A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday, 19 January to Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Monday, 19 January 2026
Tourism DG: Digital immigration card by Q2 2026
Bahamas – The country’s digital landing card will finally be available this year, after testing late last year, Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Director General Latia Duncombe said Thursday… more
PM Briceño Confirms Credit Card Scam Investigation
Belize – Prime Minister John Briceño has confirmed to News 5 that an investigation is ongoing regarding a massive credit card scam. News 5 first broke news of the scam earlier this month… more
Security Scandal Deepens in BPO Industry as PM Launches Investigation
Belize – Concerns are growing tonight over Belize’s BPO industry, as yet another private company has come forward, saying it’s been hit by a sophisticated credit card scam that’s cost them thousands. What’s even more alarming is that all signs point to the scheme originating from within the sector itself… more
Telecom Rate Freeze Pending; AG Awaits Directive
Belize – At the opening of the High Court today, reporters pulled Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre aside to get an update on the government’s proposed move to freeze telecom rates… more
Open eyes to digital DNA
Caribbean – THE EDITOR, Madam: It is far too late to ignore what has already become woven into the fabric of daily life. The digital world is central to how we live, work, communicate, and even understand ourselves. As we grow more aware of the significance of this digital ecosystem, we must also raise our consciousness about the profiles, patterns, and footprints we create each time we access information or share our thoughts, actions, and behaviours across global platforms… more
Upper Demerara Hospital gets $120M digital X-ray machine
Guyana – A new $120 million state-of-the-art Digital X-ray machine was commissioned at the Upper Demerara Hospital in Region 10 on Friday… more
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
The .ai domain has surpassed one million registered domains
Anguilla – The .ai domain has officially surpassed 1,000,000 registered domains worldwide, marking a historic milestone for Anguilla and underscoring the island’s unique role in the global artificial intelligence economy… more
BTL Labels Media as Essential Services
Belize – And there’s another development coming out of BTL tonight. Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga says the company is moving to classify media houses as essential services… more
BTL Presents SpeedNet Acquisition to Cabinet
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has presented its proposed acquisition of SpeedNet to Cabinet today, following consultations with the Social Security Board, the Belize Communications Workers’ Union, and other stakeholders… more
Cabinet Awaits Final Consultations on BTL–Speednet Deal
Belize – It was a long day in Belmopan, where Belize Telemedia Limited spent hours before Cabinet making its pitch for the proposed Speednet takeover… more
EXCLUSIVE: Former BPO Worker Speaks with News 5 on Credit Card Scam
Belize – Some local businesses have lost thousands to a growing credit card scam linked to the country’s BPO sector. Tonight, News Five is exposing how it works from the inside… more
Former BPO Worker Exposes Scam Pipeline
Belize – Tonight, we’re taking you inside a growing credit card scam that’s quietly bleeding local businesses of thousands of dollars. Our investigation has uncovered a clear pattern: many of these fraudulent charges can be traced back to stolen payment information, taken from inside Belize’s BPO sector… more
CIFA launches its first-ever mobile app
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Football Association has officially entered a new digital era with the launch of its first mobile app, providing a centralised hub for fans to engage with local football… more
First robotic cardiac surgery performed in Cayman Islands expands regional medical options
Cayman Islands – Health City Cayman Islands successfully performed its inaugural robotic-assisted heart surgeries, marking a major advancement in cardiac healthcare for the Cayman Islands and the broader Caribbean region… more
Modern technology helps protect Nassau grouper ‘maternity wards’
Cayman Islands – Evolving technology over the past quarter of a century has helped marine scientists monitor and manage Nassau grouper’s spawning grounds in Cayman… more
Govt. using AI to interpret medical images
Guyana – Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Saturday said part of revolutionising the local healthcare system is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret X-ray images… more
One on One Educational Services delivers strong start to Q1 of FY2026
Jamaica – Digital educational and technology company, One on One Educational Services, has delivered a strong start to the first quarter of its 2026 financial year with net profits surging by 101.8%, moving from $11.2 million to close on $22.6 million… more
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Belize Telemedia Limited makes presentation to cabinet on acquisition of Speednet
Belize –On January 20, 2026, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) made its presentation to Cabinet on a proposed acquisition of Speednet… more
BPO Association Speaks on Credit Card Fraud
Belize – The Belize Business Process Outsourcing Association (BBPOA) has issued a statement responding to exclusive reporting by News 5 on onoing credit card fraud within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector… more
BPO Industry Responds as Credit Card Scam Probe Widens
Belize – Tonight, the country’s BPO industry is responding to growing public concern after our own News Five investigation uncovered an alleged credit card scam tied to individuals connected to the sector… more
BTL Claims Speednet Acquisition Would Boost Efficiency
Belize – After that stark warning from BTL’s chairman that ‘something will have to give’ if the company can’t boost efficiency, we pushed for more clarity on the numbers behind the proposed merger. We asked what kind of cash‑flow gains BTL expects if it absorbs its main competitor, Speednet… more
BTL Defends Merger Push, Says Efficiency Key to Protecting Consumers
Belize – Tonight, Belize Telemedia Limited is making its case, plain and simple, as public scrutiny grows over its proposed merger with Speednet. The big question on everyone’s mind: can BTL keep expanding its services, hold the line on prices, and continue pushing Belize’s digital transformation without fully consolidating? … more
Chebat Says Over 20 Internet Providers in Belize
Belize – As Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) seeks Cabinet approval to acquire SpeedNet, Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat says he does not believe the deal would create a broadband monopoly, pointing to the existence of more than 20 licensed internet providers in the country… more
PM Backs Chebat, Says Stalled BTL Needs Merger to Survive
Belize – Prime Minister John Briceño is backing up his Public Utilities Minister tonight, doubling down on the message coming out of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. Minister Michel Chebat told reporters that BTL’s proposed merger won’t create a monopoly, pointing out that Belize has more than twenty‑three broadband providers already operating in the market… more
PM Briceño Quashes Corruption Claims After WhatsApp Leak
Belize – Allegations of corruption have surfaced inside the Ministry of Rural Transformation, and tonight Prime Minister John Briceño is trying to put those claims to rest… more
PM Briceño: Telecom Policy Moving Ahead, Merger or Not
Belize – On Tuesday, Belize Telemedia Limited took its pitch straight to Cabinet in Belmopan, laying out its case for the proposed merger between BTL and Smart. We were right outside that meeting, bringing you reactions from BTL Chairman Mark Lizarraga and Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat… more
New potential bidder for subsea cable project
Cayman Islands – With the government set to issue a ‘request for proposal’ for third subsea data connection, a Cayman-led consortium has announced it is ready to enter a bid… more
One Communications replacing copper lines with fibre
Guyana – In keeping with its mandate to support Guyana’s growing residential and commercial digital needs, telecoms provider – One Communications – says it has significantly strengthened service reliability for customers across Guyana following a 50 per cent overall reduction of its copper network, a release from the company stated yesterday… more
One Communications slashes outages with major fibre network upgrade
Guyana – One Communications said it has significantly boosted service reliability across Guyana following a major network modernisation drive in 2025, cutting its copper network by 50 percent and strengthening internet and voice services nationwide… more
Francis Amair appointed Head of Operations for Guardsman Metaverse Limited
Jamaica – The Guardsman Group is pleased to announce that effective March 1, 2026, Francis Amair will assume the role of Head of Operations for Guardsman Metaverse Limited… more
Open AI announces education partnership with TT
Trinidad and Tobago – OpenAI announced a new Education for Countries initiative as part of its OpenAI for Countries initiative, an effort to build “democratic AI” that is modeled on its Stargate project an America focused investment in AI infrastrcuture that it announced earlier in January in partnership with Oracle and Softbank. The project has started with a supercomputing campus in Abilene, Texas… more
Pan American Life: Putting humanity into digitization
Trinidad and Tobago – While technology has changed, making companies more nimble and accessible, the nature of insurance has not… more
Social media dangers for minors
Trinidad and Tobago – IN THIS fast-paced, evolving tech age, where computer tablets and smartphones have become an integral part of parenting tools for toddlers to pre-teens, the discussion of considering legislation regulating social media access by minors is a welcome one… more
Why it’s worth keeping digital trade duty-free
Trinidad and Tobago – For Trinidad and Tobago firms, particularly those operating in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), financial services, professional services, creative industries and other digitally delivered sectors, the preservation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is not an abstract global debate—it is a competitiveness imperative… more
Thursday, 22 January 2026
BTC union makes offer to resolve terminations
Bahamas – The union representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) line staff yesterday said it has made an offer to resolve the dispute over five recently-terminated workers, three of whom are its members, and is waiting for the carrier to respond with a counter-offer… more
Behind the network: Belize Telemedia Limited and Chinese technology
Belize – Belize’s leading telecommunications provider, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) uses Chinese technology… more
Briceño Offered To Recuse Himself From BTL-Cabinet Meeting
Belize – The debate over the future of Belize’s telecom landscape is heating up again, this time with Minister Kareem Musa pushing back firmly against claims that the consolidation of BTL is paving the way for a monopoly… more
BTL Executive Presents Proposed Speednet Acquisition to Cabinet
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) presented its proposal to acquire SMART/Speednet to the Cabinet on Tuesday, January 20th, during a meeting held in the capital city of Belmopan. The presentation was delivered by BTL Chairman Mark Lizarraga, Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum, and Chief Financial Officer Ian Cleverly… more
UWI students charged up by launch of E-Mobility Lab
Jamaica – Against the background of a rapid expansion in the sale of electric vehicles globally and interest growing in the region, and Jamaica in particular, The University of the West Indies on Tuesday officially opened its E-Mobility Lab in the Faculty of Science and Technology… more
Friday, 23 January 2026
BCCI Wants “Transparent Consultation” With BTL
Belize – The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is reiterating its call for transparency in the ongoing proposed acquisition of SpeedNet by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL)… more
Former BTL Workers Demand Unpaid Severance
Belize – More than 130 former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) have joined forces to demand severance payments they say the company has refused to honour… more
Fraud Wave Hits Belizean Businesses as Legal Loopholes Shield Scammers
Belize – Belizean businesses are losing thousands of dollars to a wave of credit card fraud. And what’s even more troubling? Many say they’re powerless to stop it… more
CXC urges parents, teachers to guide ethical AI use as students embrace tech
Caribbean – Dr Eduardo Ali, pro-registrar and deputy CEO of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), is urging stronger involvement from parents and teachers as students report increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support their studies… more
Digital abuse is making the web a ‘Wild West’ for women and girls
Cayman Islands – The rapidly evolving digital world has become a kind of “Wild West,” amid a torrent of new crime trends that police, government officials and business leaders warn are increasingly putting women and girls at risk… more
Amber Group and CAPRI launch AI initiative to transform public policy across the Caribbean
Caribbean – Amber Group, a Jamaican technology conglomerate, has entered a landmark strategic partnership with the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) to deploy artificial intelligence in the service of public-policy access and democratic decision-making across the Caribbean… more
Click, Connect, and Thrive: Seniors in the Digital Age.
Sint Maarten – With fresh topics and familiar goals, the Cyber Senior workshop series returns for another 8-month session. This initiative empowers mature adults to engage, explore, and excel with today’s digital tools, technologies, and resources that enhance their well-being… more
Digicel announces Deep Blue One connection to Tobago
Trinidad to Tobago – Deep Blue One, Digicel’s subsea fibre-optic cable linking Trinidad to Tobago, has officially been launched. The submarine cable is expected to significantly enhance the reliability and stability of services in Tobago… more
Saturday, 24 January 2026
Cabinet approves digital overhaul of Immigration systems
Antigua and Barbuda – The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has officially sanctioned a comprehensive technological upgrade to the nation’s Immigration infrastructure, featuring the implementation of automated electronic gates (e-gates) at all air and sea ports… more
CIB President Luigi Wewege Listed Among Top 50 Global FinTech Influencers
Belize – President Luigi Wewege of Caye International Bank (CIB) has once again earned international recognition, being named to the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers in FinTech for 2026. Thinkers360, a global thought leadership platform and expert network, announced it on January 21st… more
Government launches Cayman Islands ID card
Cayman Islands – The Ministry of Social Development and Innovation has launched ‘My eID’, a physical identity card with digital features… more
US inventor developing new cancer technology in Cayman
Cayman Islands – In a home laboratory in Grand Cayman, medical imaging pioneers Dr. Ronald Nutt and Lynda Nutt are developing a new cancer imaging technology that they believe will reshape how the disease is detected at its earliest stages… more
Data becomes powerful only when it is used to make decisions – Public Sector Transformation Head
Jamaica – Executive Director of the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters, is urging public sector leaders to treat performance information as a daily management tool, not a compliance exercise – especially as government becomes more digital, connected, and accountable to citizens in real time… more
Liberty Business champions digital transformation at JSE 2026 Conference
Jamaica – The Caribbean’s leading technology solutions provider, Liberty Business, will be championing digital transformation through its partnership with the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference, which took place at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel from January 20–22… more
Sunday, 25 January 2026
Liberty Caribbean, Operator of Flow, Named Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026
Caribbean – Leading telecommunications provider Liberty Caribbean, operator of Flow, BTC, and Liberty Business, has been named the Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026, one of the Caribbean’s most influential telecommunications and ICT conference. The event will take place from February 1-3, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago… more
Beharry, Amber Groups partner on IT, cybersecurity company
Guyana – Guyana’s Beharry Group and Jamaica’s Amber Group have entered into a strategic joint venture to establish a new IT and cybersecurity services company, Beharry-Amber Technologies Inc.. more
Business Leaders Cannot Afford to Delegate AI Strategy to Technical Teams
Guyana – Business leaders occupy a vantage point few others do. Effective leadership requires constant scanning of environmental variables such as politics, competition, regulation, labor markets, and emerging technologies. At the same time, leaders confront the hard realities of bank balances, cash flow, and financial statements. Risk is not an abstract concept. It is strategic and deeply personal… more
ECT Act 2023 – Provider liability, release from liability, and the cost of audits
Guyana – This week, we will examine how the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2023 (the ECT Act) addresses questions of service provider liability, release from liability, and the costs of audits mandated by the certifying authority… more
Funding, execution doubts cloud Govt’s economic blueprint
Trinidad and Tobago – The Government’s much-touted revitalisation blueprint was a key feature at the Amcham T&T’s 2026 Economic Outlook Forum, where business leaders expressed scepticism about its feasibility and likely impact… more
Significant amendments to new Virtual Assets law
Trinidad and Tobago – Virtual assets including cryptocurrencies, and virtual asset activities, continue to gain in prominence, as confidence in the underlying technology increases, supported by a growing distrust in traditional systems… more
Images credit: carterse (flickr); Wikimedia Commons; One on One (LinkedIn); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; CXC; Wikipedia; Wikpedia
