A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 18 March to Sunday 24 March 2024.
Monday, 18 March 2024
CIBC CARIBBEAN and Mastercard launch Prepaid Card and Digital Disbursement Solution
Caribbean – CIBC Caribbean the leading financial institution in the Caribbean, has introduced the Mastercard Prepaid Card – a secure digital disbursement solution… more
CIBC, Mastercard launch new prepaid card and digital disbursement solution
Caribbean – CIBC Caribbean has introduced its Mastercard prepaid card, a secure digital disbursement solution, to the market as part of its digital transformation journey, with the primary objective of accelerating the cessation of cheques… more
Cybercrime challenge: look upward and closer Commissioner, Hicken
Guyana – The Police Chief said that one of the biggest challenges faced by the Guyana Police Force is cybercrime. Isn’t that the gospel truth… more
12 years strong: EduFocal marks operational milestone
Jamaica – Jamaica-based online education platform, EduFocal Limited, celebrated its 12th anniversary last week, marking over a decade of commitment to transforming the learning experience for students… more
New IT labs for 4 more panyards
Trinidad and Tobago – CUREPE Scherzando Steel Orchestra, T&T Tropical Angel Harps, NGC Couva Joylanders and NLCB Fonclaire are now among eight steelbands to have air-conditioned computer labs, constructed by a partnership between the Digicel Foundation’s Technology in Education (TIE) programme and PanTrinbago… more
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
BTC union anger erupts on manager dismissals
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) top executive yesterday said there will be times when the carrier and its two trade unions “vigorously disagree” amid demonstrations over staff terminations… more
Belize Postal Service Launches ‘Track and Trace’ App
Belize – Оn Маrсh 14th, thе Веlіzе Роѕtаl Ѕеrvісе, undеr thе Міnіѕtrу оf Рublіс Utіlіtіеѕ, Еnеrgу, Lоgіѕtісѕ аnd Е-Gоvеrnаnсе (МРUЕLЕ), lаunсhеd thе fіrѕt рhаѕе оf іtѕ dіgіtіzаtіоn іnіtіаtіvе ─Тhе “Тrасk аnd Тrасе ” Аррlісаtіоn… more
Digi says advertisement for post of new CEO necessary as it enhances Executive Recruitment Process
Belize – Ѕіnсе 2019, Сhіеf Ехесutіvе Оffісеr, Іvаn Теѕесum hаѕ bееn аt thе hеlm оf Веlіzе Теlеmеdіа Lіmіtеd (ВТL). Ноwеvеr, аn аdvеrtіѕеmеnt fоr thе роѕіtіоn оf СЕО саuѕеd mоuntіng ѕресulаtіоn аbоut hіѕ аllеgеd dераrturе frоm thе соmраnу… more
Prime Minister explains announcement of post for BTL CEO
Belize – Тhе аnnоunсеmеnt оf thе Сhіеf Ехесutіvе Оffісеr роѕіtіоn fоr Веlіzе Теlеmеdіа Lіmіtеd сrеаtеd ѕоmе ѕресulаtіоn ѕіnсе СЕО Іvаn Теѕесum hаѕ bееn аt thе соmраnу ѕіnсе 2019… more
BVI is becoming a digital asset hub
British Virgin Islands – Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Lorna Smith recently announced that there have been significant milestones in the evolution of the BVI as an expanding hub for digital assets… more
Facebook page ‘Mika Barry’ removed amid Archer’s threat
British Virgin Islands – Deputy Governor David Archer yesterday issued a strong warning to the creators of the Facebook page Mika Barry, calling for them to remove one of their latest videos that the leader said contains false and inaccurate information about him… more
EU-LAC digital accelerator launches first open call for EU, LATAM and Caribbean business partnerships
Caribbean – EU-LAC Digital Accelerator supports the generation of cross-regional business partnerships in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to develop digital business… more
Pioneering the Future with Digicel Business & Symptai Consulting Limited’s Digital Transformation Survey
Caribbean – As the digital landscape continues to reshape industries, businesses, and communities, there is an unprecedented opportunity to gain greater insight into the Caribbean’s current digital standing. Enter Digicel Business and Symptai Consulting Limited’s region-wide Digital Transformation Survey… more
Cayman Islands promoting development of new subsea telecom cable
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands are promoting the development of new submarine cable to improve connectivity in the British Overseas Territory… more
Anand Mahurkar tells J’can CEOs how to leverage AI for growth, transformation
Jamaica – The Mona School of Business & Management (MSBM) hosted an exclusive CEO event titled, ‘Leveraging AI for Corporate Transformation’ at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel… more
Police receive computers and other equipment
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it has received a boost in its equipment to combat crime and serve the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) with the gift of computers and equipment… more
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
URCA independence fear over director terminations
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas is urging the Government to reform the law so as to preserve the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) independence and reduce its costs… more
5 ways marketers can leverage AI
Caribbean – In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) has grown tremendously from January 2023 to now, offering innovative tools and solutions that empower marketers to optimise their strategies and outpace the competition… more
Informática 2024: Progress in Cuba on the path to a digital society
Cuba – The Informática 2024 19th International Convention and Fair is an opportunity to showcase Cuba’s progress in this area. According to the Minister of Communications of the Caribbean country, Mayra Arevich, 31 state entities and 290 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises—88 of them private—make up the Cuban software industry, which also includes the technology parks of Havana and Matanzas… more
Sector roundup: Internet in Cuba, new datacenter association, teamwork and training in Dominican Rep
Cuba – Average monthly mobile data consumption in Cuba is 7.7GB per person and the country has about 6mn users, according to figures from the communications ministry… more
Flow calls on public, private sector leadership for stronger gender equality initiatives
Jamaica – Business leaders are being encouraged to be more meaningful in efforts that foster gender equality, and even more specific about female empowerment… more
Jamaica’s tourism rides digital wave
Jamaica – THE Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) said it has shifted marketing focus towards digital marketing, scaling back on traditional advertising, and has seen a surge in visitor arrivals justifying the move… more
IronRock Insurance hit by cyberattack
Jamaica – IronRock Insurance says it has been hit by a cyberattack, which fortunately did not affect normal business operations… more
Term in office of TSTT directors expires
Trinidad and Tobago – The term of office for the eight directors of the Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) has ended… more
Thursday, 21 March 2024
KEITH ROYE II: Blockchain emerges as security game changer
Caribbean – In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, one innovation has been making waves across industries, promising to transform the way we conduct business and secure our digital transactions… more
Banks urged to ensure inclusivity along with technological changes
Jamaica – Financial institutions are being urged to make well-designed plans for digital and technological changes… more
KFC digital kiosks – Making great taste better
Trinidad and Tobago – KFC is known worldwide for its great-tasting chicken, made with a secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices… more
Friday, 22 March 2024
Halkitis: Digital currency knowledge exchange with Botswana delegation in April
Bahamas – Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis has underscored the commonalities between The Bahamas and Botswana, with this nation set to welcome a delegation from the African country at the end of April for knowledge sharing over the Central Bank digital currency Sand Dollar… more
Data centre to open new tech door, boost cybersecurity – Caddle
Barbados – The government’s planned Data Centre will play a critical role in unlocking new technological opportunities for the industry as well as boosting the island’s cybersecurity infrastructure, Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Marsha Caddle has said… more
Closing digital gap between OECD, LAC countries a financial mountain to climb – IDB
Caribbean – The fact that the Caribbean and Latin America are badly lagging behind member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is stymying development in the hemisphere and points to the need for urgent and significant investment in broadband penetration in order to close the digital divide, a recent study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says… more
New Mastercard report reveals key trends & opportunities to digitise remittances in LATAM, Caribbean
Caribbean – Mastercard has released a whitepaper on the state of remittances, also known as cross-border payments, in Latin America and the Caribbean… more
The battle to regulate artificial intelligence
Cayman Islands – Imagine receiving an email that directs you to click what you think may be a suspicious URL address. To check it’s legit, you make a call to the email sender, whose voice you know, and you then have a phone conversation with them in which they assure you everything is above board… more
Coding Competition For Students In St. Lucia Announced
Saint Lucia – Fresh off the heels of World Consumer Rights Day 2024, celebrated under the theme ‘Fair and responsible AI for Consumers’, the Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), launched a Coding Competition for Climate Change centred on finding sustainable solutions… more
CBTT seeking stronger cyber security
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Central Bank is exploring ways it can improve its ability to help local financial institutions protect themselves against cyber attacks… more
Saturday, 23 March 2024
PM Briceno Explains B.T.L. C.E.O. Vacancy
Belize – On Friday, we reported that a vacancy is being advertised for a new Chief Executive Officer at B.T.L. We also reported that Ivan Tesucum has been at the helm of the utility company since 2019… more
What’s up with the biometric ID card?
Guyana – Dear Editor, Wasn’t there to be an identification card to replace the existing one which was to have all our bio details and can be used to transact all business? Wasn’t a firm identified to produce these cards? What’s the status? Was the project abandoned? Just wondering… more
Sunday, 24 March 2024
How to spot AI-generated deepfake images
Caribbean – AI fakery is quickly becoming one of the biggest problems confronting us online. Deceptive pictures, videos, and audio are proliferating as a result of the rise and misuse of generative artificial intelligence tools… more
Health Tech | How leaked health information can destroy lives
Jamaica – In Jamaica, we tend to not give much thought to the implications of health information leaks, perhaps because we are just entering the age of digital health and that has not yet posed a major issue. However, we have seen what has been happening with the financial industry and the distress it has caused individuals and losses to businesses… more
No strike at Spectrum Management Authority, says managing director
Jamaica – Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) Managing Director Maria Myers-Hamilton has denied that the entity has been served with a 72-hour strike notice by the Union of Clerical Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE)… more
Images credit: Karolina Grabowska (Pixabay); BTC (Facebook); Bahamas Weekly; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia;
