas – The Bahamas will not have a third mobile phone provider before the Davis administration’s term in office ends although it has placed regulators on alert to crackdown on any anti-competitive practices… more
URCA: Govt has decided no third mobile operator at this time
Bahamas – The government has decided that after recommendations from the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), there is no case for a third mobile operator in The Bahamas at this time, URCA’s draft Electronic Communications Sector (ECS) Policy for 2023-2026 reveals… more
URCA seeks to shorten reconnection time
Bahamas – THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority wants to shorten the time communications service providers have to reconnect the services of people who are wrongfully disconnected or were disconnected because of non-payment… more
Emmanuel Daniel talks Caribbean fintech
Caribbean – Emmanuel Daniel, author of The Great Transition, a forward-looking evaluation of the state of financial technology agreed to answer regionally relevant questions about fintech following my review of his book… more
Over 7,500 tablets to be procured for students to access materials, enhance digital abilities
Guyana – The government is looking to procure more than 7,500 digital tablets in the second half of 2023 for students to access course materials and develop their digital skills… more
Agreed standards and regulations needed in telehealth
Jamaica – As Caribbean telehealth sakeholders continue to collaborate and share expertise, one technology expert is highlighting the need for agreed standards and regulations on how patient information is shared and accessed across jurisdictions… more
Scotiabank wins ‘Best Digital Bank 2023’ award
Jamaica – Scotiabank, for the third consecutive year, has been named the ‘Best Consumer Digital Bank’ in Jamaica… more
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Exec: Many fintech firms are considering The Bahamas because of regulatory regime
Bahamas – There are many fintech companies looking at setting up in The Bahamas because of the regulatory regime for digital assets put in place by the government, fintech executive Will Haskins told Guardian Business yesterday… more
O’Cof: ArawakX’s demise an opportunity for greater capital markets knowledge
Bahamas – The circumstances surrounding the suspension of crowdfunding platform ArawakX’s license by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) is an opportunity for Bahamians to begin asking more questions about local capital markets and the players involved, and to learn more about capital markets in general, principal of firm Prospuh, N’Nhyn O’Cof, told Guardian Business… more
ECTEL empowers administrative staff with skills workshop
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) recently held a two-day workshop for their administrative staff. The event, themed “Reinventing the Administrative Function – Empowering Staff to Make a Difference,” took place at the Compass Room, Harbor Club in Saint Lucia from September 14-15, 2023… more
Education officials remark on digitization at CXC educational assessment conference in Jamaica
Caribbean – Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Wayne Wesley believes that the current educational construct must be reimagined, reformed, and repositioned. He was delivering remarks at the CXC 48th International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) annual conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston from 24-29 September… more
Grenada’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC): Time for Action
Grenada – Grenada, known for its stunning landscapes and warm hospitality, is facing a growing concern regarding the quality of services provided by its major telephone companies, FLOW and Digicel… more
Jamaica’s diaspora Digital Registration Portal set for public testing later this year
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Digital Registration Portal, designed to harness data for informed diaspora-related decision-making, is on track for public testing later in the year… more
Republic appoints group information and digital officer
Trinidad and Tobago – Republic Financial Holdings Ltd (RFHL) has announced the appointment of Houston Ross as its group chief information and digital transformation officer, effective June 1, 2023… more
Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Bahamians were more interested in ‘socialising’ than digital training
Bahamas – Bahamians were initially more interested in socialising than learning new technology-related skills deemed vital to prospering in the 21st century’s digital-driven economy, a report has revealed… more
Gov’t: Communications sector regulation requires full review
Bahamas – The Government has determined that “a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory framework” governing the electronic communications sector is now critical given the speed at which it and associated technologies are evolving… more
SSB announces public-private partnership and digital launch
Belize – On Friday, September 22, the Social Security Board (SSB) held a media brunch at the Radisson Fort George Hotel to unveil a public-private partnership named Public Administration Campus Limited SPV, and to announce its forthcoming digital launch… more
Future of Work in Curaçao: SER conference explores the role of technology, AI and migration
Curaçao – Work in Curaçao is on the eve of a profound transformation. The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao is organizing an indispensable conference on October 16, 2023… more
Experts call for more vigilance around cybersecurity
Jamaica – With growing incidents of cybersecurity breaches, tech experts are again calling on businesses to properly develop systems to counter attacks… more
Thursday, 28 September 2023
Cable partners over $5m Exuma cays connectivity
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has teamed with another provider to develop a $5m sub-sea fibre network that will provide broadband Internet connectivity to hundreds of residents across 34 Exuma cays… more
COMMUNIQUE — ECTEL Empowers Administrative Staff to Make a Difference
Caribbean – Twenty-two staff of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) from ECTEL’s five Member States gathered in Saint Lucia at the Compass Room, Harbor Club for the 8th ECTEL/NTRC Administrative Workshop. The two-day workshop which ran from September 14-15, 2023 was held under the theme, “Reinventing the Administrative Function – Empowering Staff to Make a Difference”… more
Govt. to use part of US$97M IDB loan to digitize health records
Guyana – The Government of Guyana (GoG) through the Ministry of Health (MoH) has invited bidders to bid for the design, supply, and installation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) System… more
AI a game-changer for young entrepreneurs
Trinidad and Tobago – Aspiring youth entrepreneurs are encouraged to follow their passion and purpose in life as they climb the ladder of success… more
Friday, 29 September 2023
Central Bank targets banks in Sand Dollar adoption strategy
Bahamas – The Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBOB) is preparing to engage the commercial banks more actively in order to boost Sand Dollar adoption, given that the commercial banks already have strong relationships with customers and merchants, CBOB Governor John Rolle said yesterday… more
Internet connectivity across Exuma cays to be powered by sub-sea fibre
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has partnered with Global Nexus Limited (GNX), the leading ‘neutral carrier’ multi-telecommunications provider in The Bahamas, to lay a world-class sub-sea fiber network that will provide broadband Internet connectivity to hundreds of residents across 34 Exuma cays… more
‘Lucrative prospects’: ArawakX refutes $2.4m insolvency woes
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd-funding platform is asserting it has “lucrative prospects” rather than a $2.4m solvency deficiency as it bids to defeat the Securities Commission’s bid to wind-up its operations… more
New online companies register fully functional by Dec.
Bahamas – Attorney General Ryan Pinder said yesterday that if all goes as planned, the new online companies register will be fully functional and available by December… more
P.C.C. Launches Online Survey System, Hopes to Reach 400,000 Belizeans
Belize – In tandem with today’s national high school debate, the P.C.C. launched its national online survey. The commission hopes to reach a total of four hundred thousand Belizeans through the online survey… more
Financial services sector urged to innovate to keep Latin American business
Caribbean – The Bahamas’ financial services sector should look to reserved powers and purpose trusts as a solution to keep Latin America engaged with this jurisdiction, international wealth structuring specialist Don Stubbs explained yesterday while speaking at the Nassau Conference 2023, according to a statement released on his presentation… more
US Department of Homeland Security recently hosted the first Western Hemisphere Cyber Conference
Caribbean – On September 27-28, 2023, DHS hosted the first Western Hemisphere Cyber Conference, which convened foreign government cyber leaders to discuss cybersecurity challenges and identify areas of collaboration… more
AIRBNB ANXIETY
Jamaica – TREPIDATION. That’s the word that instinctively rolled off Clyde Cameron’s tongue when asked how he felt about the Government’s plan to formalise the short-term real estate rental market. He’s eager to hear the details of any change that will have a direct impact on his main source of income — welcoming guests to Olcam Lodge villa in Runaway Bay, St Ann… more
Government preparing to digitize and move services online
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is being positioned to make better use of advancing technologies to strengthen the economy through improved efficiency in the way government conducts business with the public… more
Kamla calls for laptops, school grants for students
Trinidad and Tobago – OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has urged the Government to give pupils laptops, financial grants and free school transport… more
Remote work policy coming
Trinidad and Tobago – THE University of the West Indies (UWI) Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (ALJGSB) has been selected to develop the Remote Work Policy for the Trinidad and Tobago civil service, the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) announced yesterday… more
Saturday, 30 September 2023
Disgusted at treatment from TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: I find it necessary to write in disgust about the way TSTT treats customers as I tried Monday for four hours to speak with one of its customer service representatives to no avail… more
Sunday, 1 October 2023
BPO workers cash in with new gift certificate fraud scheme
Jamaica – Allison* had always dreamed of escaping the hopelessness of her small rural community, which has remained firmly in the clutches of poverty through generations… more
Images credit: Mohd Shahrizan (Pixabay); Wikipedia; ECTEL; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
