A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 June to Sunday 30 June 2024.
Monday, 24 June 2024
Kanoo secures wearable payments tech deal at AfriCaribbean trade forum
Bahamas – Kanoo Pays ended the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, which occurred last week at the Baha Mar Convention Center, with the sale of two million units of wearable payments technology for the Caribbean, the company’s Chairman Nicholas Rees told Guardian Business last week… more
The power of influencer marketing and business growth
Caribbean – In 1976, I transitioned my career from UWI, St Augustine, to establish a management consulting business in Barbados. Integral to my decision was to formally delve into management disciplines, including Marketing Management, offered at the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity, established in 1972. Back then, the “marketing mix” was simply defined as product, price, place and promotion… more
Will the cybercrime law harm workers’ rights?
Caribbean – The understanding is that cybercrime legislation applies to the use of a computer, computer and communications systems, networks and databases, and aims to protect and safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data stored therein from all forms of misuse, abuse and illegal access… more
Zanutix Consulting banks on AI, cybersecurity investments for growth
Caribbean – ZANUTIX Consulting Limited, a tech firm operating in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, is making strategic investments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced cybersecurity measures — all aimed at positioning the company as a strong competitor in the regional tech market… more
Board-level changes at Edufocal
Jamaica – Jamaican digital learning company Edufocal has effected changes at the board level, starting with Kevin Donaldson, who resigned from his role as audit committee chairman effective June 18… more
Education ministry commits to technological development of schools
Jamaica – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade last week provided a platform to spark innovative ideas for transforming Jamaica’s education system at the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference… more
Holness vows to crack down on ‘fake news’ online
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness is warning of future prosecutions for trigger-happy, online warriors who continue to tarnish the reputations of Jamaicans, especially on popular social media platforms… more
Tuesday, 25 June 2024
The rising threat of cybercrime to our digital lives
Barbados – In an increasingly connected world, cybersecurity threats loom large, and Barbados is no exception. While media coverage often focuses on high-profile business breaches, everyday Internet users are frequently on the front lines of these digital attacks… more
Electronic money institutions, virtual asset & payment service providers to register at CBCS
Caribbean – The Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) on Tuesday urged all virtual asset service providers, payment service providers, and electronic money institutions offering their services in or from Curaçao to register with the CBCS by July 9, 2024… more
ICC launches new “ICC Immersive” app on Apple Vision Pro
Caribbean – The ICC just launched – ICC Immersive, a groundbreaking new app developed in collaboration with Quidich to bring the electrifying atmosphere of the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to fans through Apple Vision Pro… more
C&W Business partners with Grenada’s GuestChat to deliver value to hospitality sector
Grenada – Regional network infrastructure and technology solutions company C&W Business has entered its second partnership aimed at improving service delivery in the region’s hospitality industry… more
Hill highlights need for local entrepreneurs to invest in digitalisation
Jamaica – Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, is urging Jamaican business owners to buy into digital transformation programmes, such as the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica’s €9.5 million Digital Transitioning Programme for Jamaica, or Digital Jamaica, to avoid failures which jointly affect the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)… more
T&T included in new fintech study
A new report has said the region’s fintech ecosystem registered growth of more than 340% in the number of technological finance startups created in the last six years… more
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Caribbean watch: Fiber deployment, Wi-Fi and digitization
Caribbean – Fiber deployment. Bahamas telecom company BTC will achieve 100% fiber coverage in Grand Bahama “soon,” Dominic Petty, BTC’s executive senior manager for the Northern Bahamas, said in a press release. The rollout covers nearly 90% of the island… more
CIBC Caribbean Launches Ways To Bank, A Digital Hub
Caribbean – With 94% of all their banking transactions being conducted online, clients of CIBC Caribbean, the leading financial institution in the Caribbean, can now access all of the bank’s digital products and services in one convenient spot – through its new digital hub, Ways To Bank… more
Sagicor Financial looking to further optimise operations through technology
Jamaica – Sagicor Financial Company Limited (SFC) will be looking to deploy greater technological solutions to automate and optimise portions of its growing financial services business… more
Smart Mobile Solutions looks to revolutionise tech industry with ‘devices as a service’ model
Jamaica – It all started with a request for then-IT professionals at SuperPlus Food Dane Spencer and Marlon Hudson to source protective accessories for company-owned Blackberry phones… more
Why Jamaicans should test out the digital nomad lifestyle
Jamaica – IN Jamaica, widespread frustration and stagnation have left many feeling trapped by rising crime and shrinking opportunities. This craving for change is exacerbated by a limited global perspective, as we know there are still many of those who have not left the island or if they did, they have not returned… more
AI aiding cybersecurity’
Trinidad and Tobago – About a month ago, Trinidad and Tobago’s cybersecurity resilience was boosted when the Overwatch Cyber Fusion Centre was launched at the Brix Autograph Collection in St. Ann’s… more
Thursday, 27 June 2024
The Bahamas PM Davis Securities Industries Bill 2024 and the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Bill 2024 represent critical steps forward
Bahamas – During his Contribution to the Securities Industries Bill (2024) and the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Bill (2024), in the House of Assembly, on June 26, 2024, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said that it represented critical steps forward, as well as “the strengthening of our regulatory framework for financial services and investments to enhance fairness and transparency and promote sustainable economic growth.”… more
Growing interest in tokenising real-world assets
Cayman Islands – With the resurgence of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies over the past year, different applications of blockchain technology have seen renewed interest… more
Digital schooling to be implemented in some communities – President Ali
Guyana – The Government of Guyana intends to introduce a digital education programme in some communities, President Irfaan Ali announced on Tuesday during his visit to Santa Aratack, Region Three… more
Editorial | Regulate carefully
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has legitimate concerns about the growth of misinformation and so-called ‘fake news’ on social media platforms. He, however, has to be careful about which tools he employs in attempting to fix the problem… more
New tax allowance to bolster cyber security
Trinidad and Tobago – In a significant move to enhance the cyber security framework of TT, the National Information and Communication Technology Company Ltd (iGovTT), under the Digital Transformation Ministry, launched the Cybersecurity Investment Tax Allowance (CITA) management system on June 12… more
Friday, 28 June 2024
How tech reprogramming the youth
Caribbean – I DON’T pretend to understand the dibby dibby yute. Children would rather spend hours in darkened rooms, like mould, talking to “friends” through the computer, rather than hanging out together in the sun. What manner of digital vampires has this new age wrought?… more
‘It’s now time to reap’
Jamaica – GORDON Swaby, CEO of educational technology firm EduFocal, the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed firm which trades under the ticker symbol LEARN, said the suspension of trading in the stock for two weeks earlier this month left a bad taste in his mouth, adding that changes which have been made since then should ensure that the company is not placed in a similar situation in the future… more
NCB launches ePOS tap-on-phone solution
Jamaica – National Commercial Bank (NCB) has added another fintech product with the roll-out of its ePOS tap-on-phone solution, with which it hopes to revolutionalise payments for small and medium-sized clients… more
Robot doctors coming soon to Trinidad, says Deyalsingh
Trinidad and Tobago – How would you feel if your heart surgeon was a robot?… more
TELEM Customers will see intermittent unstable services until September, Company asking for patience from its clients.
Sint Maarten – On Friday morning, the Chief Executive Officer of TELEM Group of Companies, Kendall Dupersoy, informed the media that its systems have not been working optimally over the past weeks… more
TelEm Group addressing service quality concerns, appealing to customers for patience and understanding.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group is presently addressing network performance issues that has seen it telecommunication services operating below acceptable levels of satisfaction… more
Saturday, 29 June 2024
UB and BSI Sign MoU to Enhance National Development through Education and Technology
Belize – The University of Belize (UB) and Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance educational and technical capacities, focusing on human capital development, student internships, and advancements in soil analysis and tissue culture technologies… more
US 3D printing company launches here
Guyana – Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Adrienne Galanek on Thursday joined U.S. company, Cave Industries, in launching their Guyana office… more
Affordable broadband services coming to underserved communities
Jamaica – Underserved communities across the island will have access to affordable broadband services following a recent announcement by the Jamaican government… more
Maud McLeod High to get literacy boost from tech donation for reading lab
Jamaica – Principal of Maud McLeod High School Avis Bailey-Coleman says the institution has found an innovative way to enhance literacy among its cohort of students through technology… more
PM accepts need to balance going after unethical users of technology and protecting freedom of expression
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has acknowledged the need to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and ensuring the responsible and ethical use of technology… more
Sunday, 30 June 2024
What to do when you have too many passwords to remember
Caribbean – Everyone has too many passwords. The credentials we need to remember to navigate online life keep multiplying, not just for frequently used email, banking, social media, Netflix, and Spotify logins, but also, say, the little-known e-commerce site you are not sure you’ will buy from again… more
EduFocal chops staff, pilots new software to turnaround company
Jamaica – After registering big losses over the past two years, online learning company EduFocal Limited is banking on the introduction of new exam marking software, new clients and cutting more than half of its staff to turn its fortunes around… more
Hooked on robotics
Jamaica – Students from 22 schools displayed their technical skills in the second annual First Lego League Jamaica 2024 National Robotics Competition for Primary Schools at the Assembly Hall, The University of the West Indies, Mona, on Saturday… more
Newsmaker: PM’s move to tackle ‘fake news’ draws support, concerns
Jamaica – This week’s overall development as Newsmaker of the Week is the range of reactions to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement that the Government will be taking steps to address the spreading of fake news in Jamaica… more
Image credits: Obi – @pixel8propix (Unsplash); Kanoo (Facebook); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Seek Vector Logo; Wikipedia
