A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 October to Sunday 29 October 2023.
Monday, 23 October 2023
SCB stresses need for provisional liquidator in ArawakX winding up
Bahamas – Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas Christina Rolle released a fourth affidavit in the case of the winding up of MDollaz Ltd, doubling down on the need to appoint a provisional liquidator for the company, by citing numerous alleged breaches of the company’s statutory obligations, some of which still have not been rectified, according to the affidavit… more
Securities Commission urges court-supervised liquidator for ArawakX record seizure
Bahamas – The Securities Commission is contending that the appointment of a court-supervised liquidator is ‘vital’ to seize control of Arawak X’s records and make a determination with respect to the directors and shareholders in the company… more
Some Barbadians resisting digital ID that’s still in planning stage
Barbados – The Caribbean island nation of Barbados is pressing ahead with its digital ID plans despite some friction among citizens… more
Tuesday, 24 October 2023
Ex-ArawakX finance chief’s ‘browbeat’ claim ‘laughable’
Bahamas – ArawakX’s president has branded as “just laughable” claims by its former chief financial officer that he was “browbeaten” into using a loan from its major investor to pay sums due to the Red Lobster franchise… more
Team Belize develops Smartz device during 2023 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge
Belize – Теаm Веlіzе rерrеѕеntеd bу ѕtudеntѕ Аmbеr Wrіght, Аlаіr Маrіn, Іrіаn Јоnеѕ, Оѕvаnі Маgаnа, аnd Рrіnсіраl Ѕіѕtеr Сlаrа оf Раllоttі Ніgh Ѕсhооl аrе іn Раnаmа раrtісіраtіng іn 2023 Ѕаmѕung Ѕоlvе fоr Тоmоrrоw Сhаllеngе… more
Citizens can now switch networks and retain phone number
Guyana – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Guyana said that the major telecommunications providers here are closer to implementing the Number Portability system, where consumers are allowed to switch networks and retain their mobile numbers… more
Guyana, Canada to develop framework to provide training for youth in tech fields
Guyana – Irfaan Ali has announced that Guyana and Canada will partner in developing a framework to provide training to young people in various technologically innovative fields… more
High-speed internet in rural areas in Haiti
Haiti – The Internet Society Foundation’s Beyond the Net Large Grant program provides funding to help Internet Society chapters implement innovative projects that have local impact by providing meaningful access to Open, reliable and connected Internet continues to deliver concrete results in Haiti by providing high-speed Internet to rural areas of Haiti through community networks… more
Flow Foundation empowers Central High’s Tech Day with safe internet use
Jamaica – Flow Foundation joined Central High for its informative and exciting Tech Day to champion safer internet use. Under the theme ‘Being Safe While Using the Internet,’ the foundation engaged more than 300 students as part of its year-long Connected & Protected campaign… more
Trade Minister: E-commerce strategy coming
Trinidad and Tobago – Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon says work on an e-commerce strategy 2024 -2029 will commence next month and is expected to be completed by August 2024… more
Wednesday, 25 October 2023
EDITORIAL: As FTX saga unfolds, we need to hear the full story
Bahamas – The spectacular implosion of the crypto company put the spotlight of the world on The Bahamas – sometimes very unflatteringly. One article by a Bloomberg columnist in particular drew criticism for claiming that the first clue when it came to reasons to be wary of the company was that it chose The Bahamas as its headquarters… more
FTX Bahamas: ‘Major progress’ in Ray talks
Barbados – The Supreme Court will now hear the petition to put FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary into full liquidation on November 6, it has been disclosed, amid “substantial progress” in resolving the dispute with its US arm… more
PINTARD WANTS PROBE ON FTX: Call for committee over govt links to collapsed company
Bahamas – FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said the Official Opposition will call for a select committee on FTX in the House of Assembly… more
Ministry of E-Governance launches Digital Art competition
Belize – Тhе Міnіѕtrу оf Рublіс Utіlіtіеѕ, Еnеrgу, Lоgіѕtісѕ аnd Е-gоvеrnаnсе (МРUЕLЕ) іѕ іnvіtіng Веlіzеаn сіtіzеnѕ аgеѕ 18 аnd аbоvе tо раrtісіраtе іn іtѕ Nаtіоnаl Dіgіtаl Аrt Соmреtіtіоn… more
Experts say cybersecurity cost tied to risk
Jamaica – Even as more companies increase budgets amid rising cybersecurity threats, some local experts have said that it continues to be a very difficult task to determine the true cost of dealing with these issues… more
Gov’t Upskilling Labour Force – PM
Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says his Administration is prioritising the upskilling of Jamaica’s workforce as part of the overall strategy to grow the economy… more
NCST Stages AI Seminar on October 26
Jamaica – Government scientists, academics and professionals across various industries are being encouraged to participate in the National Commission on Science and Technology’s (NCST) upcoming seminar on artificial intelligence (AI)… more
Thursday, 26 October 2023
BTC to host “Imagine Your Business” InKnowvation Masterclass
Bahamas – Small and medium business owners will have the opportunity to take their business to the next level by taking full advantage of an InKnowvation Masterclass hosted by BTC Business this Thursday, October 26th… more
Keith Roye II: Digital transformation in reach of SMEs too
Bahamas – In today’s fast-paced business landscape, “digital transformation” is not just a buzzword but a necessity for staying competitive. While large corporations often have deep pockets to fund complex digital initiatives, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also thrive in this digital age by crafting strategies that are tailored to their unique needs and capabilities… more
Objection to Bahamas KC testifying for Sam Bankman-Fried
Bahamas – US prosecutors yesterday raised objections to a Bahamian KC testifying in defence of embattled FTX founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, over his meetings with local regulators as the crypto exchange imploded… more
5 ways e-mail marketing can help your business
Caribbean – These days social media can be a pretty crazy place behind the scenes. Think about it: Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri have been changing up Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp every week, making it more confusing as the days pass… more
Companies to be given more time to comply with requirements of Data Protection Act
Jamaica – Companies will be given time to comply with the full requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA) beyond the start of the registration process on December 1… more
Data Protection Act to be phased in
Jamaica – CABINET member with responsibility for digital transformation Dr Dana Morris Dixon has moved to allay the fears of business operators who will not be ready to meet the full requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA) when it takes effect on December 1… more
JBDC targets 2000 small businesses for digital upskilling
Jamaica – Jamaica Business Development Corporation is trying to equip 2,000 small and micro businesses with digital skills so they can earn more income through e-commerce… more
DCash named the official digital currency of Everything Vincy Plus Expo
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – DCash, the digital currency pilot project of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, will be named the official digital currency of the Everything Vincy Plus Expo which will be held at the northern end of the E.T Joshua Tarmac from October 26 to 29… more
…bmobile steps up again as sponsor
Trinidad and Tobago – Bmobile has committed to major sponsorship of Tobago Carnival for the second consecutive year… more
Global fintech firm meets local banks
Trinidad and Tobago – GLOBAL fintech (financial technology) firm Finastra met with executives of TT banks at a networking reception held on Tuesday evening at the Maraval residence of UK High Commissioner Harriet Cross… more
Friday, 27 October 2023
FTX: ‘Crypto King’ admits people got hurt as speaks out in trial
Bahamas – Former crypto boss Sam Bankman-Fried acknowledged a lot of people got hurt when the FTX exchange he founded collapsed, in his testimony to the jury at his fraud trial… more
Sam Bankman-Fried to testify Bahamas looked after FTX clients ‘best interests’
Bahamas – Sam Bankman-Fried is set to tell a New York judge that Bahamian regulators, and not US bankruptcy attorneys, “were acting in the best interests of customers” immediately after FTX imploded… more
Belize wins Samsung Solve for Tomorrow innovation Challenge!
Belize – Thе Міnіѕtrу оf Еduсаtіоn, Сulturе, Ѕсіеnсе аnd Тесhnоlоgу hаѕ ехtеndеd соngrаtulаtіоnѕ tо Раllоttі Ніgh Ѕсhооl ѕtudеntѕ, Аmbеr Wrіght, Аlаіr Маrіn, Іrіаn Јоnеѕ, аnd Оѕvаnі Маgаñа, оn thеіr ѕuссеѕѕ аѕ СНАМРІОNЅ оf thе 2023 Ѕаmѕung Ѕоlvе Fоr Тоmоrrоw Сhаllеngе hеld іn Раnаmа… more
Oliver Coughlan to step down as Digicel Group CEO
Caribbean – Group Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Oliver Coughlan is to step down… more
Pending leadership changes at Digicel
Caribbean – Jamaica-based regional telecoms giant, Digicel Group, is undergoing leadership changes as it moves towards completing a debt-restructuring deal with bondholders… more
ICT master plan to ensure digital efficiency, security – PM Phillips
Guyana – Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, has touted the government’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Master Plan 2030 as a comprehensive agenda that will ensure efficiency and security in the sector… more
Quisk sets sight on Caribbean
Jamaica – Following the recent discontinuation of it services by NCB, mobile money wallet Quisk, owned by Advance Integrated Services (AIS), said it is now on the hunt for new partners as it looks to take the service to other countries across the Caribbean… more
Endcash customers grow by 100
Trinidad and Tobago – Earlier this month, Digicel became the latest company to be provisionally registered for an initial six-month period by the Central Bank to issue e-money in Trinidad and Tobago, through its subsidiary MyCash… more
Saturday, 28 October 2023
FTC launches code to protect mobile phone customers
Barbados – The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has launched a mobile telecommunications code to ensure that service providers Flow and Digicel operate within the parameters of the Consumer Protection Act… more
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2023 Champions, Team Belize return home
Belize – Тhе Міnіѕtrу оf Еduсаtіоn, Сulturе, Ѕсіеnсе аnd Тесhnоlоgу hаѕ ехtеndеd соngrаtulаtіоnѕ tо Раllоttі Ніgh Ѕсhооl ѕtudеntѕ, Аmbеr Wrіght, Аlаіr Маrіn, Іrіаn Јоnеѕ, аnd Оѕvаnі Маgаñа, оn thеіr ѕuссеѕѕ аѕ СНАМРІОNЅ оf thе 2023 Ѕаmѕung Ѕоlvе Fоr Тоmоrrоw Сhаllеngе hеld іn Раnаmа… more
Updated: TSTT reported hacked by RansomEXX exploit
Trinidad and Tobago – Multiple data breach reporting sites have noted a compromise and exfiltration of data from the systems of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) on October 27, 2023… more
Sunday, 29 October 2023
Children caught on camera stealing from cellphone store
Guyana – The owners of a cellphone store at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) were amazed to discover that the thieves who broke into their store on Saturday and carted off with a phone were children… more
South Africa-based Guyanese telecoms engineering Mortimer Hope touts global connectivity
Guyana – South Africa-based Guyanese telecommunications engineering specialist Mortimer Hope, 57, has represented his adopted homeland and the continent of Africa in his area of expertise at regional and international forums for more than three decades and is now engaged in a global project to connect the unconnected through the internet by placing unmanned aircraft in the stratosphere… more
Call Centre Solutions adds third facility
Jamaica – Call Center Solutions, CCS, a business process outsourcing company headquartered in Florida but with service centres in Jamaica only, is expanding in Montego Bay, adding a new location to support its resort clientele… more
Guardsman partners with foreign firm, expands into cybersecurity
Jamaica – Guardsman Group wants a portion of the cash local companies are doling out to protect their businesses from cybercrime. Concurrently, the security company is broadening its offerings to improve its onsite protection services… more
Recycled cell numbers putting digital privacy at risk
Jamaica – A senior crime-fighter is among a number of Jamaicans who have had their SIM cards repossessed and reassigned by telecommunications providers. However, in his case, sensitive information from informants has now ended up in the hands of a stranger… more
Wi-Fi customers vulnerable
Jamaica – THOUSANDS of customers of one of the country’s biggest telecoms companies remain vulnerable to cyberattacks through their Wi-Fi routers because of that entity’s failure to take adequate action against the threat… more
‘Social media key to growing businesses’
Trinidad and Tobago – Businesses need to adapt to the post-COVID-19 changes, or they will be extinct… more
Images credit: Mars Hill Church (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; bmobile; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Guardsman Group
