A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 March to Sunday 30 March 2025.
Monday, 24 March 2025
Bahamas urged to harness tech sector for job creation and bridging skills gap
Bahamas – The Bahamas must work to leverage the tech sector to create jobs, with one expert arguing that focusing on blue-collar tech roles through certification-based training could bridge the country’s skills gap, build technical capacity, and generate competitive job opportunities, particularly in remote roles… more
Executive wants The Bahamas to focus more on tech sector jobs
Bahamas – Donnisha Armbrister, a Bahamian with multimillion-dollar contracts with the United States (US) Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Defense, and other federal agencies in the US, said in a press statement that The Bahamas must work harder to use the tech sector to create jobs, especially by focusing on blue collar tech roles through certification-based training… more
Tech expert: Be wary of AI-use in election campaigning
Caribbean – A cyber security expert has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly used in election campaigns worldwide, targeting voters often through personalised messaging, chatbots, and deepfake videos… more
You should probably have an EPK
Caribbean – An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) is considered a baseline requirement for a practicing professional musician… more
Digital registry for old age pensioners, public assistance, other Human Services and Social Security beneficiaries
Guyana – The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Monday announced that it was moving apace with efforts to create a registry of old age pensioners, public assistance recipients, domestic violence support, and anti-trafficking initiatives… more
Access Financial Services maintains full control of its network whilst addressing data breach
Jamaica – The Board of Directors of Access Financial Services Limited (AFS) is assuring its customers, shareholders and other stakeholders that the company maintains full control of its network and remains vigilant in monitoring the online space in the wake of a recent cybersecurity incident… more
bmobile Connects Logos Hope to T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – The Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, departed Trinidad and Tobago’s waters on January 26, leaving a significant and lasting impact on the local community… more
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Cryptocurrencies in the Trump era
Caribbean – Last week Minding your Business looked at the recent Budget and Financial Proposals, and while highlighting some of the positives for the social sector, also referred to the lack of initiatives for business facilitation… more
Partnership with Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions to accelerate justice sector modernisation
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Attorney General of St Kitts and Nevis, Garth Wilkin, has affirmed his commitment to modernising the justice sector through a strategic collaboration with the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS)… more
Card, ATM, online banking disruptions expected when XCG goes into effect
Sint Maarten – The early closure of banks as well as ATM, online banking and credit and debit card disruptions are expected as the country transitions from the Netherlands Antillean guilder NAf. to the new currency – the Caribbean guilder XCG on March 31… more
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Vehicle registrations go online
Barbados – Motorists no longer need to physically visit the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) payment centres to update and receive vehicle registration discs, the government has announced… more
BVI post must embrace digital age, Premier says
British Virgin Islands – Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley told postal leaders gathered for a regional workshop this week that the local post office must embrace digital transformation to stay relevant in a fast-changing world… more
Digicel to power 40 per cent of cell sites with solar
Jamaica – DIGICEL Jamaica has partnered with US-based renewable energy firm Caban Energy to launch an ambitious solar roll-out across its telecommunications infrastructure to power up to 40 per cent of its cell sites… more
Digicel to shift to renewable energy for more than half of its cell sites
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Digicel says it aims to reduce its 100 per cent dependence on the Jamaica Public Service Company’s grid for its 900 cell sites to 40 per cent, or only 360 sites, starting next month… more
FLOW Jamaica races to complete 100 per cent fibre network
Jamaica – FLOW Jamaica is racing to complete its transition to a 100 per cent fibre network by the end of 2025, while simultaneously rebuilding from Hurricane Beryl’s devastation and injecting more resilience in its network, as it positions its infrastructure for future technologies like 5G… more
Flow to spend US$550 million to expand fibre optic network
Jamaica – Telecoms provider, Flow says it plans to spend US550 million to expand its fibre optic network during this calendar year… more
Modernizing Jamaica’s education system: The Digital Transformation initiative
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information of Jamaica, in collaboration with the United Nations System, launched the ‘Empowering Jamaica’s Future: SDG Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education’ project on March 25th, 2025, at Cumberland High School in Portmore, St. Catherine… more
National E-Commerce strategy for T&T 2025-2030 unveiled
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago’s National E-Commerce Strategy 2025-2030 was officially launched yesterday, with Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon calling it a catalyst for entrepreneurship and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises… more
WiLoan’s plan for the unbanked and underbanked
Trinidad and Tobago – WiLoan, a fully digital micro-loan service, wants to help the unbanked and underbanked by expanding its services. As the name suggests, WiLoan is a money lending service that requires no already-established bank account for all-digital transactions… more
Thursday, 27 March 2025
New workplace wellness website launches
Barbados – In a bid to tackle rising work-related stress and blur the lines between professional and personal life, Ministry of Labour has unveiled a dedicated website for workplace wellness… more
UNFPA workshop aims to boost data literacy among young people
Barbados – In a bold initiative to combat misinformation and foster informed decision-making in the Eastern Caribbean, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday launched a workshop designed to equip young people with the critical skills needed to navigate and leverage data effectively… more
Local man scammed in online purchase of iPhone
Belize – A Belize City man alleges he fell victim to a scam while attempting to purchase an iPhone 13 Pro Max from a social media marketplace… more
Cyberthreats Are Real, But BVI Is Ready.
British Virgin Islands – Cybersecurity experts from the UK Government are working with the Virgin Islands’ Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to improve the Territory’s protection against cyber attacks… more
DIGICEL, Caban Energy partner to spearhead carbon reduction in region
Caribbean – Digicel has announced a partnership with Caban Energy to enhance its energy infrastructure through solar technology in Jamaica, with plans to expand throughout the Caribbean… more
Unlocking the digital potential
Caribbean – Many Caribbean businesses are intensely focused on their core product or service – the traditional way… more
Busiest Flow store upgraded to sleek, modern customer-centric hub
Jamaica – The busiest Flow store in the Caribbean has been upgraded! On Wednesday, March 19, customers, staff and other well-wishers gathered to officially reopen the Flow Carlton flagship store located at 47 Half-Way-Tree Road, St Andrew… more
Jamaican IT, BPO entrepreneurs forge links in London under UK Trade Partnership Programme
Jamaica – Five Jamaican entrepreneurs from the Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors recently wrapped up a high-impact business mission to London aimed at unlocking new trade opportunities with the United Kingdom… more
Scotiabank partners with Cyber Nations to provide regional training in cybersecurity
Jamaica – Following the success of cybersecurity training in Barbados and Canada, the CyberNauts programme is expanding to Jamaica and Trinidad with support from Scotiabank… more
AgriConnect: Farm-fresh, online ready
Trinidad and Tobago – As one of the most significant contributors to the Caribbean economy, the agriculture sector plays a major role in the lives and livelihoods of all citizens… more
Friday, 28 March 2025
Ginn ‘owner’ complaint to Data Protection regulator
Bahamas – A Bahamian investor yesterday refuted complaints made to data protection regulators in The Bahamas and US that he has “misrepresented” himself as the owner and/or purchaser of the former Ginn project… more
Gov’t now mum on ‘disruption’ of online entry portal
British Virgin Islands – “Technical issues” disrupted the government’s new online portal for travellers entering the territory and forced a return to the traditional paper-based system last week, officials announced… more
COMMENTARY: The Transformative Role of AI in Sales Management
Caribbean – As we step into 2025, it has become impossible to ignore the sweeping changes Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought to how we do business, and the insurance industry is no exception… more
Mastercard underscores confidence in contactless security
Caribbean – AS digital payments continue to transition to becoming the backbone of modern commerce, global payments company Mastercard is reaffirming its confidence in the security of its contactless transactions… more
Teleperformance lays off hundreds, closes Camp Street location
Guyana – The France-headquartered call centre, Teleperformance (TP), has scaled back its operations in Guyana, reduced staff to almost 300, and closed its location at Camp and Robb streets, multiple sources said Friday night… more
Cyberattacks climbing across Caribbean
Jamaica – Ransomware gangs FOG and Akira continue to be the main culprits behind a number of recent cyberattacks plaguing businesses locally and across the Caribbean, a cyber-security expert has indicated… more
TelEm Group network restoration update.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians are actively working to restore the company’s mobile voice and data networks following a system crash early Thursday afternoon… more
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Cabinet spokesman announces AI scholarship plans for police force
Antigua and Barbuda – In an initiative to modernize law enforcement, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced an annual scholarship program that will enable 50 police officers to pursue degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Criminology at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (The UWI FIC)… more
UNDP, EU Equip CRD with ICT Tools to Strengthen Justice System
Belize – The Community Rehabilitation Department (CRD) has received a major technological boost with new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment valued at BZD $95,396. The initiative, part of the PACE Justice Project, is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen case management in Adult Alternative Sentencing… more
AI in the classrooms
Jamaica – In a move to modernise education, Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon announced the launch of a groundbreaking pilot programme that utilises artificial intelligence (AI) to assist teachers with grading… more
Sunday, 30 March 2025
AI ‘hallucinations’on trial
Caribbean – As powerful as generative AI tools like ChatGPT are, they are not infallible. AI “hallucinations” can occur when a type of AI, known as a large language model, generates false information… more
US immigration officials look to expand social media data collection
Caribbean – US immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump… more
STEM Education is a Strategic Imperative for Local Business Innovation
Guyana – As a doctoral candidate in technology education with a Marketing MBA lens and a lifelong commitment to learning, I’ve devoted my research and professional journey to exploring the transformative power of STEM education, particularly its impact on learners from vulnerable communities… more
Cybersecurity data breach leaves Access client enraged
Jamaica – A hotel executive and her mother were in stunned disbelief after they found out last Wednesday that sensitive personal information from a transaction with Access Financial Services (AFS) was openly accessible on the Internet… more
Jamaicans going high-tech to protect homes
Jamaica – THERE has been an increase in the number of Jamaican households using technological devices such as cameras, alarm systems and electronic gates to secure their property, a recently published 2023 study has revealed… more
Government Implements D-OHPC to Enhance Digital Technology Tutorship at Schools
Saint Lucia – The government is dedicated to promoting the integration of technology within Saint Lucia’s educational framework via the execution of the Digital OECS Harmonized Primary Curriculum (D-OHPC)… more
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