This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

It was not that long ago that the metaverse was the buzzword of the day. The metaverse—a fusion of virtual reality, augmented reality, and the internet—has been envisaged as a transformative frontier, reshaping the way we interact, work, and experience the digital world. It promises to be a seamless, immersive space where digital and physical realities blur, creating opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and social connectivity. However, over the past few years, it has fallen into obscurity and has been overtaken in the public’s mind by generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Having said this, the metaverse is not dead. It is very much alive, but the pace of development has definitely slowed. However, there is now an opportunity and time to develop the necessary guardrails and policies for the metaverse, unlike what is currently happening with AI, where we are still debating the frameworks that should be established after the proverbial horse has left the stable.

Founded in 2016 in Jamaica, Youth Can Do I.T. (YCDI) is a youth empowerment organisation that is geared towards equipping and empowering youth with the right skills and tools needed to turn their dreams into reality. In 2023, YCDI, in partnership with Jesus College at the University of Oxford launched Project Amplify to collaboratively design ethical guidelines and spaces for the metaverse. The proposed guidelines were finalised earlier this year and are available to help inform policymakers, government agencies, organisations and individuals about their design processes for their own digital spaces and the metaverse.

Introducing our guests

Cherika Wilson has spent most of her career working in youth development/youth-supporting roles. A passion for equitable access to education brought her to the Caribbean School of Data (CSOD) where she currently serves as the Project Manager. She oversees the implementation of CSOD’s digital and data skills training programmes, and all CSOD’s strategic partnerships. Cherika is also the Head of People Operations at Youth Can Do I.T. (YCDI), managing the organisation’s programmes and operations. Prior to returning to Jamaica, Cherika worked in the nonprofit and public sectors in New York City across several functional roles including, strategic partnerships, programme management, development, and data reporting and analysis.

A proud alumna of Campion College in Jamaica, Cherika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Public Administration in Non-profit Administration from Baruch College, and a Master of Business Administration in Managerial Analytics from Mercy College.

Christopher Derrell is an award-winning software developer who in his role, manages UX, architecture, and development to create practical and aesthetic websites. These have spanned across multiple industries including banking, hotels and engineering, from Barbados to Rome, while being recognized globally as leaders in technological innovation.

Chris has over 10 years of experience in Software Development and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Computer Science and Economics from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. He is a Christian, who leads a team of web developers at Adtelligent, and also co-leads Youth Can Do IT, a social enterprise; teaching youth aged 7—25 the power of data and code, working first on their mindset to inspire content creation, not just content consumers.

Chris is a proponent of Extended Reality (Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality) and using technology as a tool for increasing productivity.

Joel Lawson is a high school student and one of the youths involved in Project Amplify and participated in the ethical guidelines design process.

Insights into our conversation

To most people, the metaverse is not currently high in the social consciousness, so it might seem odd to be highlighting it as we did in 2022. However, based on our experience with Generative AI, and the concerns that have been raised for guardrails to be established, and even the call for a six-month moratorium on AI development, we know what can happen when we are not prepared for a technology that has launched. Currently, we still do not have appropriate policies in place, although it is in the public domain for over two years!

With the likely timeline of fully bringing the metaverse to life some years away, as was discussed with Joel, Cherika and Chris, we now have the time to deeply explore, debate and properly establish the policies and ethics that guide our use of the metaverse, and even our own other spaces. For example, questions we could ask regarding our own websites or online platforms are: are you using animation or a voice-activated reader to help users actually review the terms and conditions of your platform? And are accessibility features, such as language translation and tools to translate audio into sign language, embedded into your platform?

Below are some of the questions posed to Joel, Cherika and Chris during our conversation.

1. Chris, start us off. Briefly remind folk what the metaverse is, and what has been going on in the metaverse – because I am sure many of us thought it was dead.
2. As an emerging construct, and based on the experience with AI, there are likely to be several ethical concerns surrounding the metaverse. What are some of the more troublesome issues, and what are some that are likely to be more nuanced?
3. How did Project Amplify, the collaboration between Youth Can Do IT and Jesus College (Oxford), come about?
4. Joel, how did you get involved in Project Amplify and Youth Can Do IT?
5. What were the objectives of the research?
6. Joel, why was it important for you to participate in developing ethical guidelines for the Metaverse?
7. Cherika, what were the key findings of the research?
8. Joel, is there any theme you believe is the most important of the five areas addressed?
9. Having produced these ethical guidelines, what happens next?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Youth Can Do IT
• Cherika Wilson
• Christopher Derrell
• Project Amplify, Co-designing Metaverse Ethics: Perspectives of Jamaican Youth: Final Report
• Project Amplify, Co-designing Metaverse Ethics: Perspectives of Jamaican Youth: Ethical Guidelines 
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 327: Ramblings. Would you let AI make all of your decisions?
• People magazine article, Teen, 14, Dies by Suicide After Falling in ‘Love’ with AI Chatbot. Now His Mom Is Suing
• The Guardian article, A girl was allegedly raped in the metaverse. Is this the beginning of a dark new future?
• Daily Mail article, I was ‘gang raped’ in the metaverse -the trauma was similar to a real-world assault

Images credit:  C Derrell; C Wilson; Riki32 (Pixabay);  pikisuperstar (Freepik); Pete Linforth (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

In our latest conversation with Albert Daniels, the Senior Manager for Stakeholder Engagement for the Caribbean, we discuss some of the latest developments in the ICANN Space. Some of the areas covered include: what exactly is ICANN and why it is important; the Registration Data Request Service and the implications for law enforcement; the new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program; and how Caribbean countries could benefit from this and other upcoming initiatives.

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

The internet has become indispensable to everyday life. When it works well, it fades into the background and allows us to access information and resources we otherwise could not do and to be more efficient and effective when engaging in a broad range of work and personal activities. However, when the internet is not working – and I am looking at you, Flow(!) – the delicate equilibrium of our lives tends to come crashing down. Everything becomes considerably more difficult, and frustrations are high.

It can thus seem ironic that although the internet has become a crucial resource in our lives, we do not seem to be paying much attention to ongoing and emerging internet-related issues that could have an impact on how we use it. Further, many internet-related forums have adopted a multi-stakeholder approach in which internet end users can participate in the policy development process, effectively shaping how the internet evolves.

In this podcast episode, we revisit one such organisation, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and discuss some of its current areas of focus and important programmes that are coming down the pipe.

Introducing our guest

Albert Daniels joined ICANN in 2013. He is located in Saint Lucia and is a member of ICANN’s Global Stakeholder Engagement team for Latin America and the Caribbean. As the ICANN Senior Manager for Stakeholder Engagement for the Caribbean, Albert leads engagement in 32 Caribbean Territories and also leads specialised projects in the ICANN Latin American and Caribbean Regional Strategy. Albert’s responsibilities include developing and executing the organisation’s strategic and tactical objectives in the Caribbean region.

Prior to working at ICANN, Albert served as an Information Systems and Information Security Auditor and ICT Consultant at Creative Technology Solutions Limited (CTSL). He also held the position of Regional IT Manager at KPMG Eastern Caribbean, and Accounts Supervisor/IT Trainer/Group IT Director at the CHL Group in Saint Lucia. Albert served on several national Boards in Saint Lucia, and has broad internet and technology-related experience, having personally introduced the Internet to Saint Lucia in 1993. He has attended many ICANN meetings; and has been involved in the ICANN Fellowship program as one of the first fellows in 2007 and also as a fellowship mentor. Albert holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Technology and also specialises in Project Management at the University of Cambridge; he also holds several professional and industry certifications. Albert is fluent in English and conversant in Spanish, French, Norwegian and French Creole.

Insights into our conversation

An important takeaway from this conversation with Albert is the fact that there is never a dull moment in Internet Governance (IG). The internet is constantly evolving, and to some degree, we, the end users, are driving some of the changes that have been occurring.

Further, and in the Caribbean context, the limited collaboration and forging of relationships by our countries in other areas appears to also be evident in the IG space. For example, the Registration Data Request Service is a new facility ICANN is piloting to support law enforcement agencies worldwide, which, according to Albert, has had limited traction in the region. It thus suggests that when a cybercrime has been committed, or a network breach has occurred, Caribbean law enforcement may not be aware of resources they could access and the procedures to be followed to secure information that could further their investigations.

Below are key topics discussed during this interview.

1. What ICANN is and why it is important.
2. The Registration Data Request Service, which is currently being piloted by ICANN.
3. A Domain Name System Observatory for the Caribbean region.
4. The avenues available that could help more stakeholders participate in ICANN events and activities and participate more regularly.
5. The New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program, which is being launched this month, November 2024. 
6. The Next Round Applicant Support Program
7. How the Caribbean countries (or the region as a whole) could benefit from the new gTLD Program
8. New upcoming events or activities people should have on their radar.

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Albert Daniels
• Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
• ICANN Public Meetings
• ICANN Public Comment
• ICANN81 Annual General Meeting (Istanbul, Turkey, 9—14 November 2024) 
• ICANN Acronyms and Terms
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 021: Navigating ICANN and its relevance to the Caribbean, with Albert Daniels
• ICT Pulse article, Snapshot on the cybersecurity measures that have been implemented in the Caribbean region in 2024
• LAC-i Roadshow Caribbean Edition (Jamaica, 28—30 November 2024)
• ICANN82 Seattle Community Forum (Seattle, USA, 8—13 March 2025)

Images credit:  ICANN;  rawpixel.com (Freepik); Freepik; TheDigitalArtist (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, with its capabilities expanding beyond content creation (which was so 2022!) and reaching into decision-making processes. Further, as its capabilities have increased, many of us, especially in the workplace, are excited by the help AI can provide to make us more efficient, effective and able to access resources or expertise that might otherwise not be readily available.

However, if we extend AI use in our personal lives and, more importantly, rely on it when making decisions, would that make us more efficient, effective and overall better than we would have been?

Thankfully, we have an intrepid explorer, Kashmir Hill, who wrote about that very topic in The New York Times, in which she allowed Generative AI to make all of her decisions for a week!

In addition to sharing some of her experiences with AI during that week, the writer included insights and feedback from many experts, which often offered a sage perspective on the interactions she had had.

However, in trying to keep on with what is happening not only in the Caribbean tech space but also in tech generally, it should come as no surprise that as enlightening as the article was, it also led me to additional questions and considerations.

So, in this podcast episode, it is just me and the mic. I share some of my thoughts on The New York Times article, which of course, includes a brief discourse on the pros and cons of AI. However, it also has me making other connections and asking more questions, which I thought I’d share.

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• The New York Times article, I Took a ‘Decision Holiday’ and Put A.I. in Charge of My Life
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 160: Understanding how technology perpetuates bias, with Matthew Cowen, of dgtlfutures.com
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 187: Artificial Intelligence, key emerging issues and opportunities, with Matthew Cowen
• Joy Buolamwini book, Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines
• MIT Technology Review article, We read the paper that forced Timnit Gebru out of Google. Here’s what it says.
• The New York Times article, Google Researcher Says She Was Fired Over Paper Highlighting Bias in A.I.
• The Guardian article, ‘There was all sorts of toxic behaviour’: Timnit Gebru on her sacking by Google, AI’s dangers and big tech’s biases
• People magazine article, Teen, 14, Dies by Suicide After Falling in ‘Love’ with AI Chatbot. Now His Mom Is Suing
• Dominica News Online article, CXC launches AI-assisted literacy and numeracy to combat educational decline

Image credit:  Micha (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Welcome to our October 2024 Community Chat episode! This month’s discussion is a true mash-up of topics as there does not readily appear to be a common or cohesive theme – but that makes for an interesting show!

Unlike our September chat, both of our guests showed up, and thanks to their diverse backgrounds and expertise, we enjoyed a rich and engaging conversation. We welcome your thoughts and feedback and encourage to extend these discussions to your own circles.

Introducing our guest panellists

Debbie Jollie is an independent business and marketing strategist, digital marketing consultant, lecturer and speaker who runs a full-service marketing agency. She holds a Master’s degree in Management Consultancy and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Enterprise.

Debbie has over 15 years of experience in managing marketing strategies and consulting with brands in the Caribbean, USA, UK, Australia and South America. She specialises in Marketing and Business Strategy, Digital Marketing and Growth Marketing.

Garfield Gordon is a multi-disciplinary Technology Architect and Digital Transformation Consultant having over 30 years of diverse IT experience including software development, field engineering, enterprise architecture, systems engineering, cybersecurity, training and management in Jamaica, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States of America. He has extensive knowledge in: start-ups, medium to large enterprises, independent software vendors (ISV), value-added resellers (VAR), aviation, real estate, financial services, business process outsourcing, managed services; telecommunications and other vertical markets.

After spending 12 years at Cisco Systems Incorporated, he continues to focus on diverse projects in business transformation, architectural and technical solutions, cybersecurity, data protection, and the Internet of Things, with engagements across Governments, Service Providers, large enterprises, and Small to Medium Businesses throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.

The topics discussed

In recognition of Cybersecurity Month, but noting not the numerous tools and expertise available, there is still widespread concern that Caribbean countries, in particular, are still underprepared for digital threats. Although some countries reported a decline in successful attacks, devastating incidents are still occurring across the region. We thus opened our conversation with the topic, With all the available protections, why are we more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks?

Second, although Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been around for several years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is gaining prominence. In some circles, ESG and CSR are being used interchangeably, but they are different, which we discuss. Further, in some instances, ICT can have an impact on these obligations and vice versa. So our second topic is, ESG versus CSR and the effects on ICT.

Finally, and arguably a positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased appreciation of remote work and the benefits to both employers and employees.  However, it’s one thing to work from home but completely another to relocate temporarily and work from another country. Yet, more and more people, even in the Caribbean, are embracing that lifestyle and moving to far-flung locations. On previous podcast episodes, we had young digital nomads (people in their 20s and early 30s) on the show, but how different might the experience be for older or more experienced professionals?  Our final topic focused on, Caribbean consultants becoming true digital nomads.

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Debbie Jollie
• Garfield Gordon
• Debbie Jollie Marketing and Business Coach
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – UK
• Jamaica Observer article, Jamaica suffered 43 million cyber attack attempts in 2023 — Fortinet
• Jamaica Observer article, Jamaicans urged to remain vigilant despite sharp reduction in attempted cyberattacks
• The Gleaner article, Jamaica targeted 4 million times by cybercriminals so far this year
• The Gleaner article, ICWI issues alert to clients after cyberattack
• Barbados Revenue Authority article, Hackers claim access to BRA’s admin portal
• Trinidad and Tobago Guardian article, Barbados Revenue Authority probing data breach
• Barbados Today article, BDF Cyber Unit leading investigation into Revenue Authority hack
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 318: Stepping out of your comfort zone and living as a digital nomad 
• Cisco Networking Academy
• Amber Group

Image Credit:  D Jollie;  G Gordon; Matthias Zeitler (Pixabay);  freepik;  freepik

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

For many Caribbean countries, the offshore outsourcing industry has been an important contributor to job creation and their respective economies. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, when the tourism and hospitality sector ground to a halt across the region, the outsourcing industry grew and even buoyed some countries from an even worse economic impact.

However, the offshore outsourcing industry is one that everyone loves to hate, as they recall the early 1990s when data entry and call centres were first established, and from all reports, were akin to sweatshops due to very low wages and poor working conditions. While those types of operations may still exist in some quarters, they tend to fly under the radar and are not indicative of the majority, which tend to be internationally recognised outsourcing firms with Fortune 500 and other publicly traded companies as clients.

At the same time, it is important to emphasise that globally, the offshore outsourcing space is fast-paced and highly competitive. Countries with high unemployment rates, especially among their youth population, and low labour rates want to be able to provide more jobs, whilst the industry players are, among other things, continually adjusting to newer technologies, changes in talent availability and the cost and ease of doing business in the countries in which they have a presence.

It has been about 18 months since our last look at the region’s offshore outsourcing space. Though it was not that long ago, it seemed as if we were overdue for an update in light of some recent developments discussed in this interview.

Introducing our guest

Wayne Sinclair has had a diversified career as a Management Consultant and in Operations spanning over 40 years in a variety of industries including Financial Services, The Creative Industries, and the Global Services Sector. Starting out as a financial analyst with a boutique Investment Bank in San Diego California, he was responsible for analyzing various securities in the debt and equity space particularly Real Estate and Oil and Gas Limited Partnerships. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked with Warner Brothers Television (formerly Lorimar Television) in bringing the first episodic television series; “Going To Extremes” to be filmed entirely on location in Jamaica for a major American Network (ABC).  Wayne then went on to manage the touring and merchandising operations for several projects including the Lollapalooza Tour and Reggae Sunsplash. 

Wayne then spent several years working as a consultant and thematic expert on the Creative Industries for different multilateral agencies, NGOs and European private sector companies including the European Commission, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).  One of the more lasting legacies of this work is the Brussels Declaration of Artists and Cultural Professionals (2009) which has since spawned several projects throughout the ACP aimed at maximizing the value and export readiness of native cultural assets and capacity building for cultural professionals.  One such project is Southplanet, which is the largest database of cultural artists operating throughout the ACP region.

On returning to his native Jamaica, and going back to his financial services roots, for the past 8 years, Wayne has served as the Managing Director of National Credit Adjusters (NCA) Jamaica, a debt collection company headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Initially providing only collection agents, NCA Jamaica now provides a variety of back-office administrative support services for the head office and is now the largest of the company’s four branches.

Insights into our conversation

From all reports, the offshore industry in the Caribbean region has been thriving, but the industry in the region has been changing to respond to new and emerging developments, such as other countries globally becoming more competitive, changes in the labour market, countries introducing new economic and trade policies, and the increasing cost of doing business in the region. However, in light of these and other challenges, Wayne is still very optimistic about the future of the industry both in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

Also, while others have been signalling job loss due to AI, Wayne is of a country view. Although roles will change, he predicts a considerable upswing with more opportunities than we can now envisage. However, industry stakeholders need to be prepared to adjust and evolve.

Below are key questions that drove our conversation with Wayne.

1. To start us off, give us a synopsis of Jamaica’s outsourcing industry and how it has been evolving over the past few years
2. Tell us more about the Global Services Association.
3. With the Jamaica sector around 50,000 and the unemployment rate reported at around 4%, can the sector still continue to grow and remain globally competitive?
4. In the past month, it was announced that Ibex was closing two sites in Jamaica (but employee numbers are not changing), and whilst in Guyana, itel and Acquity BPO were shutting down their operations. What do these announcements say to you?
5. How are technologies such as AI and RPA affecting the outsourcing industry in Jamaica?
6. Among today’s workers, there is a continual need to upskill. What types of skills do you think will be required in the region to serve the outsourcing sector over the next 3 to 5 years?
7. What do you think is the future of outsourcing?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Wayne Sinclair
• Global Services Association of Jamaica
• National Credit Adjusters (NCA) Jamaica
• The Gleaner article, BPO job numbers steady
• Jamaica Observer article, New GSAJ president focused on easing labour shortage
• The Gleaner article, Large BPO firm Ibex closes two contact centres, slashes desks by a third
• Jamaica Observer article, No jobs lost
• Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)
• Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA)

Image credits:   W Sinclair;  rawpixel.com (Freepik); DC Studio (Freepik); Steve Buissinne (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

In January 2021, we published an article, Why aren’t more Caribbean people video gamers, in which we noted that globally, the video games industry was estimated to be worth nearly USD 160 billion in 2020, and is projected to exceed USD 200 billion by 2023. However, as of 2022, the global video game market size was estimated at USD 217.06 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.4% from 2023 to 2030, or over half USD 500 billion (Source:  Grand View Research)

In other words, the global video gaming industry is at least double the music and movie industries combined. It is thus a highly lucrative field with a broad range of opportunities. However, as much as we might play video games, video game development still does not appear to have much of a footing in the Caribbean region.

This episode was first released in 2021, in which we sought to pull back the curtain on video gaming in the Caribbean region, including the state of video game development in the region, the challenges, and more importantly, the opportunities.

Introducing our guests

Glen Henry (left) is the Founder and Projects Director of Spritewrench Studios, a  one-man micro-studio based in Kingston, Jamaica., which tends to focus on smaller, self-contained titles with an emphasis on narrative elements. He is keen to explore ways the Caribbean’s cultural position can influence the stories we tell.

Glen is also the self-proclaimed ‘Loudest Member’ of the Jamaica Game Developer Society (JGDS), which is an informal group of game developers that aims to educate and advocate for the craft of interactive entertainment in Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean.

Graham Reid (right) is a Jamaican visual designer and a video game designer, who is based in the United States and is also a member of the JGDS. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcast Design and Motion Graphics, and has worked as a freelance motion graphics designer and animator on a wide variety of jobs for several companies, and presently, he is a Visual Designer at Snapchat.

In 2012, Graham along with two other Jamaicans created a game called Shapes & Sound: The Shape Shooter, which was released for Android. Since then, Graham has continued to delve into the world of video game development. His sophomore effort was titled Hecticube for iOS and Android, and he is currently working on Super Space Club which will be his first foray into PC and console development.

Insights into our conversation

This conversation is still as relevant today as it was when it was first recorded in 2021. Glen and Graham are passionate game developers, and in the discussion, they sought to highlight the complexities or nuances of some of the issues surrounding game development generally and game development in the region.

An interesting point that emerged during our conversation was although there are numerous enthusiastic hobbyists, many of them might not currently see a career path in game development or how to create a financially sustainable business in the region, which has been hindering the industry from becoming more established. However, four years later, is that still the case?

Below are the key questions that were posed.

1. How big is game development in Jamaica, and if you can, can you give us some insight into game development in the wider Caribbean?
2. What are some of the skills and resources needed to build games?
3. How could the lucrative nature of the global gaming industry result in economic benefits for Jamaica, for example, or for the Caribbean?
4. Although the global industry is highly lucrative, it seems to be highly competitive. What are some of the strengths you perceive in the region that could allow us to have some success in that space?  On the other hand, what are some of our weaknesses?
5. Tell us a little bit about the Jamaica Game Developer Society. What it about, its objectives, and its membership?
6. Is there a directory or repository of Caribbean games?
7. To varying degrees, the Caribbean has unique cultural and societal qualities that have appeal globally, and which it could be argued, could be leveraged as games. To what degree is that being done, and do you think the premise expressed is flawed?
8. Developers are likely to create games based either on their interests, or on trends – what might be hot these days. But these days, and here in the Caribbean, it could be argued that there is a need for games for the education and tourism space, for example. What are your thoughts?
9. It seems that popular business models for games is either to be free, but relying on ads for revenue, or to use a freemium model. But if one is in the business of games, do those business models really work?
10. For individuals who want to get into game development, what might be key pieces of advice you would give?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Glen Henry
• Graham Reid
• Jamaica Game Developer Society (JDGS)
• Spritewrench Studios
• GrahamOfLegend
• ICT Pulse article, Why aren’t more Caribbean people video gamers?
• Indie Games by Jamaican Game Developers
• Games submitted by JGDS members to the Global Games Jam
• International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
• ListenMi Animation Studio

Images credit:  G Henry;  G Reid; DC Studio (Freepik); StockSnap (Pixabay);  Freepik (Freepik)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Technology exports have become a cornerstone of global trade, contributing significantly to countries’ economic growth and development. Several longstanding studies have pointed to the connection between a country’s product and export composition and its development trajectory. Key findings include:

• A positive relationship exists between exports and economic growth. Countries that successfully export ICT-enabled goods and services can benefit from increased foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and technological advancement
• Increased economic resilience, due to export diversification, that can help countries reduce their vulnerability to fluctuations in global markets
• Countries can command higher prices, by producing when more complex products that tend to result in higher value-added exports.

To an appreciable degree, most Caribbean countries have not developed their technology export segment – although they aim to achieve developed nation status in the not-too-distant future. Thus, it appears that we are ‘leaving money on the table’, by not expanding our export portfolio to include more technology-intensive, high-value and sophisticated goods and services, which can accelerate our economic and social development.

To be clear, it is unlikely that the Caribbean region can compete with existing, cheaper and well-established locations operating in the technology manufacturing space, in particular. However, manufacturing is just a sliver of that market. The development of technology or ICT-enabled products and services is a considerably wider segment that we have not fully explored.

Introducing our guest

Vashti Maharaj currently serves as Adviser, Digital Trade Policy in the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda Section in the Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources Directorate of the Commonwealth Secretariat where she primarily focuses on advancing the Commonwealth’s work on digital trade and works as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver the goals of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment.

For the past decade, she has worked extensively on national and regional projects in the primary areas of e-governance, electronic commerce, telecommunications, data protection, intellectual property and cyber security from a policy and regulatory perspective. She has been involved in projects led by the International Telecommunications Union, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, the World Bank as well as Commonwealth Connects and is also a member of the University of Oxford, Cyber Security Capacity Building Centre’s Working Group on Cybersecurity, Policy, Legal and Regulatory Environment, Vice-Chair of the Legal Reform Advisory Board of the International Chamber of Commerce as well as Vice-Chair of the Pacific E-commerce Development Partners Sub-Committee.

Insights into our conversation

When thinking about technology exports, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking about it in terms of manufacturing: producing computer chips or assembling electronic devices for export; or the offshore outsourcing of services, such as call centres or business processes, which has become an increasingly important industry in many Caribbean countries. However, technology as an export is defined more broadly than that: as the sale or transfer of technological knowledge, products, or services to another country.

Through that lens, and as the conversation with Vashti emphasises, almost any product or service that leverages technology for sale outside of one’s home country could be defined as a technology export. Moreover, it suggests that Caribbean countries have not even begun to scratch the surface of the opportunities – and possibilities – that exist. However, it also means that we need to be intentional about improving our enabling environment locally to allow entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive at home and not have to emigrate to more supportive locations.

Below are some of the questions posed to Vashti that drove our conversation.

1. How would you define the concept of technology as an export, and how have these exports evolved over the last decade?
2. Are there any statistics on Caribbean technology exports?
3. Regarding the call centre and BPO industry, although there is technology sophistication in that environment, it does not appear to reflect on society as a whole. What do you think?
4. Are there trends of which we should be aware that would allow us to better harness our potential?
5. What are the key factors hindering the growth of the technology export sector in the Caribbean?
6. What are key trade agreements and initiatives that can benefit Caribbean technology exporters?
7. What advice would you give to a tech entrepreneur in the Caribbean looking to expand internationally?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Vashti Maharaj
• The Commonwealth  
• CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME)
• CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME)
• Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)

Images credit:  Commonwealth Secretariat; Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); myUKhub2 (Pixabay);  Frimufilms (Freepik) 

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

What is the size of your country’s digital economy? And how much does your country’s digital economy contribute to its overall economy? These are some of the basic questions that Caribbean countries should know how to answer – especially since there have been longstanding calls for the continued development of the region’s digital economy.

 We first explored the Caribbean digital economy on the Podcast in 2022, and at the time, there was no singular or official definition for the term. Further, the digital economy in individual countries was still nascent, and many of our guests indicated that considerable work still needed to be done for Caribbean countries to fully realise their digital potential and, consequently, a thriving and well-established digital economy.

In the two years that have passed since we last explored the subject, what has been achieved? Has the Caribbean digital economy grown? Have there been any new developments? We are not aware of specific reports tracking the development of the digital economy in the Caribbean region, so we are circling back to some of our regional experts to get an update on this crucial issue.

Introducing our guest

Chelceé Brathwaite is a Management Consultant with experience working across developmental projects in the Caribbean. She specialises in international trade policy with a focus on e-commerce and the digital economy. She has successfully executed several projects in this field, with the most notable including: serving as the technical lead for Pillar 3 (Digital Economy) of the USAID Digital Country Ecosystem Assessment for 11 Caribbean countries; drafting a strategic briefing paper outlining the defensive and offensive interests of CARICOM states in the plurilateral negotiations on trade-related aspects of e-commerce; and conducting a diagnostic review of e-commerce related policies, legislations and initiatives across CARICOM.

Chelceé also co-lectures the course e-commerce and the digital economy at the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus. She has published various articles on the topic including: “A Holistic Approach to Digital Trade: Closing the Digital Gender Divide” (2019); “Re-Imagining Tourism: Leveraging Digital Technologies to Revive the Caribbean Tourism Industry” (2021); “Potential Applications for Artificial Intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean” (2020), among others.

Insights into our conversation

Globally, the digital economy space has been developing, and in some quarters developing rapidly, since our 2022 conversations on the subject. In the region, there is some evidence that some of the elements that contribute to the enabling environment are being addressed, but those efforts did not appear to be occurring within a cogent framework geared towards achieving specific results.

One of the biggest challenges for the region, which was articulated in our 2022 conversations, is that we have not (yet) defined what a digital economy means for us. Further, we are not tracking its development. Hence, we have no idea what our digital economy comprises and how it has been performing – which seems to be at variance with its growing importance nationally and regionally.

Below are key questions that drove our conversation with Chelceé.

1. What changes or developments have occurred regarding the concept of the digital economy since we last spoke in 2022?
2. What does the term ‘digital economy’ mean?
3. What metrics are used to measure a country’s digital economy?
4. What are key challenges to Caribbean countries more fully realising their digital economies?
5. How can Caribbean countries leverage their geographic location and resources to capitalise on opportunities in the digital economy?
6. What priorities should Caribbean countries and/or the region be focussing on to more fully develop their digital economies?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Chelceé Brathwaite
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 197: Understanding the Caribbean digital economy
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 227: Are we there yet? Understanding the Caribbean region’s digital ecosystem and how developed it is
• Multidimensional vulnerability index
• New York Times article, The A.I. Boom Makes Millions for an Unlikely Industry Player: Anguilla
• Forbes article, The Tiny Caribbean Island That’s Making A Fortune From AI
• International Monetary Fund article, An AI-Powered Boost to Anguilla’s Revenues

Images credit:  C Brathwaite;  Alicja (Pixabay); wahyu_t (Freepik); Ahmad Ardity (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

As the world, and more specifically the Caribbean region, continues its journey into the digital age, various complex issues intersect, shaping the region’s economic, educational, and social fabric. In this month’s Community Chat episode on the ICT Pulse Podcast, our discussion highlights three of the forces that are transforming the landscape: cybercrime laws and their implications on freedom of expression; artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the workplace; and digital education.

However, allow us to introduce our guest for the September Community Chat, and thereafter, we share the topics discussed.

Introducing our guest

Steven A. Williams is the Founder and Executive Director of three companies: Sunisle Technology Solutions, a managed service provider; Data Privacy and Management Advisory Services (DPMAS), a consultancy focusing on data privacy; and Sports Beyond Borders, a digital sports broadcasting network. a multi-faceted entrepreneur and business technologist based in Barbados.

Steven has served as an IT Advisor to the Government’s Law Review Commission and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Fair Trading Commission in Barbados. He is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity.

Steven has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Durham and specialised certifications In Information Security and Data Protection, and commands a unique blend of business acumen and technical expertise.

The topics discussed

First, Guyana has been in the news due to plans to amend its Cybercrime Act. The premise for making the amendments is to address illicit activities conducted via social media and to be more aligned with the UN Convention on Cyberspace Regulation. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on freedom of speech and expression. Using the situation in Guyana as a starting point, we kicked off our discussion with the topic, Can effective cybercrime laws not encroach on freedom of expression?

Second, drawing inspiration from an article written by Steven on whether today’s youth are being adequately prepared for a technology-driven world, we honed in on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the workplace. There have been several reports over the years that hundreds of millions of workers worldwide will be displaced and replaced by AI, automation and robots. However, there has been a concern that Caribbean countries have not been thinking strategically and have not been proactive about the changes to the workplace that have been and will continue to occur. We thus discussed Job displacement: has AI already begun reshaping the Caribbean economy?

Finally, and in light of the recently released results of the June sitting of the Caribbean Examination Council’s regional examinations, parents and the public at large were appalled by the poor performance of students – especially in Maths and English – which has been declining over the past several years. In response to the outcry, policymakers and others in the education space have been calling for more digitisation of schools and using more digital tools in the classroom. However, we posed the question, Is increased digitisation and online learning what we need to improve student learning and the Caribbean education system?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Steven A. Williams
• St Kitts & Nevis Observer article, Guyana’s New Cybercrime Act Will Not Affect Freedom Of Expression, Says Minister
• Stabroek News article, The cybersecurity law, as is, is a threat to democracy
• Kaieteur News article, Amendments to Cybercrime Act will not target social media commentators – Jagdeo
• McKinsey article, Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages
• CNN article, AI is replacing human tasks faster than you think
• Barbados Today article, The future is now – Preparing Caribbean youth for a technology-driven world
• Human Resource Management Association of Barbados Inc.
• Stabroek News article, Digitization and teachers

Images credit:  :  S Williams;  M Marius;  WOKANDAPIX (Pixabay);  Arlington Research (Unsplash); Tumisu (Pixabay)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Data centres, often referred to as the “digital backbone” of our modern world, play an indispensable role in our daily lives. These high-tech facilities house servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that process, store, and transmit vast amounts of data. From online banking to streaming services, social media to e-commerce, data centres power the digital infrastructure that has become an integral part of our society.

One of the most critical functions of data centres is the storage and retrieval of data. They serve as digital repositories, preserving valuable information for individuals, businesses, and governments. Further, they enable cloud computing, a technology that allows users to access applications and data over the internet, eliminating the need for local hardware and software. Additionally, data centres facilitate global communication and connectivity by serving as hubs for internet traffic and routing data between different networks and countries.

However, noting the importance of data centres in digital ecosystems, it seems to be an overlooked area in the Caribbean region. In this podcast episode, we explore the state of Caribbean data centres and what it might take for them to truly become the digital backbone of the region.

Introducing our guest

Giovanni King is the Chief Executive Officer of Blue NAP Americas (BNA), the most advanced multi-tenant Tier-IV certified data centre in the Pan-Caribbean region, and the Chairman of the Caribbean Datacenter Association (CDA). This recently established association seeks to foster the growth, collaboration, and excellence of data centre operators and technology infrastructure providers in the Caribbean region.

Giovanni has over two decades of experience in the telecommunications industry, the majority of which is as an executive with telecommunications regulatory authorities in the Dutch Caribbean. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Fonty’s University in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Regulation and Policy from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Insights into our conversation

Giovanni’s passion for data centres is infectious, and very early in our conversation, you will realise the considerable potential that exists for data centres in the region. All too often, we purchase services outside the region, although the facilities exist here. Unfortunately, we may not always be aware of what we have and the quality that is available.

For example, Blue NAP Americas, which is located in Curaçao, is a Tier-IV certified data centre that is certified to have 99.995% uptime, or a cumulative downtime of no more than 20 minutes in a single year, or no more than 1.67 minutes per month! However, we are small countries with small populations; so we need to be creative and be prepared to be collaborative will our fellow data centres and technology partners to be competitive and truly add value to our individual countries and the Caribbean region as a whole.

Below are key questions posed to Giovanni that drove our conversation.

1. To start us off, what kind of services or facilities are typically offered at a data centre?
2. What is the current demand for data centres in the Caribbean region?
3. Are there specific sectors or industries driving this demand?
4. Tell us some more about the Caribbean Datacenter Association. Why was it set up and what does it hope to achieve?
5. Are there any efforts to promote regional cooperation or collaboration among Caribbean countries in the development of data centres?
6. What are the typical infrastructure requirements for data centres in the Caribbean?
7. What are the primary challenges and opportunities facing the development of data centres in the Caribbean?
8. How is connectivity ensured for data centres in the Caribbean?
9. Are there any emerging technologies or trends that could significantly impact the future of data centers in the Caribbean, such as AI, IoT, or blockchain?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

• Giovanni King
• Caribbean Datacenter Association
• Blue NAP Americas
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 089: Exploring the Curaçao telecoms and ICT space, with Giovanni King

Images credit:  Blue NAP Americas; Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); panumas nikhomkhai (Pexels); Christina Morillo (Pexels)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez