A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday, 26 January to Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Monday, 26 January 2026
Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry demands immediate halt to BTL board action to allow time for consultation
Belize – The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) issued a statement today thanking Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) for agreeing to meet with their Executive this Wednesday, January 28th, 2026… more
BTL Buyout Already Decided? BCCI Demands Halt
Belize – Disapproval is growing over Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications (SMART), as reports indicate BTL’s board is set to vote on the deal Tuesday… more
NTUCB Demands Public Consultations on BTL Deal
Belize – Beyond calling for the deal to be put on ice, the NTUCB is taking its objection a step further. The union wants BTL to hold national public consultations before anything is signed, sealed, or delivered… more
NTUCB Members Reject BTL–Speednet Deal
Belize – Meanwhile tonight, another strong voice is stepping forward in the debate over the proposed BTL–Speednet acquisition… more
Rising Opposition as BTL Moves Toward Speednet Acquisition Vote
Belize – Tonight, pressure is rapidly building against the proposed buyout between Belize Telemedia Limited and Speednet… more
UDP opposes proposed acquisition of Speednet by BTL, citing unresolved public concerns
Belize – The United Democratic Party (UDP) has publicly expressed its strong opposition to the proposed acquisition of Speednet (SMART) by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), emphasizing that the move raises significant concerns that could adversely affect the telecommunications sector and the general public… more
Amber Group, Beharry Group launch IT joint venture to power Guyana’s digital future
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Amber Group and Guyana’s Beharry Group have officially entered into a strategic joint venture to establish a new IT and cybersecurity services company, Beharry-Amber Technologies Inc, marking a major milestone in the region’s digital transformation journey… more
Two academic leaders ready to help Jamaican women thrive in the digital era
Jamaica – WO of Jamaica’s top academic leaders are now working on a national roll-out strategy to equip Jamaican women to thrive in the digital era, following their participation in a recent United Nations Development Programme/United Nations (UNDP-UN) Global Leadership Academy on Women Leading in the Digital Era in Marrakesh, Morocco… more
Digicel’s Deep Blue One strengthens Tobago network
Trinidad and Tobago – TELECOMMUNICATIONS provider Digicel has launched its Deep Blue One subsea fibre-optic cable linking Trinidad to Tobago… more
Policing social media ban easier said than done
Trinidad and Tobago – FOR YEARS now, TT’s most reliable babysitter hasn’t worn shoes, charged overtime, or complained about traffic. It glows. It scrolls. And it answers to the name TikTok… more
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
BTL Accuses Protesters of Trespassing, Intimidation
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited is speaking out tonight, issuing a strong statement after protesters forced their way onto the company’s compound this morning. In its release, BTL condemns what it calls unlawful trespassing, saying several demonstrators ignored police instructions and created an unsafe situation for both employees and customers… more
BTL Says Protestors Were Trespassers
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has condemned what it described as “unlawful trespassing” by protestors at its Saint Thomas Street headquarters in Belize City earlier today… more
BTL Workers Divided Over Speednet Deal, Union Silent on Severance Fight
Belize – There’s a growing split tonight inside the BTL family, between former employees, now united under the Belize Communication Workers for Justice, and the current staff represented by the Belize Communication Workers Union… more
Chaos Erupts at BTL as Protestors Storm Compound Over Speednet Buyout
Belize – Tensions ran high outside the BTL Headquarters this morning as reports spread that the company’s board was preparing to green‑light an eighty‑million‑dollar buyout of Speednet… more
National Evangelical Association says BTL’s acquisition would NOT benefit Belizean public
Belize – The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) has issued a statement warning that the proposed acquisition of Speednet by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) would result in a national telecommunications and telemedia monopoly… more
NEAB rejects BTL–Speednet acquisition, warns of monopoly
Belize – The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) is coming out strongly against the proposed acquisition of Speednet (SMART) by Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), warning that the move would create a dangerous telecommunications and telemedia monopoly… more
UDP Protesters Enter BTL Compound
Belize – Just as they had committed, protesters gathered outside of the Belize Telemedia Limited’s compound on St Thomas Street, Belize City, entered the compound shortly after 10 a.m. today… more
UDP says No to Belize Telemedia Limited’s acquisition of Speednet
Belize – Today, supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) joined Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton protesting BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet Limited… more
UDP Stages Protest Outside BTL Over Speednet/SMART Deal
Belize – Dozens of protesters gathered outside Belize Telemedia Limited’s compound on St Thomas Street, Belize City, this morning. The crowd is protesting BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet/SMART… more
Union Demands Lizarraga’s Exit Amid BTL Trust Fallout
Belize – Pressure is mounting inside Belize Telemedia Limited, where former workers are openly challenging the leadership at the state‑owned company… more
Liberty Caribbean named Diamond sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026
Caribbean – Liberty Caribbean has been named the Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026, the Caribbean’s major telecommunications and ICT conference, scheduled for February 1 to 3 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago… more
Explicit ‘deepfakes’ trend brings new threat to women in Cayman
Cayman Islands – Explicit ‘deepfake’ images of real people generated using artificial intelligence tools are among the most significant new threats facing women and girls in the Cayman Islands, detectives have told the Compass… more
ID card launched for Caymanians, full rollout to come
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Government has finally launched ‘My eID’, a national identity card with digital features that has been in discussion and development for almost two decades. The free card is not mandatory as originally intended due to public backlash against legal enforcement over civil liberty and security concerns… more
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Foreign Affairs Minister says A&B has 90 days to align biometrics as US visa rules tighten
Antigua and Barbuda – Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene says Antigua and Barbuda has an “outside date of 90 days” to align its biometric processes with new United States requirements, as government works to restore an orderly system for visa processing amid public anxiety over recent US visa restrictions… more
BTL Appeals to ‘National Interest’ Amid Pushback
Belize – As scrutiny over BTL’s proposed takeover of Speednet grows, the company is making its case, asking Belizeans to see the deal as a move made in the national interest… more
BTL Deal Raises Political Déjà Vu for PUP
Belize – So just how risky is this BTL–Speednet deal for the Briceño administration? It’s not the first time a BTL issue has stirred public anger, three years before the PUP lost the 2008 election, the company was at the center of nationwide dissent and protests. So, is the party worried history might be lining up for a repeat? We put that question directly to Minister Musa… more
BTL’s Protest: “A Decent Flex”
Belize – Area Representative for Caribbean Shores Kareem Musa has described Tuesday’s protest outside the Belize Telemedia Limited headquarters as a sign of a “healthy democracy”, despite the disorder that unfolded on the compound… more
BTL Says Speednet Deal “Still Under Review”
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited issued two statements on Tuesday after a protest outside its St Thomas Street headquarters in Belize City escalated into disorder. At the frontlines of the protest were members of the Opposition and union members against the proposed acquisition of Speednet… more
BTL–Speednet Deal Under Fire from Streets to Senate
Belize – Tuesday’s protest outside Belize Telemedia’s headquarters quickly turned chaotic, as UDP supporters and members of the NTUCB took to the streets over BTL’s proposed eighty‑million‑dollar buyout of Speednet… more
Former BTL workers demand severance before $80 million SMART deal advances
Belize – The Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ), a group representing more than 130 former Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) employees, held a press conference on January 26, 2026, at the BNTU Union Hall in Belize City… more
Cybercrime crackdown
Jamaica – Declaring that Jamaica’s cyber laws must keep pace with rapidly evolving digital threats, the Government on Tuesday tabled sweeping amendments to the Cybercrimes Act aimed at cracking down on online fraud, strengthening protections for children, criminalising the non-consensual sharing of intimate AI-generated images, and tightening controls on the tools used to commit cybercrime… more
Sagicor Bank plans Apple Pay introduction
Jamaica – SAGICOR Bank Jamaica Limited (SBJ) has become the latest Jamaican commercial bank to indicate that its clients will be able to use Apple Pay in the near future… more
Thursday, 29 January 2026
Upgrade cybersecurity systems, warns expert
Barbados – Governments and companies across the region have been urged to re-examine their cybersecurity infrastructure as cyber threats evolve beyond data theft to direct attacks on business operations… more
Uber proposal ‘soundly rejected’ by taxi union
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Taxi Cab Union has flatly rejected any partnership with ride-sharing giant Uber, with union president Tyrone Butler saying the proposal was “not something that was welcome” by taxi drivers… more
BTL Pitches SMART Takeover to Business Leaders
Belize – Days after protesters gathered outside Belize Telemedia Limited’s headquarters in Belize City to oppose its proposed acquisition of Speednet (Smart), the company sat down with business leaders in a closed‑door consultation to defend the deal… more
PM Briceño Responds After BTL Meeting, Protests
Belize – This morning in Belize City, reporters caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño, and naturally, there were questions waiting. That comes after BTL executives met with Cabinet last Tuesday in Belmopan, a meeting that has since sparked concern across several sectors… more
PM Pushes Stronger Laws After BPO Scam Exposé
Belize – Tonight, a News Five investigation is putting renewed pressure on government to act. We were the first to expose a sophisticated credit card scam tied to Belize’s BPO sector, an operation that has left businesses counting their losses… more
PM Says BPO Paid Out Over $150 Million in Annual Salaries
Belize – Prime Minister John Briceño says the government is committed to cracking down on scams linked to Belize’s BPO sector, as concerns grow about whether existing laws are strong enough to address the problem… more
Too little, too late
Jamaica – AS lawmakers debated amendments to the Cybercrimes Act in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the Opposition warned that slow legislative timelines risk undermining the effectiveness of the change, arguing that cyber legislation must evolve as quickly as the digital threats it is meant to confront… more
‘T&T firms must do more to protects against cyberattacks’
Trinidad and Tobago – Companies and businesses in T&T need to develop more skills in developing a plan to deal with the fallout from ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes… more
Friday, 30 January 2026
BTL Faces Protest as Retirees Demand Severance Pay
Belize – Tensions are boiling over tonight between former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited and their former employer… more
BTL Warns Former Union Leader Over Protest Comments
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited is firing back tonight, issuing a formal warning to former union leader Emily Turner over comments she made during a BCWJ press conference earlier this week… more
Former BTL Workers Begin 6-Day Protest Over “Unpaid Severance”
Belize – Former Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) employees are taking their fight for severance pay to the streets, staging a multi-day protest outside the company’s headquarters in Belize City after a landmark Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling affirmed their right to payment… more
CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM to Open with High-Level Ministerial Engagement and Regional Leadership
Caribbean – CANTO is pleased to announce new highlights for CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd Annual General Meeting, scheduled for February 1–3, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency… more
CARICOM and partners launch multi-tiered online training in crop protection for regional stakeholders
Caribbean – Hundreds of individuals from the region’s agricultural sector are taking part in an extensive six-week training program aimed at enhancing expertise in crop protection. This initiative is designed to strengthen capacity in managing pests and diseases that threaten crop productivity in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)… more
Fiber and 5G lag as Eastern Caribbean expands access
Caribbean – Broadband access is rising across the Eastern Caribbean, although there is still room for growth in 5G and fiber optic technologies… more
OMB marks 5 years of helping to protect data
Cayman Islands – The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), which has been helping to protect people’s personal information for more than five years, spent Wednesday celebrating International Data Protection Day. OMB staff members spent part of the day meeting with members of the public in front of their Anderson Square office, answering questions… more
Online portal to be rolled out for Region Four housing applicants – Croal
Guyana – Housing Minister Collin Croal yesterday announced that the Ministry of Housing will launch a new online portal within approximately two weeks for residents of Region Four who applied for house lots in 2021 and earlier… more
Phillips pushes digital overhaul at GMSA tech conference
Guyana – Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Tuesday reinforced the government’s push to build a modern, secure and digitally inclusive economy, delivering a strong call for nationwide digital transformation at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Tech Conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel… more
WiPay’s NPCJ supports Jamaica rebuilding initiative
Jamaica – WiPay is playing a role in ensuring that affected citizens who qualify for government support are able to access financial support effectively. It is the first project for its National Payment Company of Jamaica (NPCJ) and the company’s first engagement with a Jamaican ministry to enable QR code based value transfer for social support… more
Saturday, 31 January 2026
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Sunday, 1 February 2026
AI Agents Are Changing Business, Even for Small Firms
Guyana – Artificial intelligence agents are quickly becoming part of everyday business conversations, and for good reason. Unlike basic chat tools, AI agents can plan tasks, move across digital systems, and complete work with limited human supervision… more
Guyanese entrepreneur Robert Lee launches REAS to drive Guyana’s AI-powered digital transformation
Guyana – At the third annual Technology Conference held at the Marriott Hotel, Guyanese entrepreneur, Robert Lee, CEO and owner of REAS, officially announced that his firm is open for business in Guyana… more
Commissioning of technological tools at the service of education
Haiti – This Friday, January 30, 2026, Luckner Mompremier Departmental Director of Education for the North-East (DDE-NE), announced at a press conference to the educational community, the commissioning of three new technological tools : SCAPPED, SIGEEE and an Intelligent Assistance System, designed to improve school governance, strengthen transparency and optimize educational monitoring… more
Three young innovators take on Jamaica’s archaic banking model
Jamaica – In a small room fueled by big ideas, three young innovators have decided to challenge one of the most frustrating realities of daily life in Jamaica and across the Caribbean: how difficult it is to move money… more
Images credit: Gino Crescoli (Pixabay); Amber Group (Facebook); Wikipedia; Liberty Caribbean (LinkedIn); Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; CANTO (Facebook); Wikipedia
