A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday, 17 August to Sunday, 23 August 2026.
Monday, 17 August 2026
Irish fintech launches in Barbados to help merchants grow sales through digital gift cards
Barbados – Globapay, an Irish fintech company focused on global commerce and digital payments, has launched its GlobaGift platform in Barbados, enabling local merchants to sell and redeem digital gift cards online and in-store… more
Digicel highlights the need for investment and practical policy CANTO
Caribbean – “The Caribbean needs continued investment, practical policy and strong public-private coordination to turn connectivity into long-term economic opportunity,” said Marcelo Cataldo, CEO of Digicel Group, at the 41st CANTO Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic… more
The silent, growing danger of ransomware
Caribbean – If there is any message to be taken from recently released reports on ransomware attacks, it is that there is greater need for sober assessment of the risk these bad actors pose to all companies, not just those that represent juicy targets by virtue of their balance sheets… more
Government awards $790m in new JamaicaEye contracts, with major buildout for Portmore
Jamaica – The Government has approved close to $790 million in new contracts for the expansion and maintenance of its JamaicaEye surveillance network, with the bulk of the spending directed at Portmore, St Catherine, according to contract award notices obtained by the Financial Gleaner… more
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
BTC launches Next-Gen Mentorship Programme
Bahamas – THE BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company (BTC) announced the launch of its Next-Gen Mentorship Programme, a new pilot initiative designed to support succession planning and career development within the organisation… more
BTL Chairman Lizarraga Faces Union Revolt Over Speednet Fallout
Belize – The fallout from the failed BTL/Speednet deal is no longer just about a collapsed acquisition. It has now become a public test of accountability for BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga… more
BTL Directors Now Squarely in Union Crosshairs
Belize – Union leaders say removing Markhelm Lizarraga is only the beginning. Belize Communication Workers Union General Secretary Harrison August is also demanding the immediate resignation of three BTL directors: Moises Cal, Arturo Lizarraga, and Eric Eusey. Here is what he told the press… more
Region must turn connectivity into global competitiveness
Caribbean – The Caribbean must turn gains in digital connectivity into greater innovation, productivity and global competitiveness, Liberty Caribbean chief executive officer Inge Smidts said as the region looks to strengthen its position in the global digital economy… more
Abinader launches Eficompras, Dominican Republic’s first government virtual store
Dominican Republic – President Luis Abinader led Tuesday’s launch of Eficompras, the Dominican State’s first virtual store, developed by the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP) to make government purchases faster, more transparent and accessible to smaller businesses… more
Grenada to host Caribbean Internet Governance Forums
Grenada – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, will host the 22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) and the 5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF), bringing together regional and international stakeholders to help shape the future of the Caribbean’s digital landscape… more
Creation of its first laboratory dedicated to cybersecurity and AI
Haiti – The University of Technology of Haiti (UNITECH) has just announced the creation of its first laboratory dedicated to cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative aims to develop research, training, and collaboration activities in fields related to digital developments… more
Amid restructuring Digicel pouring more money into T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Amid going through a restricting exercise, Jamaican based regional telecoms giant, Digicel is pouring money in Trinidad and Tobago, as it steps up investments in the local infrastructure… more
Leadership Transition at TSTT | Reza Hosein Appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (“TSTT”) today announced a change in its executive leadership, with Mr. Keino Cox concluding his tenure as Acting Chief Executive Officer… more
Some questions about the proposed data centre
Trinidad and Tobago – IT is understandable that the government is seeking ways to diversify the economy and create jobs for citizens, given our serious economic problems. The question is whether the development of two data centres will achieve that objective in part… more
T&T should temper data centre expectations
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago should temper expectations about the jobs and investment promised by large-scale artificial intelligence data centres, which require specialised expertise, substantial power and sophisticated cooling systems, according to Anton Alexander, a T&T-born senior generative AI specialist at Amazon Web Services… more
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Experts Back Social Media Curbs to Protect Children
Antigua and Barbuda – As concerns grow over youth mental health and online safety, local officials and health experts are urging the government to explore age-based restrictions on social media use… more
Deal Dead, But BTL Could Still Pay the Price
Belize – The BTL-Speednet deal is dead, but former PUC Chairman John Avery says BTL could still pay the price. With the company’s rates frozen for three years, Avery argues that its competitors can now undercut its prices and gain the upper hand… more
“Immediate removal”: unions turn up heat on BTL chairman
Belize – The National Trade Union Congress of Belize is demanding the immediate removal of BTL Chairman Mark Lizarraga, calling it their first and most urgent demand… more
Ministry of E-Governance hands over VEX V5 Classroom Super Robotics Kit to University of Belize
Belize – On August 18, 2026, the Ministry of E-Governance handed over a VEX V5 Classroom Super Robotics Kit to the University of Belize… more
PM Denies Acting Alone on BTL-Speednet Deal Rejection
Belize – Did Cabinet reject the BTL-Speednet deal, or did the Prime Minister make the call before ministers even met? John Briceño insists the decision was not unilateral and says abandoning the acquisition was the wisest move at this time… more
UDP calls for immediate removal of BTL chairman
Belize – The United Democratic Party (UDP) issued a statement on August 18, 2026, saying that it welcomed the Belize trade unions’ call for the removal of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, following the Board’s approval of a proposed $80 million acquisition of SMART/SpeedNet… more
ITLA and SpaceX explore expanded internet connectivity and AI training in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – The Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA) is working with executives from SpaceX, Starlink and xAI to explore initiatives that could expand internet connectivity and strengthen technology and artificial intelligence training in the Dominican Republic… more
Grenada calls for inclusive and responsible use of digitalisation and AI
Grenada – Grenada has called for greater inclusion, capacity-building, and safeguards in the use of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance sustainable land management, land restoration, and drought resilience… more
Thursday, 20 August 2026
New Digital Platform to provide data on 194 Belizean communities
Belize – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Transformation, has launched the Community Profile Information System (CPIS), a new digital platform designed to collect, store and analyze critical information from 194 communities across Belize… more
Preparing for Jobs of Tomorrow: E-Governance Builds National Robotics Movement
Belize – A donation to the University of Belize marks the start of a national effort to bring high-tech robotics equipment into classrooms across the country… more
Caribbean digital commerce falls behind North America – minister
Caribbean – The Caribbean is lagging behind North American markets in digital commerce, with only four to five per cent of business transactions in the region being conducted digitally, Senior Minister Kerrie Symmonds has warned… more
Indotel awards radio spectrum to Viettel and Claro Dominicana
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) awarded radio spectrum blocks to Viettel and Claro Dominicana as part of an international tender aimed at expanding telecommunications services and increasing competition in the Dominican market… more
Revolving door for TSTT CEOs worries union
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT’s revolving door at the top has triggered alarms for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU)… more
What Trinidad and Tobago’s new AI Practice Direction means for lawyers (and you)
Trinidad and Tobago – Jason Nathu considers the impact and importance of the Judiciary’s Practice Direction on the use of AI in the legal system, brought into force in July 2026… more
Friday, 21 August 2026
Data commissioner says focus on AI should be ‘new opportunities,’ not job losses
Bahamas – DATA Protection Commissioner Michael Wright said The Bahamas should not approach artificial intelligence with fear over job displacement but instead focus on identifying and developing the skills needed to capture new opportunities in AI, cybersecurity and data protection… more
SSB CEO Deflects Questions on Controversial BTL Board Vote
Belize –Two directors representing the same institution, SSB, but two opposing votes on one major acquisition. That split has left the public wondering whether the Social Security Board had a clear position on BTL’s purchase of Speednet… more
AI investment game preparing for regional stock exchange
Caribbean – WizdomCRM is putting artificial intelligence and simulated stock trading into the hands of Caribbean workers, students and potential investors as Caricom moves closer to examining a regional stock exchange… more
Digicel publishes inaugural ‘Sustainability Report’
Caribbean – Digicel published its inaugural “Sustainability Report”, providing a comprehensive view of how sustainability is integrated across the company’s business strategy, operations, governance and long-term investments… more
No, your phone isn’t listening, but…Part 1
Caribbean – You mention to a friend that your fridge is acting up. You don’t search for it. You don’t type it anywhere. Two hours later an advertisement for appliance repair appears in your Instagram feed… more
Your attacker has an AI assistant too — what a security demonstration this month means for the way you approve payments
Caribbean – A company approves a wire transfer to an overseas supplier. The invoice is real, the supplier is real, the amount matches the contract… more
Digicel set to roll out AI agent Ruby across Caribbean after Jamaica debut
Jamaica – Telecom provider Digicel Group revealed that Ruby, its artificial intelligence (AI)- powered assistant, now successfully resolves more than half of the queries routed through it in Jamaica without human involvement… more
Jamaica’s economy set to contract again in current July–September quarter
Jamaica – The Jamaican economy continues to be in trouble, with the latest projection of another contraction for the current July- September quarter… more
Saturday, 22 August 2026
— Nil —
Sunday, 23 August 2026
UWI on Cyber Alert as Ransomware Claims Surface
Caribbean – THE University of the West Indies (The UWI) is investigating a potential cyber security issue involving ransom ware claims, but says there is currently no confirmed evidence that its systems or data have been compromised… more
BOJ gives update on one-stop customer shopping platform, EKYC tool
Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica says a new customer shopping platform that will allow people to compare products and services offered by commercial banks is expected to be made available to the public soon… more
Customer data demand and hurricane recovery drove Digicel emissions higher
Jamaica – Digicel Group consumed a fifth more energy across its 25-market network in the fiscal year ended March 2026, as surging customer data demand and hurricane recovery operations pushed greenhouse gas emissions higher, according to the company’s 2026 Sustainability Report released this week… more
Flow rebates customer after months without Internet
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, Thank you for assisting so many people with their problems. My issue concerns Flow’s Browse and Talk landline and Internet service… more
Jam-Dex transactions climb as BOJ expands reach
Jamaica – TRANSACTION values on Jamaica’s central bank’s digital currency, Jam-Dex, have accelerated this year, reaching $51.7 million in the seven months to July as the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) moves to widen merchant acceptance and bring more financial institutions onto the platform… more
One Great Studio bets on human-first, AI approach for next phase growth
Jamaica – One Great Studio (IGS) is rolling out a human-first, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) approach for its next phase of growth… more
Union questions TSTT’s ‘executive proliferation’
Trinidad and Tobago – A growing governance controversy at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has placed the majority state-owned company under intense scrutiny, overshadowing its strongest financial performance in 17 years… more
Images credit: Ono Kosuki (Pexels); Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia; Wikipedia; TSTT; Wikimedia Commons; Jamaica Information Service
