A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 9 October to Sunday 15 October 2023.
Monday, 9 October 2023
Students to compete in robotics contest, team to travel to Singapore
British Virgin Islands – A team of four students from the Virgin Islands will compete in an Olympic-style robotics competition from Saturday through Tuesday in Singapore… more
ECTEL & NTRCs Amplify Expertise to Combat Radio Frequency Interference
Caribbean – Ten (10) technical personnel of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and the five (5) National Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) participated in the Anritsu Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave Interference Analysis Certification Training course in Miami… more
Pushing back on misinformation with provenance
Caribbean – Santiago Lyon, a former vice-president at the Associated Press, noted that Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) began in 2019 as an open source project to address distrust of news and particularly images and video… more
Archie: Ultimate goal is an e-judiciary
Trinidad and Tobago – Artificial Intelligence (AI) has forced judiciaries worldwide to grapple with a range of new evidential issues, Chief Justice Ivor Archie has admitted… more
bmobile announces new pre-paid bundle options
Trinidad and Tobago – In a move designed to enhance customer convenience and savings, bmobile announces the introduction of bundle sales at its dealer stores. With this new offering, customers can visit any bmobile location and purchase prepaid bundles directly, eliminating the previous need to top up first. This initiative, introduced on October 06, 2023, marks a progressive step in providing seamless, value-added services to customers… more
Tuesday, 10 October 2023
ArawakX defends valuation methods amid winding-up application battle
Bahamas – ArawakX, the country’s first crowdfunding platform is defending its valuation methods as being based on “world-class standards” amid concerns by its regulator, slamming the winding-up application against it as “ill-conceived” and based on a false premise… more
ArawakX execs insist no misconduct committed
Bahamas – ArawakX Chief of Equities Winston Rolle said if the company is put into provisional liquidation it would be a “personal tragedy” for him, ArawakX employees and investors… more
ArawakX slams ‘ridiculous’ capital market threat claim
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd funding platform has slammed as “ridiculous” assertions that it poses a threat to capital markets integrity while accusing regulators of portraying it as a “Mom and Pop” operation… more
Commission says ArawakX ‘squandered the opportunity’
Bahamas – The Securities Commission has accused The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd-funding platform of “squandering the opportunity” to show why it should not be wound-up via the Supreme Court… more
BARBADOS TO HOST CTU ICT WEEK 2023 INCLUDING A CARIBBEAN DIGITAL SUMMIT
Barbados – The Government of Barbados, in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Global Government Forum (GGF), will host the Caribbean Digital Summit and ICT Week 2023 from 16th to 20th October 2023 at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, Rockley, Christ Church, Barbados… more
Second cohort finishes fintech programme 18 professionals graduate
British Virgin Islands – Eighteen professionals recently graduated as the second cohort of the new fintech programme at the Robert Mathavious Institute for Financial Services at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College… more
Telecoms operator C3 facing sanctions over $500,000 in disputed fees
Cayman Islands – A longstanding dispute over the payment of licensing fees between local telecommunications operator C3 and regulator OfReg is heading for the courts… more
Suspected Chinese hackers infiltrate Govt. systems
Guyana – The Government of Guyana has launched an investigation into an infiltration of its network system by hackers suspected to be Chinese, Kaieteur News learnt on Monday… more
Global Gateway: EU launches Digital Jamaica to connect schools, universities and homes to high-speed internet and training
Jamaica – Today in Kingston, the EU launched the Digital Transition Programme for Jamaica. Under Global Gateway, this is an innovative programme to increase inclusive access to and use of ICT across the country, in support of the country’s transition towards a digital economy and society… more
Central Bank to discuss crypto with Finance Minister
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago says its “performance momentum” continued as the second year of its current five-year Strategic Plan drew to a close… more
Data company de-risking T&T energy
Trinidad and Tobago – IN 2006, British mathematician Clive Humby made a statement that has since reverberated across industries: “Data is the new oil.”… more
Wednesday, 11 October 2023
ArawakX denies client fund ‘commingling’ allegations
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd-funding platform has vehemently denied there is any “ongoing commingling” of client and company funds and blamed an “accounting error” for the only occasion this occurred… more
IDB: Cryptoasset market on the rise in Latam, Caribbean
Caribbean – A new study has found that the cryptoasset ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean has shown substantial growth, with the number of firms more than doubling since 2016… more
NDMA: Govt.’s network not infiltrated by hackers
Guyana – There has been no successful infiltration of the Government of Guyana’s network system, the National Data Management Authority’s (NDMA’s) said on Tuesday… more
FAU OIT FACILITATES COMPUTER DONATION TO JAMAICA
Jamaica – Florida Atlantic University’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) recently donated surplus computers to the Jamaican Ministry of Education of Youth for preparatory schools in Jamaica… more
Gov’t Investing in Digital Transformation
Jamaica – The Government is committed to digital transformation and has prioritised investments in this regard, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge… more
Programme to Advance Jamaica’s Transition to Digital Society Launched
Jamaica – Digital Jamaica, a €9.5-million programme aimed at increasing access to and use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to support the country’s transition to a digital economy and society was launched on Tuesday (October 10)… more
Two Communities in Trelawny Get Free Wi-Fi Service
Jamaica – The communities of Troy and St. Vincent in Trelawny Southern are the newest recipients of free Wi-Fi service, courtesy of the Universal Service Fund (USF)… more
Digicel gets provisional e-money approval
Trinidad and Tobago – The Central Bank of T&T has issued a provisional registration to MyCash (T&T) Ltd making it the fourth company authorised to issue electronic money domestically… more
Thursday, 12 October 2023
AG says Bahamas well-suited for Fintech firms
Bahamas – Attorney General Ryan Pinder said yesterday that Fintech firms will not find large jurisdictions friendly to their flexibility and innovation requirements and contended that small international financial centers like The Bahamas is where these kinds of firms will be nurtured and allowed to grow while being subject to world-class regulations… more
Bahamas ‘leading from front’ on digital assets
Bahamas – The Attorney General yesterday argued The Bahamas is “leading from the front” on digital assets regulation as he sought to portray the jurisdiction as the ideal domicile for industry providers… more
Christina Rolle: Crypto firms coming to the realization that they need to be regulated
Bahamas – The cryptocurrency industry is coming to terms with the fact that it will have to be regulated, even if they are coming to that realization “kicking and screaming”, Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas Christina Rolle said yesterday at the D3 Bahamas Conference… more
Cross-border payments with digital currency ‘next step’
Bahamas – USING digital currency to settle cross-border payments is a “natural progression”, according to Dr Allan Wright, manager at the Central Bank of The Bahamas… more
DARE act has learned lessons from FTX fall
Bahamas – THE DARE act will have to adjust to the inherent risks associated with crypto currency after the collapse of FTX, including dealing with staking and separation of assets, said Christina Rolle, executive director of the Securities Commission of the Bahamas, yesterday… more
Fintech can ‘help reach those without banking’
Bahamas – FINTECH can help “promote greater financial inclusion” and provide a banking solution for those without accounts in the region, said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday… more
Kanoo developing a super app for the Caribbean
Bahamas – Kanoo Pays is developing a “super app” for the Caribbean that will be able to handle multiple currencies and hold all of a user’s financial information, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) and cryptocurrencies, the company’s Chairman and co-founder Nicholas Rees said yesterday… more
Keith Roye II: How technology can boost food security
Bahamas – The Bahamas, a beautiful archipelago known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, is facing a pressing issue: Ensuring a sustainable food supply for its population. As an island nation heavily dependent on imports for food, The Bahamas faces numerous challenges related to food security and sustainability… more
OKX eyes gradual expansion, local talent in The Bahamas
Bahamas – OKX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has expressed its firm commitment to The Bahamas, with the company seeking to gradually expand its operations in the country while leveraging local talent… more
PM: We will continue to invest in digital transformation
Bahamas – The government is committed to investing in the digital transformation of the country’s financial system, the economy and the local community, Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday during his keynote address at the D3 Bahamas Conference… more
90% data now restored, GEBE still grappling with manual processes
Sint Maarten – Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs on Wednesday gave an insight into the enormity of the challenges utilities company GEBE faced in its efforts to recover from last year’s cyber-attack, in which it lost data… more
Continuation Public meeting of the Parliament regarding an update on all matters related to TELEM.
Sint Maarten – The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on October 13, 2023. The Public meeting, which started on June 22, 2023, with a continuation and adjournment on September 1, 2023, will be reconvened on Friday, 12.30 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Ms. Silveria E. Jacobs, will be in attendance… more
Friday, 13 October 2023
50% of Bahamians to use Sand Dollars by end-2024
Bahamas – Central Bank executives yesterday forecast that 50 percent of Bahamians will have active Sand Dollar accounts by year-end 2024, with 160,000 already using this nation’s digital currency version… more
D3 Bahamas sets tone for serious look at regulation of digital assets
Bahamas – The D3 Bahamas Conference has shown that the cryptocurrency sector has moved away from being anti-regulation and has come to understand the role it plays in interacting in the global financial space, Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas Christina Rolle told Guardian Business yesterday… more
OKX says it is committed to The Bahamas
Bahamas – Web3 technology company and crypto exchange OKX is committed to The Bahamas, OKX Chief Global Government Relations Officer Tim Byun told Guardian Business, adding that other digital asset firms should forget the idea of Sandboxes, study this country’s Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act and commitment to being in a regulated environment… more
Cloud attacks top cybersecurity concerns of business leaders as breaches rise – PwC study
Caribbean – PwC’s 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights survey has found that the proportion of businesses that have experienced a data breach of more than US$1M has increased significantly year over year – from 27 per cent to 36 per cent… more
New tech institute launched to upskill small businesses in the region
Caribbean – The newly-launched Caribbean Digital Transformation Institute (CDTI) piloted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is to equip Caribbean small businesses with improved digital capabilities as they leverage the use of modern technology to compete globally… more
Dominican Republic receives fewer cyber attacks this year compared to 2022
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has demonstrated increased strength in cybersecurity in recent years, resulting in a significant reduction in cyberattacks during the first half of 2023 compared to similar periods in 2022 and 2021, according to the latest report from FortiGuard Labs on the Global Threat Panorama in Latin America… more
Those who damage ICT assets will pay – NDMA
Guyana – In its efforts to safeguard the ICT assets of the state, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) today warned that individuals involved in the accidental or deliberate damage of state-owned ICT infrastructure will be held responsible for the full cost of replacement and repairs… more
Saturday, 14 October 2023
Barbados to host Digital Summit and ICT Week
Barbados – Regional ministers will be in Barbados for the Digital Summit and ICT Week 2023, which takes place from Monday, October 16, to Friday, October 20, at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, Rockley, Christ Church… more
EU launches Digital Jamaica
Jamaica – The EU, earlier this week, launched the Digital Transition Programme for Jamaica at a function in Kingston… more
Toilets, QR codes for MoBay street vendors by December
Jamaica – By December street food lovers should be able to know if vendors they patronise in Montego Bay are allowed to handle food… more
‘Use AI to help detect harmful ingredients in snacks’
Jamaica – ON the heels of widespread concern about the presence of mind-altering drug components in some children’s snacks, Adrian Dunkley, founder of StarApple Analytics Limited — a local artificial intelligence (AI) company — says technology can play a role in eliminating that threat… more
Sunday, 15 October 2023
GTT’s generators are at it again
Guyana – Dear Editor, On the 3rd February, 2022 you published our letter titled `Hadfield Street residents are suffering from thick smoke and noise spewed from GTT’s generators’ and conducted a follow up on the 04th February, 2022. … more
Cashing out
Jamaica – JAMAICANS are rapidly shifting to digital channels to do transactions, shunning traditional approaches which are witnessing a significant decline in usage and popularity, according to data from the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)… more
Images credit: Steve Buissinne (Pixabay); bmobile; Caribbean Telecommunications Union; ArawakX; Wikimedia Commons; Kanoo (Facebook); Sand Dollar (Twitter); Wikipedia
