A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 6 January to Sunday 12 January 2025.
Monday, 6 January 2025
The Caribbean broadband development dilemma
Caribbean – A new report, Gigabit Caribbean by Danish telecom consulting firm Strand Consult, was released in December 2024. It explores the challenges faced by operators and governments in driving investment in fixed and mobile networks in the Caribbean… more
Tuesday, 7 January 2025
More focus on transformation agenda at education ministry in 2025 – PS
Jamaica – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr Kasan Troupe, said 2025 is set to be a transformative year, marked by good relations, professional growth and fiscal accountability… more
TSTT Dominates at TATT’s Telecommunications and Broadcasting Industry Awards
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT) proudly secured four major awards at the 2024 Telecommunications and Broadcasting Industry (TBI) Awards, hosted by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT). These accolades underscore TSTT’s industry leadership and commitment to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility… more
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Police warn on rising social media scams
Bahamas – A senior Bahamian police officer yesterday renewed warnings about an increase in social media scams and a “concerning number” of other online incidents currently under investigation… more
Fintech Islands returns to St Philip, Barbados for FiX25
Barbados – Fintech Islands will return to Sam Lord’s Castle, a Wyndham Grand Resort, in stunning St Philip, Barbados for the third staging of the Caribbean’s international financial technology conference, dubbed FiX25… more
Dominican Republic Upping Minimum Internet Speeds.
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has improved its high-speed internet infrastructure to meet rising demand, with around 1.26 million fixed broadband subscriptions reported in 2025, but until now Internet speeds have often lagged behind other jurisdictions… more
Thursday, 9 January 2025
Bahamas has the talent to innovate via technology, says tech boss
Bahamas – One of the principals of tech firm Plato Alpha Design, Keith Roye II, contends that The Bahamas has the talent it needs to facilitate many types of innovation through technology, despite a report published by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that found that The Bahamas has “insufficient innovation skills in the labor market”… more
Thompson slams govt on slow digitization progress
Bahamas – Kwasi Thompson, the shadow minister for finance, said the government’s progress on digitization in the public sector has been slow… more
Winder: Most court proceedings will now be digitally recorded
Bahamas – Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder, KC, said yesterday that there will be an addition of a civil magistrate’s court in 2025, and most legal proceedings will now be recorded digitally… more
New Telecom Company AquaTel Officially Established
Curaçao – Curaçao has a new telecom company: AquaTel, officially founded as an initiative of Integrated Utility Holding NV/Aqualectra NV. The company promises to deliver better and more affordable services than other telecom providers on the island… more
Management changes at tTech Limited
Jamaica – tTech Limited has confirmed a number of management changes at the information technology company including the resignation of Marsha Bucknor, who held the positions of sales and marketing manager and company secretary… more
Scammers targeting Jamaica’s real estate market
Jamaica – Jamaicans living overseas, eyeing prospects to buy or rent houses on the island are being targeted by scammers, according to Claudia Allen, director of real estate dealers and developers at the Real Estate Board… more
As drought sets in, farmers in Saint Kitts and Nevis turn to technology for help
Saint Kitts and Nevis –For Meshach Alford, a farmer from the town of Saint Paul’s in the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, the realities of climate change are all too real… more
Government Of St. Kitts And Nevis Launches Cyber Security Training Programme To Prepare Young People For Global Workforce
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is set to launch its groundbreaking Cyber Security Training Programme on Tuesday, January 14, 2025… more
‘AI will not soon replace human intelligence’
Trinidad and Tobago – The debate between artificial intelligence and human intelligence is not about choosing one over the other; it’s about finding the balance that maximizes the strengths of both… more
TSTT wins 4 major industry awards
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications Services of TT Ltd (TSTT) has won four major awards at the 2024 Telecommunications and Broadcasting Industry Awards, hosted by the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT)… more
Friday, 10 January 2025
Cattle Landing Residents Want DIGI Cell Tower Relocated
Belize – In the small southern community of Cattle Landing, Toledo District, eighty-eight residents have come together to sign a petition asking Village Council Chairman Waluco Maheia to relocate Digi’s cell tower… more
Villagers Demand Relocation of Cell Tower
Belize – Residents of Cattle Landing Village in Toledo are petitioning to have a recently installed Digi tower relocated. The petition, dated December 8, 2024, claims the tower was placed without proper consultation or a vote from local residents, especially those living closest to the site… more
Premier being ‘hoodwinked’ with Cybercrime bill — Walwyn
British Virgin islands – Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has raised serious concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing aspects of the bill as “unlawful” and highlighting risks to constitutional rights… more
BGLC to refine online platform after initial roll-out
Jamaica – A month after launching its Gaming Management Information System (GMIS), Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission (BGLC) is preparing to enhance the platform with two significant updates. The adjustments aim to improve usability and better meet the needs of the gaming industry in 2025… more
e-Learning Jamaica to Distribute More Than 15,000 Computers and Smart Boards to Schools This Year
Jamaica – Fifteen thousand laptop and tablet computers and 900 smart boards will this year be distributed to schools islandwide by e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited… more
Sagicor Group to roll out digital wallet in late 2025
Jamaica – Sagicor Group Jamaica, while noting that digital transformation is a major strategic priority, has plans to roll out its digital wallet with capabilities to use JAMDEX, Bank of Jamaica-issued digital currency… more
Transaction paralysis
jamaica – JAMAICAN merchants are increasingly refusing to accept digital wallets and contactless payment methods due to concerns over fraud and theft, despite efforts by banks and fintech players to promote these services… more
Saturday, 11 January 2025
Digital Anti-Human Trafficking Course launched
Jamaica – The Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons has launched a digital anti-human trafficking course to heighten awareness of the problem locally… more
CBTT to spearhead digitalisation push in 2025
Trinidad and Tobago – The Central Bank is aiming to be at the forefront of Trinidad and Tobago’s digitalisation push in 2025… more
TSTT to introduce bots, says CEO
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) plans to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) in the not-too-distant future by utilising bots to transform the customer experience and increase efficiency, according to chief executive officer Kent Western… more
Sunday, 12 January 2025
Flow fiasco: Customer’s four-month ordeal
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I live in St Elizabeth, and since August 2024 I have been going back and forth with Flow’s customer service about my phone service which has been down since the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July. However, I have not been able to have the issues resolved… more
Saint Lucia’s Data Processing Systems To be Improved
Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia is preparing to improve its data processing infrastructure under the continuing Data for Decision-Making (DDM) project led by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)… more
Digital financial expert: UPI can work with CBDC
Trinidad and Tobago – While the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system has been “massively successful” in India and will be beneficial to T&T, there are other types of digital payment systems that T&T can use as the country catches up with the rest of the world in adopting non-cash systems… more
Images credit: Pix4free.org; CANTO; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; DigiCell (Facebook); Sagicor; Flow Jamaica (Facebook)
