A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 22 July and 28 July 2024.
Monday, 22 July 2024
ACTIVTRADES: Off to a rough start
Bahamas – The final trading day of last week started with a huge information (IT) problem that began in Australia and spread worldwide… more
Airport, banks and stores are hit by global internet outage
Bahamas – A global technology shortage affected services at Lynden Pindling International Airport on Friday… more
Bahamian digital payment provider bridges gap amid global IT issues
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments solutions provider expressed satisfaction in being able to “bridge the gap” for users and merchants on its platform, ensuring transactions remained unaffected despite global IT issues impacting local point-of-sale transactions… more
IT meltdown ‘wake up call’ for local business
Bahamas – Bahamian businesses and information technology (IT) providers yesterday branded Friday’s global meltdown “a wake-up call” in exposing this nation’s vulnerability to events over which it has no control… more
IT meltdown won’t halt digital payments drive
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ digital payments drive will not be stalled by Friday’s global IT outage, a prominent banker argued yesterday, as the benefits “far outstrip” the impacts from this event… more
Kanoo users unaffected during Crowdstrike tech outage
Bahamas – Mobile wallets were operational on Friday when global online payment systems were down, Chief Executive Officer of Kanoo Keith Davies told Guardian Business yesterday, explaining that Kanoo merchants lauded the mobile wallet company for being able to keep payments up on Friday… more
Rolle: CrowdStrike software glitch affected some banks
Bahamas – Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas John Rolle said a global technology outage, traced back to a cybersecurity company called CrowdStrike, is having an effect on The Bahamas, adding that some card payment services were offline last week… more
Cayman ‘dodged a bullet’ in global IT outage
Cayman Islands – Friday’s global Microsoft outage took some Cayman Islands government services offline, caused delays of some flights to and from the US, and shut down a number of retail bank ATMs, but, overall, the effect on the Cayman Islands was minimal compared to the impact worldwide… more
Digital Transformation Project invests just under EC $1 million in young entrepreneurs
Dominica – A grant of EC $986,342.00 was distributed amongst seventy-seven local entrepreneurs through the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project under the Government of Dominica… more
STEMGuyana launches groundbreaking AI Tutor to help with close gaps caused by COVID-19 learning loss
Guyana – STEMGuyana has unveiled a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutor, set to transform the educational landscape for grades 1 to 10 across Guyana… more
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Tech execs advocate failover systems in wake of global tech outage
Bahamas – Bahamian companies need to have failover systems in place, and closely monitor the controls they give to software vendors, in order to prevent the kind of impact the recent global technology outage that occurred on Friday caused many businesses, the principals of Plato Alpha Design said in a statement yesterday… more
METVT issues statement; Public warned of free online course scam
Barbados – The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) has issued a statement regarding a free education scam which has been circulating on social media… more
BELTRAIDE announces Open Call for BLAZE Awards 2024
Belize – Тhе Веlіzе Тrаdе аnd Іnvеѕtmеnt Dеvеlорmеnt Ѕеrvісе (ВЕLТRАІDЕ) hаѕ оffісіаllу lаunсhеd thе аррlісаtіоnѕ fоr thе hіghlу аntісіраtеd ВLАZЕ Аwаrdѕ 2024… more
Ministry of E-Governance commences the Cataloging of Government Services Project
Belize – Rесеntlу, thе Міnіѕtrу оf Рublіс Utіlіtіеѕ, Еnеrgу, Lоgіѕtісѕ аnd Е-Gоvеrnаnсе, thrоugh thе Е-Gоvеrnаnсе аnd Dіgіtаlіzаtіоn Dераrtmеnt аnd wіth thе ѕuрроrt оf thе UNDР Веlіzе, соmmеnсеd thе іnіtіаl dаtа gаthеrіng ѕtаgе оf thе Саtаlоgіng оf gоvеrnmеnt ѕеrvісеѕ рrојесt… more
CIBC Caribbean Bank explores data science and AI
Caribbean – CIBC Caribbean’s technology team spearheaded the hosting of ‘Ignite Innovation’; a presentation to clients on data science and artificial intelligence (AI) at the Warrens Great House in Barbados on July 5… more
Global IT outage: lessons for the Caribbean
Caribbean – CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm that partners with major cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services – serving 95 per cent of Fortune 500 companies – caused a global IT outage on July 19, 2024, due to a defective software update… more
President Ali and Sir Tony Blair discuss digital transformation and climate change
Guyana – President Dr. Irfaan Ali met with former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair at the Office of the President on Tuesday… more
Amber Group acquires 50% equity in OnTime Taxi
Jamaica – Amber Group has acquired a 50 per cent equity stake in popular taxi service company OnTime Taxi, which will now be rebranded as ‘Amber OnTime’… more
Opposition legislator in St Vincent blasts telecom companies for payment reminders amid ongoing Beryl outage
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – An opposition legislator in St Vincent has criticised telecommunication companies for sending bill payment reminder messages to customers even as their services remain offline following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1… more
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
IT outage gives ‘horrific’ small business impact
Bahamas – Many Bahamian small businesses suffered an “horrific” and “huge impact” from Friday’s widespread IT outage due to their reliance on card transactions for 65 percent of customer purchases… more
Empowering Seniors: BARP and Legacy Foundation Launch Digital Learning Centre
Barbados – The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is collaborating with the Legacy Foundation to establish a learning space designed for elderly individuals who face difficulties conducting business online… more
Caye Caulker Unveils Digital Connect Center
Belize – Caye Caulker now has a Digital Connect Center. This facility offers residents free Wi-Fi access, laptops, and computers, marking a significant step forward in digital inclusion… more
Digi Belize sponsors Girls Empowered & Motivated Summer Program
Belize – Digi Belize, the National Telecom company, announced its sponsorship of the Girls Empowered & Motivated (GEM) summer program… more
CTU’s 51st Executive Council (EC51), General Conference of Ministers Meeting and ICT Week to be held in St Kitts and Nevis, 30th September to 5th October 2024
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), is delighted to announce the hosting of the CTU ICT Week 2024 – St. Kitts and Nevis, set to take place in the unforgettable paradise twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis from 30th September to 5th October 2024… more
The top global in-demand skills in tech 2024
Caribbean – IN the Caribbean, we’ve traditionally celebrated the careers of doctors, lawyers, and engineers as prestigious and lucrative… more
Thursday, 25 July 2024
Virtual reality training to become necessity
Bahamas – In recent years, the landscape of employee training and development has been dramatically reshaped by advances in technology… more
MoH, Tony Blair Institute hold meeting on Digital Health Strategy
Guyana – With the advancement of technology and the Ministry’s efforts to improve the healthcare system by going digital, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, held its kick-off meeting on the development of Guyana’s Digital Health Strategy… more
Six weeks without landlines and a hamstrung Blaze internet system
Guyana – Dear Editor, I am a subscriber/renter of telephone services for nearly 50 years now. There are two land lines at my home… more
Friday, 26 July 2024
Digital payments push arrives on Eleuthera
Bahamas – Eleuthera residents and business owners discussed digital payments solutions with almost a dozen providers and presenters at the island’s recent second annual Digital Expo… more
WORC launches new portal to replace JobsCayman
Cayman Islands – Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman has launched the new Jobs & Online Payment Services portal to replace JobsCayman… more
Amber to roll out AI-enabled taxi ride after buying stake in OnTime
Jamaica – Amber Group has entered Jamaica’s public transport sector through a 50 per cent equity stake in OnTime Taxi, which operates a fleet of about 300 cabs… more
FTC to study benefits of ride-sharing services and make recommendations
Jamaica – The Fair Trading Commission has embarked on a study that will assess the regulatory framework governing ride-sharing services… more
Digicel Foundation, Shell Trinidad and Tobago renew EPIC partnership
Trinidad and Tobago – Ten non-profit organisations will each receive $150,000 in funding to transform their communities through a renewed partnership between the Digicel Foundation and Shell TT… more
TSTT profit up by 36%
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Services of T&T has reported an after-tax profit of US$19 million for the year ended March 31, 2024 marking a 36% increase compared to the prior year… more
Saturday, 27 July 2024
Edufocal enters strategic partnership Signature Creed & Associates
Jamaica – Digital education company EduFocal Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with local audit, tax, and advisory services firm Signature Creed & Associates… more
Sunday, 28 July 2024
Animation Bootcamp for Belizean Women and Girls Launched
Belize – The Ministry of Investment, through its Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU), has partnered with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the National Women’s Commission to launch an Animation Bootcamp for women and girls at the Belize City ITVET… more
Digi Gives High School Scholarships to 35 Students
Belize – Today, thirty-five students received scholarships from Digicell to attend the high school of their choice… more
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