A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 20 May to Sunday 26 May 2024.
Monday, 20 May 2024
Government of Grenada partners Suku Technologies to boost digital diteracy and ICT Skills
Grenada – In order to advance digital literacy and enhance Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills among its civil servants, youth, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Government of Grenada, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Suku Technologies, a leading full-service IT solutions firm based in Ghana… more
Accelerating Growth: EU-LAC brings global digital opportunities to Jamaica
Jamaica – Jamaican stakeholders are enthusiastically embracing the European Union Latin America and the Caribbean ( EU LAC) Digital Accelerator Program, recognizing its potential to drive growth and innovation in the region… more
SMA brings delegates together with first-ever Caribbean Spectrum Management Conference
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) underscored its leadership in the field of spectrum management by hosting the inaugural Caribbean Spectrum Management Conference in partnership with Forum Global… more
Western Union Teams with GraceKennedy and Lynk Mobile Wallets to Expand Remittance Services Across Jamaica
Jamaica – Western Union integration with both GraceKennedy’s GKOne mobile application and Lynk mobile wallet provides Jamaican customers with choice and unparalleled access to funds sent from abroad… more
Flexxon introduces silicon-level cybersecurity protection to TT
Trinidad and Tobago – On Tuesday, Pinaka Consulting hosted an enterprise-level introduction to Flexxon’s® X-PHY® cybersecurity products… more
Tuesday, 21 May 2024
– Nil –
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
BTC readies to consolidate mobile network to 4G only
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday unveiled plans to improve its mobile network by consolidating all spectrum used by consumers into 4G (fourth generation) technology… more
BTC to commence mobile network optimization project
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) says that it plans to fully shut down its entire 2G network by June, as it commences major upgrades to its mobile network and only utilize its 4G-LTE network… more
Provider’s digital solution to staying NIB compliant
Bahamas – Bahamian companies should employ digital and human resources software to ensure they stay compliant with National Insurance Board (NIB) obligations, IT executives are urging… more
Thursday, 23 May 2024
Bahamas PM Davis: Artificial Intelligence Micro-Course Graduation is ‘something very special’
Bahamas – During his Official Remarks at the University of The Bahamas-Partanna-King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Intensive Micro-Course Graduation Ceremony, on May 22, 2024, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said that he believed that those involved had accomplished “something very special.”… more
Prosecutors attack FTX Bahamas chief’s claim to be ‘whistleblower’
Bahamas – US prosecutors have downplayed the whistleblower role performed by FTX’s former Bahamas head in demanding that he be sentenced to up to seven years’ in prison… more
PwC: Caribbean Digital Readiness Survey Report 2024
Caribbean – Joanna Robinson, Consulting Leader, PwC East Caribbean, presents key takeaways from the results of the Caribbean Digital Readiness Survey 2024… more
CIBC Caribbean establishes new ‘digital branch’ in revamp of regional call centres
Jamaica – A reorganisation does not always have to result in displaced and unhappy employees. CIBC Caribbean is proving this to be true as it unveils plans for the creation of a ‘digital branch’ out of its current network of call centres… more
Fitz-Henley aiming to leverage digital age to communicate gov’t policies
Jamaica – Newly appointed parliamentary secretary Senator Abka Fitz-Henley says he intends to leverage the emerging digital age to effectively communicate to Jamaicans policies of the Andrew Holness administration, noting that access to “accurate” information at this time is important… more
Interim Director of Bureau Telecommunications and Post and SG of General Affairs attended high-level postal forum in Washington.
Sint Maarten – On May 14 & 15, 2024, the interim director of the Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP), Mrs. Judianne Labega-Hoeve, along with the Secretary General of General Affairs of the Government of Sint Maarten, Mrs. Emilia Connor-Thomas, participated in the UPU /UPAEP high-level postal forum for Central America, the Caribbean, and other strategic countries held in Washington, D.C… more
No plans for crypto investments
Trinidad and Tobago – The Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) has no immediate plans to invest in cryptocurrency due to its volatility, according to its executive director, Nigel Edwards… more
Smart manufacturing line 7: Carib’s $200m investment
Trinidad and Tobago – Carib Brewery has unveiled its new $200 million smart manufacturing Line 7, commissioned by the Caribbean Development Company (CDC), making it the company’s largest investment in decades… more
Friday, 24 May 2024
CIBC Caribbean “Digital Branch” creation to result in closure of Bahamas contact centre
Bahamas – CIBC Caribbean on Thursday announced plans to create a “Digital Branch” out of its current call centres, a move that will result in the closure of its contact centre in The Bahamas… more
FTX’s $675k link to govt officials
Bahamas – FTX and its jailed founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, paid $675,000 to “entities affiliated with high-ranking Bahamian government officials and their families”, it was revealed yesterday… more
No job losses with CIBC call center closure
Bahamas – Bahamas Financial Services Union President Theresa Mortimer said “no jobs will be lost” when CIBC closes its call centers in the country, part of a wider move by the bank to close all of its call centers throughout the Caribbean… more
CEO of Universal Service Fund Dr Daniel Dawes has died
Jamaica – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the state-owned Universal Service Fund (USF), Dr Daniel Dawes, has died… more
DBJ disburses $200m to 11 businesses through Innovation Grant Fund
Jamaica – Eleven medium-sized enterprises have benefitted from the Development Bank of Jamaica’s (DBJ) Innovation Grant Fund (IGF) in the last year… more
Police warning to Vincentians: beware online financial scams
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Romance scams using a fake identity and can also include blackmail has been identified as one of the most popular forms of online scams globally and the trend is rearing its head in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)… more
Financial institutions increasingly concerned about cyberattacks.
Sint Maarten – Cyber risk has come to the top of financial institutions’ risk concerns, reports the Centrale Bank van Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) in its 2024 Financial Stability Report (FSR). The monetary union’s financial institutions are stepping up efforts and expenditures to boost their cyber resilience… more
Tech Beach Retreat brings global connections to the USVI
United States Virgin Islands – TECH Beach Retreat (TBR) is expanding its footprint to the US Virgin Islands (USVI) as it moves to broaden its ecosystem and tap into new markets. This strategic move aims to connect Caribbean tech entrepreneurs and provide greater access to resources… more
Saturday, 25 May 2024
OPM to monitor FTX donation claims
Bahamas – The Office of the Prime Minister will continue to monitor allegations that FTX and its former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried paid $675,000 to entities affiliated with high-ranking Bahamian government officials and their families… more
tTech Limited announces 2024 growth initiatives amid mixed Q1 performance
Jamaica – Jamaica-based managed IT services provider, tTech Limited faces operational challenges amid mixed results from its first quarter 2024 financial report… more
USF CEO Dawes’ death sends shock waves through public sector
Jamaica – Transport Authority Managing Director Ralston Smith said news of the passing of Dr Daniel Dawes, the chief executive officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF), has sent shock waves through not only the organisation he leads, but the entire transport sector… more
Sunday, 26 May 2024
U.D.P. Says B.T.L. is Being Sabotaged by Briceno Administration
Belize – For many years, the Government of Belize had engaged the services of B.T.L. Since the Briceño administration took office in 2020, there has been a move towards other another service provider… more
Mastercard accelerates card fraud detection with generative AI
Caribbean – As fraudsters seek new ways to exploit technology, Mastercard is using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to double the speed at which it can detect potentially compromised cards, further protecting cardholders and securing the ecosystem… more
Sagicor details digital transformation plans at 2024 AGM
Jamaica – Sagicor Group Jamaica is forging ahead with its five-year plan to enhance user experience for both customers and team members across all touchpoints through digital transformation… more
Vlogging gang culture in Trinidad and Tobago: Glorification or reality?
Trinidad and Tobago – THERE has been an increasing trend of vloggers/YouTubers visiting TT to showcase gang culture and violence… more
Images credit: filipe ferreira (flickr); Spectrum Management Authority; BTC (Facebook); Wikipedia; Development Bank of Jamaica; tTech; Wikipedia
