A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 1 July and 7 July 2024.
Monday, 1 July 2024
Bahamas to regulate banks to offer cbank digital currency
Bahamas – The Bahamas, the first country in the world to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC), is now preparing regulations that will require commercial banks to provide access to the e-money in a bid to stimulate adoption, its central bank governor told Reuters… more
Belize introduces landmark bill to combat sexual harassment in the digital age
Belize – In a significant step towards combating sexual harassment, a new bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on Friday. The proposed legislation aims to modernize existing laws, expand protections for victims, and address the challenges posed by the digital age… more
Social Media Users Warned Against Sharing Lewd Content
Belize – Police Minister Kareem Musa told reporters this morning that it is an offence, “a criminal offence by virtue of the Cyber Crime Act of 2020,” to share and publish videos and photographs of a lewd and indecent nature. This warning comes after a surge of videos and photographs depicting lewd content began circulating widely on social media over the weekend… more
Connected islands: Laying the foundations for digital transformation in the Caribbean
Caribbean – At the Caribbean Digital Summit, technology chiefs from 13 island administrations converged on Barbados to explore the challenges they face in the region’s unique digital environment… more
Gov’t seeking more affordable broadband service
Jamaica – The Government is looking to provide more affordable broadband service to more Jamaicans in underserved communities across the country… more
Jamaican government launches social media literacy initiative to combat misinformation
Jamaica – The Jamaican government, led by the Broadcasting Commission, is set to launch a comprehensive social media literacy campaign… more
The state of TT broadband, 2024
Trinidad and Tobago – In a research article released on June 17, Ookla, a global connection speed monitor, offered an updated evaluation of the state of broadband connectivity in the Caribbean… more
Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Artificial Intelligence: A disruptive economic technology or just hype?
Caribbean – Dr Keith Rowley in his Labour Day speech to the trade unions had this to say… more
C&W Communications previews CANTO 2024
Caribbean – C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business, and BTC, is set to be center stage for CANTO’s 39th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition 2024, which kicks off on Sunday, 7 July to Wednesday, 10 July at the JW Marriot Hotel in Miami, USA under the theme “Towards a Sustainable Digital Economy.” … more
Mastercard targets Caribbean with fintech solutions
Caribbean – AS part of its global Financial Technology (Fintech) Express and Engage programmes, Mastercard is targeting the Caribbean with fintech frameworks that enable fintechs to enter a market and address relevant market challenges… more
Making money as an influencer in Cuba is hard. These dancers found a way
Cuba – In late December, half a dozen members of the Cuban dance troupe Los Datway gyrated and twirled to a reggaeton song in a colonial tenement house in central Havana, an iPhone pointed at them as they rehearsed their choreography… more
EduFocal staff retrenchment to save $80m annually
Jamaica – Digital education group EduFocal has rolled out a number of cost-cutting measures, including the retrenchment of a number of staff, which alone is set to save $7 million monthly or $80 million annually… more
How AI can create a better world
Trinidad and Tobago – THE digital world is ever-evolving, as evidenced by the substantial boom in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (Gen AI). But how does this transformation benefit the world? … more
Wednesday, 3 July 2024
Central Bank enhancing regulations to promote Sand Dollar access and digital payment equality
Bahamas – The Central Bank, as part of its digital payments strategy, is enhancing regulations to ensure licensed institutions provide access to the Sand Dollar and promote equal accessibility of digital payment instruments alongside debit and credit cards on domestic terminals, according to Governor John Rolle… more
C&W Communications mobilising aid for those impacted by Beryl
Caribbean – Leading telecoms provider C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business and BTC, is mobilising resources and aid for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl… more
Well-being worries driven by tech
Caribbean – SIX out of 10 finance professionals based in the Caribbean and half of those based in North America say that their mental health suffers because of work pressures, according to a major new global survey from ACCA… more
Suddenly ten years later…
Trinidad and Tobago – This began as the Annual Report to readers for 2021, the fourth such account of the production of TechNewsTT. Things went a bit awry, let’s just say… more
Thursday, 4 July 2024
OWN Foundation announces Artificial Intelligence Masterclass featuring Terrance McMahon
Bahamas – The OWN Foundation has announced its latest initiative, “A Deep Dive into AI” Masterclass, featuring Terrance McMahon, a retired CEO and internationally recognized expert in AI, marketing, and lifestyle. This transformative event will be held on July 6 and 7, 2024, at the University of The Bahamas Performing Arts Center from 8 AM to 4 PM, and it is offered free to members of the public… more
C&W Communications on show at CANTO 2024
Caribbean – C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business, and BTC, is set to be center stage for CANTO’s 39th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition 2024, which kicks off on Sunday, 7th July to Wednesday, 10th July at the JW Marriot Hotel in Miami, USA under the theme “Towards a Sustainable Digital Economy”… more
Stakeholder Consultation for Digital Identity Authentication Project Held in St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis —The Ministry of Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), in collaboration with the Republic of China (Taiwan), held a stakeholder consultation for the Digital Identity Authentication Project at the CUNA Building in Fortlands on Wednesday, June 26, 2024… more
Ministry of Digital Transformation in ‘full mode’
Trinidad and Tobago – THE PUBLIC and private sectors are seeing the fruit of the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s “breakthrough” as it marks its third year of existence on July 12… more
Friday, 5 July 2024
Drone Mapping Data Unit launched
Bahamas – A Cabinet minister said yesterday that the government is building capacity to monitor the country’s land and marine resources through the launch of the Drone Mapping Data Unit (DMDU)… more
Sand Dollar is legal tender, so banks have to distribute it, says Clearing Banks Assoc. chief
Bahamas – Commercial banks will not have to be compelled to distribute The Bahamas’ central bank digital currency (CBDC), the Sand Dollar, because it is legal tender of The Bahamas, Chairman of the Clearing Banks Association Gowon Bowe told Guardian Business… more
Telecoms providers say progress being made in restoring services
Jamaica – Telecommunications companies say they are making progress in restoring critical services to customers following the passage of Hurricane Beryl… more
‘AI, CSR driving media engagement’
Trinidad and Tobago – Artificial Intelligence, as well as the importance of corporate social responsibility initiatives, have been hailed as crucial tools for local businesses… more
Saturday, 6 July 2024
INNOVATION: The OWN Foundation’s first masterclass delves deep into artificial intelligence
Bahamas – The OWN foundation hosting its very first masterclass today as they take participants on a deep dive into artificial intelligence… more
T&T ranks fifth in BPOs in LAC
Trinidad and Tobago – Port-of-Spain has been ranked the fifth top value Destination for business process outsourcing (BPO) in the Latin America and Caribbean region… more
Sunday, 7 July 2024
Are regulations preventing AI growth?
Caribbean – TECHNOLOGICAL advancement across the globe is being hindered by government restrictions, according to tech experts speaking at the recent Mobile World Conference in Shanghai, China… more
Flow Jamaica restores 77% of mobile coverage, 413 fixed communities
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant Flow Jamaica’s technical teams have continued to restore fixed and mobile services impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl across the island… more
Harnessing the power of AI to aid Jamaica’s recovery after Hurricane Beryl
Jamaica – IN the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s impact, Jamaica faces the challenge of being responsive in its economic recovery… more
Hurricane Beryl: Flow reports 77% mobile population coverage; 24% of affected fixed service sites restored
Jamaica – Flow Jamaica says 77 per cent of its mobile customers have services while 24 per cent of affected fixed service sites have been restored as its technical teams continue restoration efforts following the passage of Hurricane Beryl across the island… more
Problems with Flow service resolved
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I have been having a serious issue with Flow Jamaica restoring my Internet service since I reported the matter on December 27, 2023… more
Images credit: studio (Freepik); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Central Bank of the Bahamas (Twitter); CANTO (Facebook); Wikimedia Commons; Flow Jamaica (Facebook)
