A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 April to Sunday 4 May 2025.
Monday, 28 April 2025
Barbados and UNDP to host symposium on arts and artificial intelligence
Barbados – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in collaboration with the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS), will host a free community event exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) on Caribbean arts and heritage… more
CARICOM IMPACS developing new regional security initiative
Caribbean – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) says it has officially commenced the process of developing a new CARICOM Security Strategy (CSS)… more
Girls in ICT 2025
Caribbean – ON THURSDAY, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) hosted its annual Girl in ICT day. This year’s theme was “Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation” and the CTU chose Shamla Maharaj, a disability advocate, as the event’s featured speaker before breaking out an informative panel for discussion of the topic… more
Blockchain Association of the Cayman Islands Announces First Ever On Chain Election
Cayman Islands – In a pioneering move for transparent governance, the Blockchain Association of the Cayman Islands (BACI) is proud to announce that it will conduct its 2025 Steering Committee election entirely on‑chain for the first time ever… more
Enterprise Cayman Launches New Employment Database for Cayman Islands Job Seekers
Cayman Islands – Enterprise Cayman recently announced the launch of a new Employment Database in partnership with Cayman Enterprise City (CEC). The employment database is an innovative online resource designed to connect Caymanians and residents with employment and career growth opportunities within CEC’s special economic zones (SEZs)… more
Amber OnTime app promises safer ridesharing services
Jamaica – Amber OnTime, touted as Jamaica’s first locally developed ridesharing app, promises to transform transportation in the island with unprecedented safety for both passengers and drivers… more
Amber UTech Launchpad signs first startups
Jamaica – The first three innovative startups have been onboarded into the Amber UTech Launchpad, a transformative initiative aimed at nurturing Jamaica’s brightest entrepreneurial minds and driving technological innovation across the nation… more
Expansion of One Academy reaping positive returns
Jamaica – Profitability at One on One Educational Services has been boosted with the expansion of its One Academy, which provides personalised solutions for schools, teachers and students… more
Local tech firms get export-readiness support
Jamaica – Fourteen local tech firms are among entities benefiting from export-readiness support under Cohort IV of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) Export Max programme… more
NCB and UCC chart the future of investing with AI
Jamaica – In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is powering algorithms that shape economies, NCB Jamaica Limited and the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) are inviting Jamaicans to reimagine the future of finance… more
The Double-Edged Chalkboard: How Google & Microsoft Quietly Took Control of Jamaican Classrooms
Jamaica – In 2020, the Jamaican Ministry of Education launched a digital transformation initiative. Google Workspace for Education became the first step. By 2023, Microsoft 365 had joined the toolkit. The promise? A new kind of learning—flexible, collaborative, and future-ready… more
St. Kitts Nevis Robotics Association showcases first humanoid robot in Japan
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association (SKNRA) is currently participating at Japan’s Expo 2025, where they are expected to showcase a few of their innovations… more
Over 600 Girls Trained in AI: bmobile and Partners Power a New Generation of Digital Talent in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – In a move to help bridge the gender gap in technology and expand access to digital education, more than 600 women and girls from Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean gained hands-on skills in artificial intelligence (AI) during the Tech4Girls: AI Skills for Success workshop, held in commemoration of Girls in ICT Day 2025… more
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Central Bank still bullish on digital services for Family Island banking
Bahamas – Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBOB), John Rolle, responding to concerns from Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros MP Leon Lundy that Bank of The Bahamas is limiting services in his constituency, said yesterday that the Central Bank is focused on equipping more access to services through digital channels… more
Guyana preparing to issue new biometric ID cards from 2026
Guyana – The Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, has told citizens that there are plans to begin issuing new generation biometric ID cards from the second quarter of 2026… more
2nd National Conference on Universal Acceptance organized
Haiti – On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Internet Society Haiti Chapter (ISOC-Haiti) successfully held the 2nd National Conference on Universal Acceptance (UA)… more
JBDC expands reach of EU’s Digital Jamaica Training programme
Jamaica – The Jamaica Business Development Corporation continues the roll-out of the Digital Jamaica Training in the parishes of Portland, St James, Kingston, St Elizabeth and Clarendon, increasing its reach to entrepreneurs across the island… more
UTech, Y Smart Data sign MoU to create national address codes for Jamaica
Jamaica – The University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) and Y Smart Data – a Jamaican geospatial technology company focused on transforming how communities are mapped, identified, and served — have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on digital solutions aimed at modernising Jamaica’s postal system… more
VLOGGERS WARNED
Jamaica – Justice Leighton Pusey has issued a stern warning that public demonstrations and online commentary, particularly from non-traditional media, regarding the Donna-Lee Donaldson murder trial could result in contempt of court charges… more
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Two local firms partner in Barbados market
Bahamas – Two Bahamian firms have joined forces in the Barbados market, with services that complement each other to bring solutions to their clients… more
The race for digital dominance: What it means for ‘Mission Barbados’
Barbados – bet if you asked most people in the West what the next world war would look like, they would likely imagine a traditional armed conflict, simply enhanced by modern technology… more
Belize’s First AI Summit
Belize – And in other news, Belize’s first ever AI Digital Summit was held today, bringing together leading stakeholders in Artificial Intelligence and starting the conversation here in Belize. As the first of its kind, this summit is geared towards providing guidance for businesses and sectors here in Belize on how to utilize AI to their advantage. The Managing Director of Avant Garde told us more… more
The world is building wealth with crypto — Why isn’t Belize?
Belize – Belize is running out of time. The rest of the world is not waiting, and neither is the future. While our leaders debate tired economic strategies and beg for foreign aid, a quiet revolution is building at global scale — and it’s called cryptocurrency… more
Are AI note-takers putting your privacy at risk?
Caribbean – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, much of our normal life was disrupted. In an instant, we stepped six feet apart from each other and endured many days of self-imposed isolation to protect our loved ones. It wasn’t just our personal lives that were affected — the landscape in the workplace in Jamaica also shifted… more
Visa, Bridge partner to launch stablecoin-linked cards
Caribbean – Visa and stablecoin infrastructure provider startup Bridge are partnering to offer stablecoin-linked Visa cards to customers across multiple countries in Latin America, which the companies say will allow users to make everyday purchases in cryptocurrency tokens… more
Visa partners with AI giants to streamline online shopping
Caribbean – Visa is partnering with tech heavyweights, including Microsoft and OpenAI, to roll out a new platform that lets users delegate their online shopping tasks to AI agents… more
Tech Expo 2025 promises to deliver exciting ‘innovation’ to Dominican audience
Dominica – Tech Expo 2025, organized by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), is scheduled to take place on May 8 and 9, at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall… more
Scotiabank partners with Cyber Nations to provide regional training in cybersecurity
Jamaica – Application for CyberNauts, a fully online cybersecurity training program offering free upskilling to individuals in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, closes today, April 30… more
SVL bets big on payments market
Jamaica – Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), through its subsidiary Supreme Ventures Fintech Limited (SVFL), is shifting focus from its core lottery and gaming business to a transaction-based model with the addition of new services under its EVOLVE brand… more
NIC Introduces New Online Platform to Submit Monthly Contributions
Saint Lucia – The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) has launched a new online platform designed to simplify the process of submitting monthly contributions… more
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Minister pledges reform to combat AI fraudsters
Bahamas – A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Government is planning legislative reforms to combat the sudden surge in artificial intelligence (AI) generated scams… more
Flow launches Technician Pathways to empower and uplift
Barbados – Close to 100 technicians gathered recently for the rollout of the inaugural Flow Barbados Technician Pathways — a groundbreaking initiative designed to inspire, develop, and advance careers of the frontline technical team… more
AI adoption could reshape, boost global GDP by an additional 15 percentage points by 2035: PwC Research
Caribbean – New research published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to boost global economic output by up to 15 percentage points over the next decade… more
AI leaves no audit trail
Caribbean – From a very early age, I have been fascinated with understanding how things work. Back in a largely mechanical world, this was usually an achievable goal… more
Aurora acquires franchise for Valenta Caribbean to advance AI region-wide adoption
Caribbean – Cybersecurity firm Aurora Technologies Limited and Valenta, a global leader in AI-powered intelligent automation, have announced a strategic partnership to drive the adoption of artificial intelligence across the Caribbean… more
Digital commerce lessons from ASEAN for Caricom
Caribbean – Imagine this, you’re in Thailand and want to buy coffee from a roadside stand. You scan a QR code with PromptPay on your phone and the seller is instantly paid in their currency… more
Mastercard unveils pioneering agentic payments technology to power commerce
Caribbean – Mastercard has announced the launch of Mastercard Agent Pay, a groundbreaking solution that integrates agentic AI with the company’s trusted payment technologies to redefine how consumers and businesses transact in the digital age… more
When TikTok Turns Toxic: Jamaica’s Warning to Parents.
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) is warning parents to closely watch how their children use the internet… more
Nevis Island Assembly Passes Online Gaming Bill
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Nevis Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was unanimously passed in the Nevis Island Assembly on Tuesday, April 29th… more
Friday, 2 May 2025
Munroe: Criminal code being updated to include AI-generated scams
Bahamas – NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said legislative reforms are underway to address the misuse of artificial intelligence… more
Government to tackle AI-generated fraud with new laws and national strategy
Bahamas – National Security Minister Wayne Munroe says that the government is working on a national strategy to govern the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in The Bahamas, in response to the growing threat of AI-generated fraud… more
Pinder: Govt deciding on technology platform to oversee cannabis licensing
Bahamas – THE government is nearing a decision on a technology platform to support the country’s cannabis licensing system, with Attorney General Ryan Pinder confirming yesterday that officials are still aiming to accept licence applications by July… more
URCA’s Freeport legal challenges are ‘stalled’
Bahamas – Two legal battles challenging the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) authority to supervise Freeport-based utilities have “stalled” over bids to have the judge overseeing the cases step down… more
URCA: Mobile subscribers decline sharply while broadband and pay TV surge in 2024
Bahamas – Mobile phone subscriptions last year saw the steepest decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) 2024 Annual Report, which also revealed that fixed broadband and Pay TV services continued on an upward trajectory, with both subscriber numbers and penetration rates increasing over the past year… more
Visa wants to give artificial intelligence ‘agents’ your credit card
Caribbean – Artificial intelligence ‘agents’ are supposed to be more than chatbots. The tech industry has spent months pitching AI personal assistants that know what you want and can do real work on your behalf… more
Cayman Islands could be future hub for AI business
Cayman Islands – Recent research published by PwC found that, aside from transforming the world we live in, artificial intelligence could significantly boost global economic output and annual growth rates by at least a percentage point over the next decade, comparable to that of the 19th-century industrial revolution… more
Abinader submits bill to regulate freedom of expression and digital media
Dominican Republic – President Luis Abinader has formally submitted a bill to the Senate aimed at regulating freedom of expression and digital communication in the Dominican Republic… more
Dominican Republic may penalize airlines for E-Ticket oversight
Dominican Republic – Immigration authorities at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) have warned airlines operating in the Dominican Republic that they may face sanctions for failing to ensure passengers complete the mandatory digital immigration form, known as the “E-ticket,” required for entering or leaving the country… more
Saturday, 3 May 2025
Gov’t plans to acquire radar system, Chief of Staff says
Antigua and Barbuda – The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is hoping to increase its revenues through the setting-up of a radar system… more
World Press Freedom Day 2025: MIC and UNESCO Call for Responsible AI Use in Media
Caribbean – UNESCO marked World Press Freedom Day 2025 with a sharp focus on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism, under the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.” … more
PUP Warns Public About Free Data Scam
Belize – A fraudulent advertisement claiming to offer free mobile data to supporters of the People’s United Party (PUP) has prompted a strong warning from the party. In a statement issued today, the PUP denounced the promotion as a “fraudulent advertisement,” stating that it has no involvement in the offer… more
Regional media groups partner to host digital security workshop
Caribbean – World Press Freedom Day, celebrated every year on May 3, acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among a professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics… more
World Press Freedom Day 2025: MIC and UNESCO Call for Responsible AI Use in Media
Caribbean – UNESCO marked World Press Freedom Day 2025 with a sharp focus on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism, under the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.” … more
AI can be a force for good if not misused
Guyana – Artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of newscasting can be a force for good in both mainstream legacy and online news and current affairs publications when used efficiently in areas such as research and data analysis but care must be taken to ensure that this technology to misinform and mislead… more
GPF to appeal Magistrate’s granting bail in cyber-crime terrorism case
Guyana – The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday said it will appeal the recent bail granted to Dennis Persaud, who was charged at the Mahaicony Magistrates’ Court, with inciting persons to commit a terrorist act under the Cyber Crime Act No. 16 of 2018… more
Police to appeal bail in cyber terrorism case against Cane Grove businessman
Guyana – The Guyana Police Force intends to appeal the decision of the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court to grant bail to Dennis Persaud who was charged in a cybercrime terrorism matter… more
Jamaica embraces evolution in global services sector
Jamaica – With emerging technological shifts in the BPO and logistics sectors, Jamaica is ready to embrace the evolution of new solutions such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics process automation (RPA)… more
JTA boss hails AI as history’s most significant innovation
Jamaica – Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Dr Mark Smith says artificial intelligence (AI) is the most significant innovation in human history, and is calling for its increased use in the local education system, arguing that, without its use, the nation will be left behind in the global technological shift… more
Sunday, 4 May 2025
Public Utilities Commission welcomes Starlink in telecoms sector
Belize – After opening up the telecommunications sector to stimulate greater competition, innovation and consumer choice with the launch of number portability, enabling mobile and fixed line subscribers to switch service providers while retaining their existing phone numbers, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is welcoming a new entrant into the Guyana market… more
Images credit: Freepik; Wikipedia; Central bank of Bahamas (Twitter); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; The Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia
