A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 February to Sunday 3 March 2024.
Monday, 26 February 2024
ArawakX ‘to be reported’ to police amid $4m insolvency
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd funding platform is suffering from a near-$4m insolvency, its provisional liquidators have asserted, as they prepare to report “multiple criminal infractions” to the police… more
BTC parent anticipates finalizing cell tower deal in first half of year, generating $70 Million
Bahamas – Liberty Latin America (LLA), the parent company of The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), plans to conclude the deal allowing it to sell its towers to a third party in the first half of this year, a transaction from which it expects to generate $70 million… more
Digital banking the ‘only way forward’ for Andros residents
Bahamas – DARIN Bethel, president of the Andros Chamber of Commerce said that digital currency providers are the “only way forward” for North and Central Andros businesses and residents… more
Liberty Latin America hopes to net $70 mil. from tower sales
Bahamas – Telecommunications company Liberty Latin America (LLA) said in its fourth quarter and fiscal year-end results for 2023 that it hopes to complete its monetization of tower assets in The Bahamas before the end of the first half of the year, generating $70 million through the sale of those communications towers… more
Liquidators ‘blocked as ArawakX set up similar operation in US’
Bahamas – ArawakX’s provisional liquidators have accused the crowd-funder’s principals and owner of its website of colluding to deny them control of the platform while setting up a similar US-domiciled operation… more
URCA report: Starlink regulatory fees for Family Islands different than major islands
Bahamas – Starlink’s regulatory fee schedule per user per year is dramatically different for users on the Family islands versus Grand Bahama, and both are very different from the fee schedule on New Providence, according to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) updated, 2024 fee schedule, which shows a $450 dollar variance per year between what New Providence Starlink pays to URCA per user terminal and what it pays per family island terminal to maintain its license to operate in The Bahamas… more
Guyana Embarks on a Digital Revolution: Training 2,000 in Tech, Aiming for Economic Diversification
Guyana – In a ground-breaking move, Guyana is setting its sights on becoming a global digital services hub with the launch of the ‘One Guyana Digital’ (1GD) initiative. This ambitious project, a partnership between the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and Toronto Metropolitan University, aims to train over 2,000 Guyanese, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and Indigenous Peoples… more
Jamaican PM’s office says national digital ID coming in Q1 of this year
Jamaica – The Jamaican government has announced its intention to complete phase one of the National Identification System (NIDS) enrolment and ID-card issuing process during the 2024/25 financial year, and comments from the Prime Minister’s office suggest the rollout could come in the first quarter… more
TATT and digitial video broadcast: Putting the cart before the horse, while thinking it’s a Ford…
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) began 2024 with its version of a blitz with respect to the proposed transition to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). DTT will allow for the reception by antenna of high quality digital television signals. No need for CableTV or the Internet! This has long been outstanding, with a process of consultation and deliberation that began in 2010… more
Trinidad and Tobago’s leap into digital excellence
Trinidad and Tobago – In the heart of the Caribbean, the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago has embarked on a transformative journey, navigating through the complexities of digital evolution with a remarkable strategy that sets a global benchmark. This journey, rooted in proactive digital policy and telecom regulation, has led to the prestigious recognition of winning the GSMA Government Leadership Award 2024… more
TT wins GSMA award for Global Leadership in digital development
Trinidad and Tobago – The GSMA’s Mobile World Congress, held this year in Barcelona announced that Trinidad and Tobago was the 16th winner of its annual Global Leadership Award… more
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
As problematic as facial recognition is, Guyana’s law enforcement agencies should not be deprived of its technology
Guyana – Dear Editor, There is a story behind every event, in this connection, the story has to do with how facial recognition is used by Israeli intelligence and defense forces to identify, track and pinpoint the exact location of top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolution Guard… more
Guyana Launches Central Monitoring to Elevate Public Service: A Leap Towards Digital Governance
Guyana – In a significant move towards modernizing public service and enhancing government accountability, President Dr. Irfaan Ali of Guyana announced the establishment of a central monitoring mechanism. This initiative, part of the ‘One Guyana Digital’ project, was unveiled at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, marking a pivotal step in the government’s effort to streamline and improve public service delivery… more
Growth & Jobs | Students encouraged to build technology skills
Jamaica – STUDENTS SHOULD build their technology skills and seek careers in the lucrative cybersecurity sector, says Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with oversight for skills and digital transformation, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon… more
TSTT hacking a storm in a teacup
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: Cyber-terrorism is an international problem from which no institution is immune. Our own AG Department and even the US Pentagon have been targeted, so why the public outcry over TSTT? Cyber criminals only need to get it right once while the company needs to get it right every time… more
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
SunCash’s Bank in a Box a hit in North Andros
Bahamas – SunCash’s Bank in a Box service is a hit in North Andros, and it leads the way in Sand Dollar transaction volumes… more
IT firm pushes cybersecurity training amid rising attacks
Barbados – An IT company has suggested that untrained workers may be the weakest link in a company’s cyber defences. Northpoint Consulting Inc., an ICT strategy and solutions firm that provides digital transformation solutions, including cybersecurity services, has issued an urgent appeal for employers to train their workforce on essential cyber defence skills… more
What’s in your cashless war chest?
Caribbean – In 2024 cybercrime is at an all-time high, with an attack happening every 39 seconds here are a few thoughts:… more
Minister Hussen Announces Funding at 46th CARICOM Meeting
Guyana – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, today concluded a 2-day trip to Guyana, where he represented Canada at the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This visit builds on the success of the Canada-CARICOM Summit, held in Ottawa from October 17 to 19, 2023, and reinforces Canada’s strategic partnership with the region… more
Businesses urged to integrate AI into cybersecurity measures
Jamaica – With the increased use of digital technologies and more exposure to risks, local businesses are being urged to fit artificial intelligence (AI) into their cybersecurity strategies… more
TSTT workers protest: worried about job security
Trinidad and Tobago – Members of the Communication Workers’ Union protested outside the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) head office on Edward Street in Port of Spain on Tuesday to air their concerns about the security of their jobs… more
Thursday, 29 February 2024
AI tech improves WSC leak detection by 300%, repair rate by 40%
Bahamas – Artificial intelligence-powered leak detection provided by Miya Bahamas has helped to increase the Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) leak detection rate by 300 percent and repair rate by 40 percent, and has improved water loss from just below four million imperial gallons per day in 2023 to now closer to three million imperial gallons per day, Miya said in a press statement… more
URCA’s market review highlights declines in fixed voice and pay-TV service uptake
Bahamas – Between 2017 and 2022, a downward trend has been observed in the uptake of fixed voice services and pay TV services, according to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) which also noted that the adoption of residential fixed broadband connections remains below pre-pandemic levels… more
URCA fears on price in communications market
Bahamas – Regulators have assessed the competition within retail fixed electronic communications service market and determined “excessive pricing” was a common anti-competitive concern for each retail market… more
URCA proposes price cap on BTC’s landline plans
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) in a new report proposes a ban to prevent Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) from increasing its entry level prices for standalone, fixed voice plans beyond 5 percent a year… more
Senator Blackman: AI a major player in film industry
Barbados – Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman, is encouraging prospective filmmakers to grasp the opportunities that will transform the industry through the use of artificial intelligence (AI)… more
Success in the digital age
Caribbean – In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, the metrics by which we measure success are shifting beneath our feet… more
Non-functioning GTT automated machines deters efficient customer service
Guyana – Dear Editor, Last evening I went to pay my GTT bill via their automated paying machines in the Giftland Mall. I was informed by the teller at the kiosk on the bottom floor that the machine was out of order. He advised me to use the office upstairs… more
Interim Director of Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten, Mrs. Judianne Labega-Hoeve, participates in Ministerial Programme at Mobile World Congress 2024.
Sint Maarten – Mrs. Judianne Labega-Hoeve, the Interim Director of Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP), recently represented the nation at the esteemed Ministerial Programme during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona… more
Central Bank governor delivers AI-generated address – with warning
Trinidad and Tobago – PERSONAL use and workplace adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) have skyrocketed with the advent of Chat GPT and similar readily available open-source AI tools… more
‘Cybercrime likely to keep surging’
Trinidad and Tobago – Cybercrime is expected to surge in the next four years, rising from US$9.22 trillion this year to US$13.82 trillion by 2028, according to a report by Statista’s Market Insights that tracks such attacks worldwide… more
Friday, 1 March 2024
SMARTER BAHAMAS CLOSES SKILLS GAP: First cohort from Data Analytics Center receives certificates of completion
Bahamas – The first cohort of Smarter Bahamas and the University of The Bahamas’ (UB) Data Analytics Career Accelerator Programme received their certificates of completion during an official graduation ceremony held at the university’s Performing Arts Centre Thursday evening… more
Go digital, Minister Blackman encourages businesses
Barbados – Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment Senator Chad Blackman, is encouraging those businesses who have not digitised their operations to do so or run the risk of being uncompetitive… more
OfReg says it’s monitoring Flow’s latest service issues
Cayman Islands – After local telecommunications provider Flow sent messages to customers that there were problems with its voice service, OfReg issued a public service message Thursday stating that it had requested information from Flow about the issues and what it is doing to resolve them… more
Remote work largely ‘untapped’ in Caribbean
Jamaica – The head of a regional recruitment firm has suggested that remote work may be largely “untapped” in the Caribbean, as companies across the region continue to embrace it to a lesser extent than those abroad… more
‘Central Bank an early adopter of AI’
Trinidad and Tobago – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago is an early adopter of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but the regulator of financial institutions remains cautious about its use… more
Saturday, 2 March 2024
$600m eGov Data Centre upgrade to boost efficiency in public sector
Jamaica – THE GOVERNMENT’S thrust to improve efficiency in the public sector has been bolstered with the upgrade of the eGov Data Centre… more
Flow hikes its rates
Trinidad and Tobago – Come the first of next month, Flow customers will face an increase in their monthly cable and internet packages of four per cent… more
Sunday, 3 March 2024
Holness urges MSMEs to apply for DBJ Innovation Grant
Jamaica – Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to apply for support from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) to innovate their operations… more
Images credit: Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Logo UK; CANTO; Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
