A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 4 August to Sunday 10 August 2025.
Monday, 4 August 2025
CTU and CMC Forge Strategic Media Partnership
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional media and communications collaboration across the Caribbean and beyond… more
CINEX: Curaçao makes major leap toward a future-ready Digital Economy
Curaçao – As part of Curaçao’s strategy to develop technology and digital services as a fourth economic pillar, CINEX has supported key initiatives led by strategic partner Blue NAP Americas, which recently culminating in several major achievements… more
Digicel Foundation, GEF SGP launch grant for people with disabilities
Trinidad and Tobago – The Digicel Foundation, in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), has launched the Innovation Challenge for Persons with Disabilities – a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at empowering individuals with disabilities through entrepreneurship… more
Drifting to data-driven decisions
Trinidad and Tobago – Speaking on July 01, at the first day of AmCham’s Tech Islands Hub Summit 2025, Republic Bank’s Shazard Mohammed offered a hard look at the current state of national data collection and analysis… more
TSTT offers online, immersive digital internship for 600 youth
Trinidad and Tobago – Over 600 young people across Trinidad and Tobago will soon gain hands-on work experience through TSTT’s newly launched Future Leaders Internship Programme, announced on July 31 at the Queen’s Park Oval. Under the tagline, “Powering the Next Generation: Future Ready, Tech Driven, TSTT Inspired,” the national initiative targets citizens aged 17 to 21 who are currently not employed or enrolled in full-time tertiary education… more
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
BTC in ‘targeted action’ over customer feedback
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) top executive says the carrier has “responded with targeted action” to customer concerns and what their biggest needs are… more
BTS Transition Draws Strong Public Reaction Over Data Privacy
Belize – It started with a quiet announcement, but now, it’s got everyone talking, and fast. Just weeks ago, the Belize Tax Service Department revealed plans to become a semi-autonomous revenue authority… more
Cybersecurity tackled at telecom meeting
British Virgin Islands – Cybersecurity, regulatory advances and artificial intelligence were among the key topics on the agenda during a major regional meeting attended by Virgin Islands telecommunications regulators… more
ChatrrApp launches open beta, pays for calls
Trinidad and Tobago – Nearly a year after making headlines with its promise to pay users for making phone calls, ChatrrApp has officially entered Open Beta—now live on both Android and iOS—and its creators say they’re just getting started… more
Digicel’s Innovation Challenge reveals need for greater inclusion for People with Disabilities
Trinidad and Tobago – THE launch of Digicel’s Innovation Challenge for People with Disabilities (PWDs) revealed how much work is still needed for greater inclusion of that community in this country… more
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Island Pay in ‘bad time’ as clients allege refund delays
Bahamas – Customers yesterday complained they have suffered delays and challenges in recovering their funds from a Bahamian digital payments provider which admitted it is currently enduring “a bad time”… more
Government Orders Ministries to Store Data Backups at Blue Nap Americas Following Cyberattacks
Curaçao –The Ministry of Governance, Planning, and Service (BPD) has issued mandatory instructions to all ministries connected to Curaçao’s national cybersecurity framework, requiring them to store their data backups at Blue Nap Americas… more
No ban on cellphones in polling booth
Guyana – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has taken a decision not to have voters lodge their phones as a measure to ensure they are not used to photograph their ballots… more
bmobile Business Introduces New SME Series to Empower Local Entrepreneurs
Trinidad and Tobago – As small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to drive business activity in Trinidad and Tobago, bmobile Business has launched a new entrepreneurship series to help local businesses sharpen their strategy, improve visibility, and build for long-term growth… more
Thursday, 7 August 2025
BTC brings together key top-up partners
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) brought together the vendors who facilitate top-up credit to its subscribers at the carrier’s first-ever Merchant Mixer… more
BTC urges URCA: ‘Make it easy’ for new network
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday asserted it will move “as fast as regulators allow” in rolling out the new network technology that its top executive branded as “a huge deal”… more
Central Bank ‘monitoring’ situation with Island Pay
Bahamas – The Central Bank’s governor yesterday confirmed the regulator is “monitoring matters” at a Bahamian digital payments provider subject to client complaints about delays in having their money refunded… more
Technology winners will possess strongest values
Bahamas – In an age where a single tweet can reshape public opinion, and data breaches can cripple entire industries, the way businesses behave is under a greater spotlight than ever before… more
Liberty Business named Fortinet’s Service Provider of the Year
Jamaica – Liberty Business, formerly known as C&W Business, has been awarded Fortinet’s Service Provider of the Year for its exceptional performance in delivering secure, scalable, and transformational cybersecurity solutions across Jamaica and the Caribbean… more
bmobile hosts SME sessions
Trinidad and Tobago – bmobile Business has launched a new entrepreneurship series targetting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as they continue to drive business activity in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Friday, 8 August 2025
BTC completes rollout of Grand Bahama’s fiber network
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) CEO Sameer Bhatti told Guardian Business yesterday that the company has shut down its old copper network on Grand Bahama, given that the entire island has now been laid with fiber… more
BTC hails ‘Blue Letter Day’ as GB fully fibre
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said all Grand Bahama subscribers have been migrated to its new fibre-optic technology with more than 23,500 homes passed by the network… more
BTC rolls out Air Network broadband internet for Family Islands
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has rolled out BTC Air Network, a broadband internet solution for the Family Islands that can come with triple-play packages baked in, the first of its kind in the region, the company’s CEO Sameer Bhatti told Guardian Business yesterday… more
Call me maybe? Thousands of Belizean BPO workers could lose job if new US Bill passes to bring BPOs back to America
Belize – The United States Senate has unveiled a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting American call center jobs while increasing consumer transparency in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) and offshore outsourcing… more
Caribbean central banks testing payment system to reduce reliance on US banks
Caribbean – Four Caribbean central banks are launching a pilot project to develop an alternative payment system aimed at reducing reliance on the US dollar for trade and remittances… more
Laptop donation drive for war-torn Ukraine
Cayman Islands – An urgent appeal for unwanted laptops to help children in Ukraine continue their education despite the hardships caused by war has been issued by entrepreneur and Austrian honorary consul Martin Richter… more
ENet commissions fibre-optic cable at Bartica
Guyana – Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Wednesday hailed the commissioning of the first direct submarine fibre-optic cable to Bartica as a transformative development that connects the hinterland town with Georgetown’s digital capabilities… more
Saturday, 9 August 2025
FAO launches digital platform for empowerment of rural women in Latam, Caribbean
Caribbean – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the new Regional Platform for the Empowerment of Rural Women, a digital tool aimed at strengthening the capacities, leadership, and full exercise of the rights of rural, Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and young women across Latin America and the Caribbean…more
Knockalva chairman wants Gov’t to step up use of technology in farming
Jamaica – Anthony Lawrence, the chairman of the Knockalva Polytechnic College, in Hanover, is calling for the Government of Jamaica to implement policies that will allow the country’s farmers to integrate modern technology into their farming practices to improve productivity… more
Sunday, 10 August 2025
US$1 million 14West AI fund launches in the Caribbean
Caribbean – Jamaican artificial intelligence entrepreneur Adrian Dunkley has launched the Caribbean’s first AI fund, 14West, a multi-million-dollar initiative designed to develop AI startups and unify fragmented innovation efforts across the region… more
Jamaican film-makers pioneer AI-driven cinema
Jamaica – In a bold demonstration of Jamaica’s innovative spirit and cultural creativity, local film-makers have created Madworld, a revolutionary 20-minute short film that positions the island nation at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cinema… more
Teacher vs copilot
Jamaica – PICTURE this: A teacher grades 100 essays in one hour, provides detailed feedback to each student, and identifies class-wide learning gaps — all while sitting under a mango tree enjoying the cool summer breeze… more
Illegal prison cellphones loaded with thousands of dollars in credit–POA president
Trinidad and Tobago – Illegal cellphones smuggled into Trinidad and Tobago’s prisons—some loaded with prepaid credit values ranging from TT$8 000 to TT$11 000 (US$1 179 – US$1 621)—are enabling inmates to run criminal networks from behind bars… more
T&T needs to reduce online harm
Trinidad and Tobago – Managing director of Pinaka Consulting Ltd. Shiva Bissessar, is alerting the public to the perils of online scams and is calling for public private partnership to treat with the impact of such activity, which includes financial crimes… more
Images credit: Karolina Grabowska (Pixabay); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; bmobile; Island Pay (Facebook); ENet; Wikimedia Commons
