A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 3 March to Sunday 9 March 2025.
Monday, 3 March 2025
Instant payment system coming
Barbados – The Central Bank of Barbados is taking a significant step in modernising the country’s payment infrastructure with the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the design, supply, installation, and support of a national Instant Payments System (IPS)… more
Securing Barbados’ digital future: Minister Reid’s cybersecurity challenge
Barbados – On February 26, 2025, Jonathan Reid was sworn in as Barbados’ Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, becoming the country’s fourth technology minister under the current administration. His appointment signals a strategic shift in the government’s IT priorities, with two critical areas taking centre stage: accelerating digital transformation and strengthening cybersecurity defences… more
Digital literary magazine ‘originsss’ launches online
Caribbean – Rotterdam-based “originsss” magazine officially launched its inaugural issue over the weekend. Dedicated to highlighting the heritage, culture and identity of the people of St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and the Dutch Caribbean, the online publication aims to create a new platform for writers, creatives, photographers, poets and activists to share their work whether living on the islands or abroad, according to a press release… more
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Cable Bahamas slams URCA for short notice on public consultations
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Group has criticized the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) for not giving advance notice on public consultations, which it claims has led to overlapping consultations that have created “significant operational challenges for licenses”… more
Cable, BTC urge ‘fiscal restraint’ from URCA
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is calling on industry regulators to show “fiscal restraint” after the latter’s proposed 2025 budget expanded year-over-year by a rate more than three times’ higher than it expected… more
URCA to prioritize universal service obligations, universal service fund in 2025
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) said in its draft 2025 annual plan that its key goals for 2025 are prioritizing a review of its universal service obligations (USO) and universal service fund (USF), and facilitating consultations on satellite-based services… more
Inclusion should be a national priority
Barbados – Our disabled community will be in the spotlight for the next few weeks as we observe the Month of the Disabled under the theme One Community, United in Action for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future… more
Digi network slowdown affects customers nationwide
Belize – Digi, flagship of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), reports tonight that many customers are facing difficulties connecting to their network… more
C&W’s In-House Creative Team Triumphs at 2025 CAF Advertising Awards
Caribbean – In a remarkable display of talent and innovation, the in-house creative team at C&W Communications has emerged victorious at the 2025 Caribbean Advertising Federation (CAF) Advertising Awards… more
34 Schools to Compete in Tech Challenge
Jamaica – Thirty-four schools across Jamaica will compete in the sixth staging of the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Jamaica National Robotics Championship, this weekend… more
From humble beginnings: Jamaican BPO sector now occupies 3 million square feet island-wide
Jamaica – Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector has recorded phenomenal growth over the past four decades, transforming from a modest operation in the Montego Bay Free Zone to a sprawling industry encompassing over three million square feet of space islandwide… more
Jamaica tourism goes full steam into the digital age
Jamaica – The Third Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo, held last month at the Princess Grand Hotel in Hanover, Jamaica, brought together top industry leaders, policymakers and sustainability advocates to explore strategies for ensuring tourism resilience in an ever-changing world… more
Digicel service down owing to US, Jamaica fibre break
Trinidad and Tobago – Colin Greaves, head of public relations at Digicel, said an issue with the company’s international links between Jamaica and the US is responsible for disruptions some customers may have faced with their IPTV and mobile services in TT on March 4… more
Wednesday, 5 March 2025
URCA urged: ‘Cure abuse’ to stop political interference
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is urging regulators to “cure this abuse” and “unnecessary financial burden” caused by governments dismissing its directors before they have completed their full term in office… more
93 VI laws now online
British Virgin Islands – Ninety-three Virgin Islands laws are now accessible online, and more than 100 others should be uploaded by the end of the year, according to Attorney General Dawn Smith… more
How to make money with affiliate marketing
Caribbean – THE Caribbean is full of talented content creators, yet many are missing out on a major revenue stream—affiliate marketing. Every day, influencers, bloggers, and YouTubers promote products without earning a cent. Meanwhile, businesses fail to invest in affiliate programmes, missing out on free brand ambassadors who could drive sales. It’s time to change that… more
Access Finance hit with cybersecurity threat
Jamaica – Jamaican micro financer, Access Financial Services is confirming that it was hit with a cyber security threat but is advising that the company has successfully implemented measures to contain the cybersecurity incident… more
BPO workers in Jamaica implicated in concert tickets fraud
Jamaica – Workers at a BPO in Jamaica have been implicated a multi-national dollar fraud in which, according to a USA Today report, “cybercrime crew” stole nearly 1,000 concert tickets to several major events and then resold them for more than US$600,000 in about one year… more
Education Minister Urges Educators to Embrace Technology and AI for Transforming Learning
Jamaica – In keeping with the goal of transforming the learning experience for students, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, is urging educators across Jamaica to embrace technology and artificial intelligence (AI)… more
PM Confirmed use of Chinese Company Huawei by TELEM, says it used by Netherlands.
Sint Maarten – Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina confirmed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that TELEM has been working with Huawei, a Chinese multinational technology company founded in 1987. Huawei considers itself a global provider of ICT and smart devices… more
TelEm Group addresses concerns of French side mobile subscribers roaming on Dutch St. Maarten.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group wishes to address the concerns raised by valued Dauphin subscribers on the French side regarding challenges they have been experiencing while roaming on the Dutch side of the island… more
TELEM to get financial support from government after quick scan is conducted.
Sint Maarten – The Government of St. Maarten has included a guarantee of NAf 5 million on behalf of Telem in the 2025 budget, which Parliament unanimously approved, the Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs announced on Wednesday… more
Waterloo gets new ICT Access Centre
Trinidad and Tobago – WATERLOO residents now have improved access to digital resources after a new ICT Access Centre was opened in the community as part of the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s (MDT) initiative to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas… more
Thursday, 6 March 2025
Cloud Carib, Cisco partner to strengthen regional cybersecurity
Caribbean – AS CYBER threats become more sophisticated, local businesses face mounting risks to their digital security… more
Why AI adoption fails in the Caribbean
Caribbean – We don’t have tech problems in the Caribbean – we have people problems… more
Curaçao-Based Online Gambling Sites Targeted by Michigan’s Gambling Regulator
Curaçao – The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has intensified its crackdown on unlicensed online gambling operators, issuing cease and desist letters to five illegal sites, including several based in Curaçao. Among the sites targeted are BetWhale Casino, Coins Game Casino, and Love2play Casino, all of which are registered in Curaçao… more
UG faculty launches Tech Talk Series
Guyana – Students of the University of Guyana’s (UG) Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) can now benefit from exposure to real-world engineering applications, groundbreaking innovations, and direct insights from experts in the field thanks to an initiative spearheaded by the dean of the faculty… more
BPO Boss Confident Recent Fraud Will Not Impact Sector
Jamaica – President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica, Wayne Sinclair, says he doesn’t believe the recent fraud scandal involving a BPO worker at Sutherland Global Services will harm the sector… more
BPO companies making progress in combatting fraud – Sinclair
Jamaica – The Global Services Association of Jamaica says business process outsourcing (BPO) companies have made significant investments to detect and combat instances of fraud… more
J’can businesses on high alert as new ransomware threat emerges, Symptai urges action
Jamaica – A new and highly sophisticated cyber threat has been identified in Jamaica, placing organizations across multiple sectors at risk of severe operational and financial disruption… more
Should Govt sell its TSTT shares now?
Trinidad and Tobago – On March 3, 2022, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, told the media at a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre that Cabinet had decided, on that day to set up a sub-committee look into 51 per cent state-owned TSTT… more
The role of fintech in MSME financing
Trinidad and Tobago – Financial Technology, fondly known as fintech, plays a crucial role in transforming the financing landscape for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)… more
Friday, 7 March 2025
CBC to transition to fully digital broadcaster in 6-9 months
Barbados – The 61-year-old State broadcaster, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), is set to undergo a sweeping restructuring at the end of the month, with all staff being made redundant as part of its transformation into a fully digital broadcaster… more
CYBER CRISIS INTENSIFIES
Jamaica – Access Financial Services Limited and Niche Financing Limited are the latest Jamaican companies to inform the public of cybersecurity incidents which have affected them within the past few weeks… more
Gov’t to Take Additional Steps to Address Fraud in BPO Sector
Jamaica – Industry, investment and commerce minister, Senator Aubyn Hill, says more steps will be taken to address incidents of fraud within the business process outsourcing, BPO, sector… more
OECS team exposes SVG teachers to AI learning enhancement software
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Stakeholders and teachers in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), are this week being schooled on the implementation of the OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) – a technology tool expected to make teachers’ roles easier, and enhance learning outcomes… more
Bmobile proposes 14.61% hike on post-paid plans
Trinidad and Tobago – Come April 7, bmobile’s post-paid customers who are on its legacy plan, are being requested to pay 14.61 per cent more to be upgraded to its Extreme Plus plan, which the mobile service provider says offers more value… more
Massy gains full e-money issuer status
Trinidad and Tobago – MASSY Remittance Services (Trinidad) Ltd (MRSTL) has been granted full registration as an e-money issuer, making it the fourth company in the country to attain this status from the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago… more
Saturday, 8 March 2025
UWI expands research accessibility with new digital hub
Barbados – The University of the West Indies (UWI) has launched a new website and research forum to expand public access to its extensive research data and projects… more
Jamaica-based BPO employee, NYC reseller charged in StubHub ticket fraud
Jamaica – A major fraud scandal has hit the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Jamaica, with employees of the company involved in a scheme that involved stealing and selling almost a thousand concert tickets for events like the record-breaking Eras Tour of Taylor Swift… more
Sunday, 9 March 2025
Dominican Republic moves towards the implementation of the electronic passport
Dominican Republic – The General Directorate of Passports (DGP) reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing the passport issuance system in the Dominican Republic, highlighting progress in implementing the electronic passport, a key step to improving security and streamlining citizen processes… more
From disconnection to resolution
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, My husband and I have a residential account with Flow, and since September 7, 2024 there has been no service due to a damaged cable. For three months I have been without the service… more
Jamaican tech workers targeted by recruiters, attracting high salaries
Jamaica – A United States-based fintech firm is currently recruiting at least 20 software engineers for a project here in Jamaica that will see them earning a starting salary of $10 million per year… more
We are still pursuing it
Jamaica – JAMAICA’S central bank digital currency (CBDC), Jam-Dex, remains mired in stagnation two years after its high-profile roll-out, with circulation stagnating at just 0.09 per cent of the country’s total money supply as commercial banks resist the profit-free model and businesses balk at technical hurdles, parliamentary debates and central bank data reveal… more
Images credit: Priscilla Du Preez (Unsplash); Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Telem Group; Wikimedia Commons; bmobile; Wikipedia
