A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 5 February to Sunday 11 February 2024.
Monday, 5 February 2024
Central Bank reports 20 percent expansion in digital wallet usage in 2023
Bahamas – As of December 2023, the number of digital wallets in use totaled 118,955, marking a 20 percent expansion for the year to date, with the circulation of SandDollars increasing just slightly over 60 percent to $1.7 million, according to the Central Bank… more
Crypto convos continue in the BVI
British Virgin Islands – As the territory’s financial services sector positions to fully tap into virtual assets business, local experts recently held a forum where they discussed the tight measures the BVI would have to put in place to ensure that the jurisdiction does not damage its reputation while pursuing cryptocurrency business… more
CROSQ launches e-learning courses
Caribbean – The Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) has launched five e-learning courses… more
Foreign big techs ‘called out’ for not reinvesting in Caribbean telecoms’ sector
Caribbean – What is known as the C9 Group comprising the region’s leading telecommunications companies are ‘calling out’ the extra-regional ‘big tech’ companies operating in the Caribbean on the issue of re-investing a ‘fair share’ of their profits from their Caribbean operations back into the growth and development of the sector in the region… more
NO MONEY FOR 5G SAYS REGIONAL TELCOs
Caribbean – Digicel’s founder and member of CANTO’s C9 lobby on the fair share issue, Denis O’Brien, says capital for installing and deploying 5th Generation connectivity in the region is unavailable, given the cost of current capital and revenue losses experienced by telecom operators… more
Samsung introduces the new S24 smartphones
Caribbean – IT’S ARGUABLE that the biggest news TM Roh, head of mobile, brought from Samsung’s head office at its January 17 Unpacked event was that its new S24 line would support seven years of security updates and seven generations of Android OS updates… more
T&T TO LAUNCH NEW E-COMMERCE STRATEGY IN 12 MONTHS
Trinidad and Tobago – Trade and Industry Minister, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon reveals that Trinidad and Tobago will in 12 months launch a new E-Commerce Strategy as part of the government’s digital transformation agenda… more
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
All eyes on Cybercrime Bill
Barbados – The need to protect children from the dangers of the Internet and social media is not an issue on which there should be any contention. The same holds true for the introduction of safeguards against cyberbullying, cybercrimes such as malware attacks, hacking, revenge porn, and violent threats… more
Caddle says new Cybercrime Bill targets online bullies
Barbados – Newly appointed Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science, and Technology Marsha Caddle has defended the government’s new Cybercrime Bill, claiming that its goal is not to restrict general free speech, but rather to reduce the number of defamatory attacks and bullying online… more
New Digital Connect Center inaugurated in Pomona
Belize – Оn Fеbruаrу 5, 2024, thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе thrоugh thе Міnіѕtrу оf Рublіс Utіlіtіеѕ, Еnеrgу, Lоgіѕtісѕ аnd Е-Gоvеrnаnсе іnаugurаtеd thе Роmоnа Dіgіtаl Соnnесt Сеntеr… more
EduFocal, Supreme Ventures sign multi-year contract to power virtual training platform
Jamaica – Digital learning solutions provider EduFocal and the Supreme Ventures Group (SVL) have signed a multi-year contract to operationalise the gaming company’s virtual learning environment and content for its territories in Jamaica and Guyana… more
Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten enhances data security through partnership with Blue NAP Americas.
Sint Maarten – Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP) is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Blue NAP Americas, reinforcing a significant leap forward in ensuring robust data backup and disaster recovery capabilities… more
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
BTC blames rival utility on east Nassau fibre cut
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday blamed a rival utility for cutting its fibre optic cable and depriving customers in the Eastern Road area of landline, mobile and Internet services… more
BTC outage ‘due to trenching by another utility provider’
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company said customers in the Eastern Road and Johnson Road corridors had experienced a landline, mobile, and internet outage due to trenching, which led to BTC’s fibre being cut by another utility provider… more
FTX’s Bahamian liquidators did ‘everything in their power’
Bahamas – A SUPREME Court judge has backed assertions by FTX’s Bahamian liquidators that they “have done everything within their power to strike the best possible deal” in settling the dispute with their US counterpart… more
Caddle: Cybercrime issue must be discussed honestly
Barbados – Minister of Industry, Science and Technology Marsha Caddle, who successfully piloted the controversial Cybercrime Bill, 2024 through the Lower House of Parliament believes it is the responsibility of the government to engage with those who raised concerns about the legislation… more
New cybercrime legislation an ‘enviable standard’
Barbados – The House of Assembly sent the Cybercrime Bill to the Senate for final approval on Tuesday, with Attorney General Dale Marshall touting the draft legislation to replace the Computer Misuse Act of 2005 as a new standard for other jurisdictions to adopt… more
CANTO Appoints New Director, Mr. Charles Douglas
Caribbean – With the resignation of Director David Cox of Cable and Wireless Grenada, CANTO appoints a new Director, Mr. Charles Douglas in his stead… more
ECTEL appoints a new managing director
Caribbean – Mr. David A. Cox is the newly appointed Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL). His appointment took place on 1st February 2024… more
Leading telecoms provider champions safer Internet for all
Caribbean – Liberty Latin America (LLA), the parent company of C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business and C&W Business in the Caribbean, joined the global community in support of Safer Internet Day with several initiatives aimed at safeguarding senior citizens and children while online… more
Mahaicony Cottage Hospital gets digital X-ray Machine
Jamaica – Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony yesterday inaugurated a state-of-the-art $49 million digital X-ray Machine at Mahaicony Cottage Hospital in Region Five… more
Mobile wallets growing in popularity
Jamaica – There has been a marked increase in the ownership of mobile wallets across Jamaica, based on the findings of a survey on financial inclusion commissioned by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)… more
SMARTS goes live officially in both SKN
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in St. Kitts-Nevis has now made it even easier to do taxes through the launch of SMARTS, which went live as of Tuesday February 6th… more
BATT, Flow team up for safer Internet
Trinidad and Tobago – “You, young students, are the architects of the future.” These were the words of Simone Martin-Sulgan, vice-president and general manager of Flow, to students of D’Abadie Government Primary School at a Safer Internet Day event hosted in collaboration with the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) at the company’s Trincity office on Tuesday… more
Thursday, 8 February 2024
BTC appoints new director of legal and government affairs
Bahamas – STEPHEN Coakley-Wells has been appointed Director of Legal & Government Affairs at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC)… more
SunCash digital wallet user rewarded for more than 1,000 transactions
Bahamas – SunCash has rewarded a user who carried out more than 1,000 transactions using her digital wallet last year, and her sticker covered car is the proof of her usage… more
Worried investors seeking information after ArawakX liquidation
Bahamas – Tropical Gyros founder Chef Kevin Culmer has been fielding calls from worried investors, who are looking for information on what has happened to their investments since the wind-up of crowdfunding exchange ArawakX began, he told Guardian Business yesterday… more
When it rains, it pours: VMBS sues iCreate to recover loans associated with Visual Vibe acquisition
Jamaica – Yet another week which sees iCreate’s Tyrone Wilson bedevilled by yet another drama… more
Business welcomes cybersecurity tax break
Trinidad and Tobago – The business community has welcomed the tax break of up to $500,000 that encourages companies to implement software to protect themselves from the growing cybersecurity threats that companies are now facing… more
New online transfer fees for Scotiabank customers
Trinidad and Tobago – Effective March 11, Scotiabank customers will pay $1.25 for each online transfer to other local banks… more
Friday, 9 February 2024
AI will require business to retool and reinvest, says PWC chief
Bahamas – As technology advances rapidly, especially in the case of artificial intelligence (AI), local businesses will have to reinvent their business models and invest more in their companies, PwC Bahamas Territory Leader Prince Rahming said in the company’s latest Annual Global CEO Survey… more
DLP urges protest against Cybercrime Bill
Barbados – Declaring the new Cybercrime Bill passed by the House of Assembly this week a threat to civil liberties, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Dr Ronnie Yearwood has called for a social media blackout to protest the legislation which now heads to the Senate… more
Joseph Budna Wanted by Police for Alleged Cyber Bullying
Belize – Joseph Budna is once again making the news, and, as has been the case in the past, it is not for good reasons. He is wanted by police in connection with a cybercrime allegation… more
Digicel announces arrival of new fibre-optic cable
Guyana – Digicel Guyana as part of its 17th anniversary celebration will soon launch its newest subsea fibre-optic cable called ‘Deep Blue One’ which recently arrived in Guyana, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Deonarine Gopaul said… more
Primary School Teachers Trained In The Use Of SMART Classrooms
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Forty primary school teachers from the eight education districts on the island have received specialized training in the use of the SMART classroom—an interactive digital screen used for student learning… more
Saturday, 10 February 2024
Dozens march in protest against proposed Cybercrime Bill
Barbados – Scores of Barbadians took to the streets of Bridgetown on Saturday to protest and lodge their objections to the proposed Cybercrime Bill 2024… more
Flow fostering engineering opportunities in Jamaica and wider Caribbean
Caribbean – Leading communication and entertainment provider, Flow Jamaica, is making a significant contribution to increasing opportunities in Jamaica and the region for the next generation of engineers… more
Social Media and Parenting
Caribbean – In our last weekend edition, we featured an article from the BBC headlined ‘Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg apologises to families in fiery US Senate hearing’… more
With Claro TV+, more than 5 thousand customers enjoy the television revolution
Dominican Republic – Claro TV, the country’s best and most complete television service, revolutionized by becoming Claro TV+, a more innovative entertainment experience… more
Sunday, 11 February 2024
T&T not ready for four-day work week
Trinidad and Tobago – Given the challenges with the levels of productivity in T&T, a four-day work week may not be the best option for the country at this moment according to the views of some of the country’s business leaders… more
Images credit: Jan Krömer (flickr); Wikiipedia; Wikipedia; ECTEL; BTC (Facebook); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia
