A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November 2024.
Monday, 28 October 2024
The state of Caribbean digital transformation
Caribbean – It’s been two years since Digicel Business reported on the state of digital adoption in the Caribbean… more
Embrace AI, technology for brighter future in education
Guyana – President Irfaan Ali is urging educators in the Caribbean not to be unduly apprehensive about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on traditional teaching methods, but to embrace its challenges and opportunities as a tool for progress and potential to revolutionise personalised learning… more
Portmore set to become Jamaica’s ‘Silicon Valley’ amid push for parish status
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced ambitious plans to transform Portmore, St Catherine, into the ‘Silicon Valley of Jamaica’ and a key technology hub for the Caribbean… more
The future of Montego Bay’s BPO industry
Jamaica – Business process outsourcing (BPO) has emerged as a vital sector in Jamaica, alongside tourism, providing significant employment opportunities and contributing to the growth of the national economy… more
bmobile and CARIRI host 3,500 children at Innovation Camp
Trinidad and Tobago – In a strategic effort to prepare Trinidad and Tobago’s youth for the digital future, bmobile partnered with CARIRI to empower over 3,500 students through this year’s virtual Innovation Nation Training Camp.. more
Tech labs for special-needs schools
Trinidad and Tobago – FIVE special-needs schools have been selected to receive state-of-the-art technology labs through the Digicel Foundation’s Innovation Lab programme… more
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
Water payments to go online
British Virgin Islands – Starting in January, residents will be able to pay their water and sewerage bills online, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer announced Friday in the House of Assembly… more
How to protect yourself from scammers offering fake jobs
Caribbean – BETWEEN finding openings, sending out your resume and interviewing, looking for a job is tough. Now a growing trend of scammers impersonating recruiters is making it even harder… more
AI enhances BPOs, not replacing employees, says itel CEO Epstein
Jamaica – Founding chairman and CEO of itel International Yoni Epstein sought to allay fears that artificial intelligence (AI) and its by-products will replace human labour in the business process outsourcing industry, otherwise called the global services industry… more
Harvard expert to discuss AI and digital transformation at UWI Mona
Jamaica – The University of the West Indies, (The UWI) Mona Campus, in collaboration with VM Group Limited, will host the third in a series of Distinguished Lectures on November 7, 2024, titled “Digital Transformation. Generative AI and Strategy… more
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Cyber security chief: Crooks getting better
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ cyber security chief yesterday called for shared resilience and information sharing to better combat threats in an increasingly digital world… more
C&W Charitable Foundation Champions Digital Access for All
Caribbean – Partners, supporters, and stakeholders are joining together with the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF) on Friday, November 1 to raise funds dedicated to connecting communities and changing lives across the Caribbean… more
CXC launches AI-assisted literacy and numeracy to combat educational decline
Caribbean – The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its educational offerings, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy, as part of a larger digital transformation initiative, as stated by Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CXC… more
Digicel and Flow lose first round of anti-trust lawsuit
Caribbean – Jamaica’s two telecommunications giants, Digicel and Flow have lost round one in an anti-trust lawsuit filed by pioneering Caribbean media and entertainment group VertiCast… more
More banks enabling card-blocking feature for customers
Jamaica – As consumers continue to tackle fraud, more commercial banks are enabling consumers to freeze/block their cards through digital means instead of having to wait to contact the bank to do the same on their card or account… more
Thursday, 31 October 2024
E-Litigation Portal fully in place – Supreme Court
Guyana – The Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana yesterday said that it has completed the implementation of the e-litigation web portal for the Court of Appeal and High Court… more
Guyana on Tier 4 “Evolving” of Global Cybersecurity Index
Guyana – Even as the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) continues to train people across Guyana to strengthen cybersecurity in the public sector, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) this year ranked the country as Tier 4 Evolving on its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)… more
NCB resolving Uber/Visa debit card transaction discrepancies
Jamaica – National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCBJ) says it has identified a technical issue affecting Uber transactions made by some customers using their Visa Debit cards and is actively addressing the discrepancy… more
Norbrook Transaction Services launches ePay cashless solution for schools
Jamaica – Norbrook Transaction Service Ltd (NTS), a subsidiary of Norbrook Equities Partners (NEP), has unveiled a digital payment solution that, it said, will revolutionise payment management within schools… more
Online property tax payments start today
Trinidad and Tobago – The online payment of property tax will come on stream from today, assured Finance Minister Colm Imbert… more
Friday, 1 November 2024
BTC upgrades contact center to improve customer care
Bahamas – BTC has upgraded its customer support capabilities with the launch of the Genesys Conversational Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform at its Contact Center… more
‘Hold them accountable’: Hotels in Airbnb rescues
Bahamas – Hoteliers yesterday demanded that vacation rental owners be “held accountable” and pay their fair share in government taxes as several revealed how they “rescued” tourists from sub-standard properties… more
EU, partners champion human-centric digitalisation in Latin America, Caribbean
Caribbean – EVEN IF WE accept that technologies are neutral tools, deploying them in the real world always involves values and interests, sometimes competing. One of the most contested sectors is without a doubt digital infrastructure, a sector that has the potential to empower people, but also to oppress, exacerbate security risks and increase inequalities… more
Flow customers in eastern Curaçao face major service outage due to burnt cable incident
Curaçao – Flow customers in the eastern part of Curaçao experienced a significant outage on Friday morning after an incident involving a burned power cable, the internet provider confirmed via social media… more
Guyana on “evolving” tier of Global Cybersecurity Index
Guyana – Even as the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) continues to train people across Guyana to strengthen cybersecurity in the public sector, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) this year ranked the country as evolving (Tier 4) on its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)… more
Industry leaders gather to ‘Unlock the Power of Cyber Intelligence’ at Guardsman cybersecurity event
Jamaica – Guardsman Cyber Intelligence, powered by Guardsman, hosted an exclusive cybersecurity event on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at The Serengeti, Hope Zoo, drawing industry leaders from across various sectors… more
Scotiabank Jamaica named World’s Best Consumer Digital Bank 2024
Jamaica – Scotiabank has been named among the Best Consumer Digital Bank Award 2024 winners by Global Finance (New York). The Bank also copped the prestigious award for its operations in The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands… more
NHC Begins Land Preparation for New Smart Homes
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has begun clearing lands for the construction of new smart homes, marking a significant step forward in its mission to provide affordable, high-quality, climate-resilient housing… more
TTSE looking at digital tracker of S&P 500
Trinidad and Tobago – It is extremely difficult to access foreign exchange for portfolio investing purposes… more
TSTT must pay $1.1m for breach of Blink service agreement
Trinidad and Tobago – A High Court judge has ordered the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to pay one of its vendors $1.1 million for breaching an agreement to provide field service agents for its Blink operations for three years in 2017… more
Saturday, 2 November 2024
Failure to report hacks hampers cyber-crime fight
Cayman Islands – It only takes 2.13 seconds for ransomware to deploy and seize complete control of a company’s or individual’s database, but getting that information back could take months… more
Sunday, 3 November 2024
Top 10 social media tips for entrepreneurs for 2025
Caribbean – With 2025 nearly upon us, and the rapidly changing tides in social media, entrepreneurs can leverage the apps to build their brand, grow their businesses, reach new audiences, and achieve greater success… more
Launch of an online platform for registering individual businesses
Haiti – On Thursday, October 31, 2024, James Monazard, the Minister of Trade and Industry (MCI), officially launched an online platform for registering individual businesses and searching for prior art and availability of business names… more
‘Banger’ complaints ring loud
Jamaica – SINCE the shutdown of the 2G network in Jamaica, the local organisation for rural women producers has received more than 100 complaints from its members, with challenges ranging from an inability to upgrade handsets due to cost, to lack of support to facilitate the transition… more
From frustration to resolution
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I am writing to you on behalf of my uncle, who has been facing a frustrating and unresolved issue with Flow Jamaica… more
Image credits: congerdesign (Pixabay); Wikipedia; itelCX (Facebook); CXC; SeekVectorLogo; Flow (Facebook); Wikipedia
