Tech companies, often at the forefront of innovation, can paradoxically experience significant challenges with staff morale. This issue can impede creativity, productivity, and long-term success. This issue was highlighted in an article published in the Bahamas last week in which a local tech Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was encouraging fellow businesses that have the means “to use Christmas bonuses to boost staff morale this year, and to continue to retain staff”.

The CEO, whose company developed a platform “to fill the digital solutions void for human resources professionals”, highlighted that other businesses might be giving bonuses to help retain skilled staff whilst putting those that do not at a disadvantage.  He was thus encouraging a digital approach to performance review (such as his product), which can facilitate the requisite evaluation and calculate the incentives and bonuses to be awarded.

Although the CEO may have meant well in suggesting that businesses use Christmas bonuses as a means of boosting staff morale, generally, the contributing factors to staff morale can be complex and nuanced. In other words, money may not solve this issue, but might just act as a temporary fix.

In this article, we highlight some of the causes of low morale, especially in the tech space, and some effective strategies that can be implemented to create environments where employees thrive.

Reason #1:  High workload and burnout

The tech industry is notorious for its demanding work culture, characterised by tight deadlines and long hours. In startups and small businesses especially, the teams are small, with the members wearing many hats. Although the work might be exciting, in those situations, a lot of personal sacrifices often need to be made, which can lead to mental health challenges, strained personal relationships and deep fatigue. Over time, such pressures can lead to burnout, leaving employees feeling exhausted and undervalued.

Reason #2:  Lack of career growth opportunities

Skilled and ambitious individuals are often an asset to employers. They are willing to engage in continuous learning to remain relevant and on the cutting edge, and often, they are also eager for career advancement. However, in small and even medium-sized organisations, the scope for promotion can be limited to non-existent in the Caribbean region in particular.  Although salary increases might help (for a while), employees may still feel stagnant and demotivated, which can still result in low staff morale – even though are being paid above the industry norm.

Reason #3:  Poor leadership and communication

Although an individual might thrive in the hardscrabble of starting a business and trying to build it from the ground up, once it becomes more established and is in the process of building out the organisation, a different dynamic often comes into play. The informal, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach that allowed the start-up to be agile, responsive and gain a foothold in the market, needs to give way to procedures and structures that allow team members to work together efficiently and effectively.

Ineffective management, unclear expectations, and lack of feedback can cause employees to become frustrated. Further, if there is a lack of open communication the disconnect between staff and leadership becomes exacerbated, which once again, can result in low staff morale.

Reason #4:  Toxic work culture

Coupled with the previous point, a toxic work culture is a factor that is overlooked, as it may not be obvious, such as a gross disregard for staff welfare that could justify government intervention, such as through the labour ministry or the police. Instead, it may be evident through the following examples.

• Inconsistently applied policies
• Favouritism
• Expecting employees to constantly work outside of working hours and disregarding the importance of personal time
• Not taking a strong stance and following through when claims of sexual harassment, threats or bullying have been made
• Fostering an overly competitive environment.

In other words, a toxic work culture can create a hostile work environment, which in turn can erode trust and camaraderie among employees and a high staff turnover.

Reason #5:  Inadequate recognition and rewards

To some degree, this reason speaks to remuneration. Employees like to feel that they are being well compensated for their efforts. However, money is not the only way. People like to know that their hard work is being recognised. A failure to acknowledge their contribution and impact on the organisation can make employees feel unappreciated, leading to disengagement.

Reason #6:  Misalignment with company vision

Finally, and especially among startups and small businesses, leaders do not clearly communicate the organisation’s visions, mission or goals. In many instances, these crucial overarching structures are absent and, to some degree, may only exist in the minds of business owners or leaders. However, if employees do not see how their roles contribute to the company’s purpose, they may struggle to understand how their work fits into that bigger picture.

Key strategies to improve staff morale

For each of the above reasons for low staff morale, highly prescriptive solutions can be provided. However, two crucial themes tend to be at the heart of most interventions: strong leadership and valuing employees.

Many of the staff-related problems experienced in businesses can be attributed to poor leadership. In the start-up space, the skills and grit needed to thrive can become a detriment when a venture needs to grow and mature into a stable business.

Leaders are also the ones who create a positive work culture and establish and foster policies in an organisation. It would also be important to consider investing in leadership training to address deficiencies that might exist and to increase leaders’ and managers’ awareness of their responsibilities and how to spot and properly address contentions that might be emerging.

In tandem with leadership, employees must be valued. Though salary is an important consideration, maintaining a safe and healthy work environment is perhaps even more critical. Individuals want to know that they, as people, in addition to their work, matter. So organisations ought to strive to be fair with their employees, in the hope that they will be productive and happy.

Finally, it is important to highlight that for a variety of reasons, it may be necessary for employees to leave an organisation. Should that be likely, especially when organisations do not have the scope or capacity to facilitate the continued professional development or career advancement of bright and ambitious employees, that reality ought to be acknowledged. Once again, strong leadership and valuing the employees – even letting them go – will be crucial in navigating those difficult situations.

In summary, low staff morale in organisations, and more so tech companies, is not an insurmountable problem. The root causes must be addressed, and thoughtful strategies implemented.  Organisations ought to foster a workplace culture that supports employee satisfaction and productivity whilst also allowing their vision, mission and goals to be realised. The key is often balance and fairness to achieve a win-win situation for parties.

Image credit:  DC Studio (Freepik)

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

Although we may all be hyper-aware of the term ‘innovation’, it still seems to be an elusive concept that few people seem to truly understand. As a result, we still have people, organisations and even countries claiming to be fostering innovation, but not appearing to produce any meaningful results.  

We thus thought it opportune – especially with yearend approaching and we start making plans and goals for 2025 – to revisit this episode we recorded with Professor Patrick Hosein that kicked off the innovation series we did in 2019. So, if your organisation is hoping to be more innovative in 2025, or national goals are being prepared, this (relatively) short conversation with Professor Hosein packs a punch!

Introducing our guest

Professor Patrick Hosein attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he obtained five degrees including a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has worked at Bose Corporation, Bell Laboratories, AT&T Laboratories, Ericsson and Huawei, and has published extensively with over 150 refereed journal and conference publications.

Patrick holds 41 granted patents in the areas of telecommunications and wireless technologies. He was nominated for the Ericsson Inventor of the Year award in 2004, was the Huawei US Wireless Research Employee of the Year for 2007 and is a 2015 Anthony Sabga Caribbean Laureate for Science and Technology. He is presently the administrative and technical contact for the .tt top-level domain and the Chief Executive Officer of the TTNIC and a Professor of Computer Science at the University of the West Indies. His present areas of research include Applied Data Science, Operations Research and Performance and Pricing Optimisation for Cellular Networks.

Insight into our conversation

Although this conversation with Professor Hosein is over five years old, it is still as relevant today as it was when it was first recorded. One of the points he made that has stayed with me is the excitement young graduates tend to have at the prospects of applying what they have learnt, working on exciting projects, and, ultimately, changing the world.

However, all too often, the actual workplace is a soul-sucking experience that throws cold water on their hopes and dreams. It is only those who are especially driven and perhaps have connections (and luck!) will leave their home countries to seek better and more enriching opportunities.

Below are key of the questions that drove our conversation.

1. What might Caribbean countries be doing wrong with regard to fostering innovation
2. Who should be driving innovation: Government and/or the private sector?
3. Recognising that innovation tends to require lots of resources, especially money, how can Caribbean countries still foster innovation, and/or justify the spend needed?
4. Through schools and universities, we gain knowledge and certain skills, which are crucial foundational elements, but are they – in fact – fostering innovation?
5. Why is it crucial to focus on problem formulation when trying to find a solution to a problem?
6. How important is it to develop and nurture a culture of patents, and by extension, Intellectual Property, when trying to foster innovation?
7. What might be some of the important elements that are still missing in the Caribbean, in order to foster innovation?

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:

• Professor Patrick Hosein
• TTLab
• TTLab Publications 
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 237: Revisiting tech innovation in the Caribbean region and at TTLAB in Trinidad and Tobago
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 069:  Fusing academic research, innovation and developing practical solutions for industry, with Professor Patrick Hosein 
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICT 039:  Creating a more enabling environment for innovation in the Caribbean, with Professor Patrick Hosein
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 016: Pioneering the use of country-level domain names in the Caribbean, with Professor Patrick Hosein of TTNIC
• University of the West Indies (St Augustine Campus)
• Trinidad and Tobago Network Information Centre (TTNIC)
• Bell Labs
• AT&T
• AT&T Labs Research | AT&T
• Ericsson 

Images credit:   P Hosein; rawpixel.com (Freepik); Gerd Altmann (Pixabay);  Jannoon028 (Freepik)

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

In the race for growth and market dominance, businesses often lose sight of their unique strengths. Although aiming for widespread appeal and increased market share can be a rewarding strategy, it is not always sustainable.

Further, businesses are often encouraged to pivot and evolve to keep up with technology, with examples such as Kodak, Blackberry, and Blockbuster used as casualties of companies not being innovative and prepared to keep up with the times. However, with a little research, one would realise that companies such as Kodak and Blackberry still exist and are still operating – but are no longer the household names that they used to be. They, among many other once-dominant tech companies, in particular, have embraced the power of niche markets after their mainstream appeal declined.

A lesson from the past: Kodak

Kodak was once synonymous with photography, holding a dominant position in the film and camera industry. However, the company’s failure to adapt to the digital revolution led to its decline. After filing for bankruptcy in 2012, Kodak shifted its focus to niche markets like specialised printing technologies, professional imaging solutions, and even scientific research.

Today, Kodak caters to industries like healthcare (with radiography and diagnostic imaging) and cinema (offering high-quality film for movie production). By narrowing its scope, Kodak found profitability in areas where its expertise remains unmatched.

A lesson from the past: Blackberry

BlackBerry once reigned supreme in the mobile phone market, known for its iconic physical keyboards and secure messaging platform. But as Apple and Android devices gained popularity, BlackBerry’s market share plummeted.

Rather than trying to compete in the saturated smartphone market, BlackBerry pivoted to become a leader in cybersecurity and enterprise software – which was always its strength. Its products now cater to organisations needing secure communication and data protection. This niche focus has allowed BlackBerry to thrive in a specialised segment, leaving the general consumer market behind.

A lesson from the past: IBM

From the mid-1950s, IBM was synonymous with computing, leading the market in hardware, personal computers, and mainframe systems. However, as competition in hardware intensified with the rise of companies such as Apple and Dell, IBM shifted its strategy.

Today, IBM focuses on enterprise solutions, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing. Its flagship AI platform, Watson, was widely used in healthcare, finance, and customer service for predictive analytics and decision-making, and Watson’s successor, Watsonx, is IBM’s cloud-based commercial generative AI and scientific data platform.

A lesson from the past: Nokia

Finally, Nokia was once a global leader in mobile phones, dominating the market in the early 2000s. However, the company failed to keep up with the smartphone revolution led by Apple and Android devices. After selling its phone business to Microsoft, Nokia reinvented itself.

Today, Nokia is a key player in telecommunications network infrastructure and advanced technologies, particularly in 5G. Its expertise in network solutions has made it a critical partner for governments and businesses looking to build next-generation communication systems.

Why being niche works

From the above examples, and there are still more, these businesses have been able to survive – and even thrive – by stopping being ‘all things to all people’. Often, the change was triggered externally by market forces, but in many instances, these businesses ended up going back to basics and (in many ways) the niche field in which they began.

Invariably, these businesses were able to tap into the deep and specialised expertise they possessed, such as in photography and imaging in the case of Kodak, and enterprise security in the case of Blackberry. Moreover, among their diehard customer base – those who knew the value of what they offered and not just mass consumers – there would be strong customer loyalty as their products addressed specific pain points. Further, in focusing on a specific segment of the market, niche businesses tend to face less competition and can command premium prices by offering highly specialised solutions.

It should thus come as no surprise that niche businesses may be more equipped to be seen as authentic and trustworthy and are able to build genuine relationships with their customers. in turn, this relationship with their customers and their specialised focus can help buffer them from market-wide trends that can be volatile, allowing them to be more stable and resilient.

Finally, in having a narrow focus, niche businesses can make more efficient use of resources. For example, in terms of product or service offerings, the business can offer a limited number of off-the-shelf products and services, but with the option for customised solutions or specialised builds being fulfilled separately and at a premium. If catering to mass consumers, a business may need to offer a broader range of products or services, all of which would need to be manufactured or maintained and offered at competitive prices, which could lead to much more waste in the long run.

Being niche may mean managing expectations

While the allure of growth and mass-market dominance can be tempting, it is not the only path to success. Carving out a niche market and catering to a specific audience can lead to long-term stability and success. Interestingly, companies that once dominated entire industries, such as those previously highlighted, have leveraged their deep and specialist expertise and were able to revitalise their business, thus assuring their long-term sustainability.

In today’s competitive landscape, standing out is not about being everywhere: it is about being indispensable to the right audience. Whether your business is a startup or an established company, finding your niche and serving it exceptionally well might just be the smarter, more fulfilling way forward.

Image credit: jannoon028 (Freepik)

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

Welcome to our November 2024 Community Chat episode! This month’s discussion is generally focused on business-related issues.

As we approach the end of 2024, we have an opportunity to review the decisions we made during the year – both personally and professionally – whether they paid off and what we might wish to do differently in 2025. Hopefully, the goal is to be more successful next year than you were this year, and critical to achieving that is making strategic plans that will be implemented. Work-wise, we think this episode can help!

Introducing our guest panellist

With over 30 years of experience, Gerry George is a leading ICT professional and policy expert. Known for his work and advocacy in shaping ICT & telecommunications policies and regulations, he has dedicated the past 15 years to driving compliance, competition, and innovation across the sector.

Gerry is deeply committed to industry advancement and governance, actively engaging in both local and international trade associations and forums. Currently, he serves as President of SLICTA, the ICT Association of Saint Lucia, an Advisory Council member of the American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN), and Chair of the International Institute of Communications (IIC)’s Caribbean Chapter.

As founder of DigiSolv, Inc., he has led a successful consultancy for over 25 years, delivering practical, affordable and innovative business solutions to a wide array of clients. Respected across the ICT community, Gerry is a steadfast advocate for growth, collaboration, and best practices in the industry and wider community.

Matthew Cowen is a seasoned expert in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) with over 30 years of experience. Having resided in the French West Indies for approximately 20 years, Matthew has dedicated this time to understanding the region from a technological perspective. Fluent in English and French, and conversant in French Creole, Matthew’s passion lies in exploring how technology shapes our world, both technically and socially.

Matthew has successfully worked on various projects across the Caribbean, in both English-speaking and French-speaking territories. His extensive experience is detailed in his Curriculum Vitae at matthewcowen.org. Matthew also writes a newsletter called The Future is Digital, which delves into issues surrounding digital technology, its use, and its impacts in the Caribbean. The newsletter occasionally explores global topics, reflecting the inherently global nature of digital technology. His goal is to help businesses understand and thrive in the digital environment.

Holding a master’s degree in Operational Management from ESSEC Business School (Paris), Matthew also possesses numerous industrial and sectorial certifications from organisations such as UNCTAD and Microsoft. He has worked with international organisations like UNESCO and USAID, as well as other business development projects in the Caribbean. Matthew is also a certified trainer for adults.

The topics discussed

First, with virtually everyone online, it makes sense for businesses to also advertise online. However, Are Caribbean businesses really benefitting from online advertising? With the value of online advertising estimated at USD 232.7 billion in 2023 and should reach USD 538.2 billion by 2032, what has been the real impact of online advertising on your business? We discuss.

For our second topic, we shift to the entrepreneurship and startup space to discuss the lack of collaboration that tends to occur. Often, we see the results. Businesses limping along, which could have been much further ahead had they been more open to strategic partnerships and building teams. Hence, our topic was, Learning and development – promoting a culture of learning and collaboration within our space.

Finally, regional telecommunication company, Digicel, in collaboration with Symptai Consulting Limited recently released its 2024 Caribbean Research Report and Maturity Guide under the theme, Navigating Digital Transformation. The panel discusses the findings of the report, which examines the progress and challenges faced by Caribbean businesses.

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:

• Gerry George
• Mathew Cowen  website  | LinkedIn
• Europe Union publication, Study on the impact of recent developments in digital advertising on privacy, publishers and advertisers
• Research article, You Can’t Hide Behind Your Headset: User Profiling in Augmented and Virtual Reality
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 270: Breaking the shackles of digital colonialism, with Ingrid Riley and Matthew Cowen
• Digicel and Symptai Consulting e-report, Navigating Digital Transformation: 2024 Caribbean Research Report & Maturity Guide

Images credit:  G George;  M Cowen;  creativeart (Freepik);  rawpixel (Pixabay);  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!!

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!!

Empowerment is often defined as the process of becoming stronger, more purposeful, and capable of achieving more. However, people cannot empower others; they can only offer guidance and support. Empowerment is something that individuals must do for themselves and is one of the common themes in this month’s Community Chat episode.

In our August Community Chat, communities come together to provide for themselves what others are not prepared to do. Additionally, we find people with common interests and experiencing similar challenges coming together to create something greater than themselves that would be better positioned to do more than they can do individually.

However, before we delve into the specifics of our discussions, do allow us to introduce our guests and thereafter, share the topics discussed.

Introducing our guests

Nima Anvar is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GuestChat, a conversational AI platform that develops customised chatbots for hotels.

Nima is a hotelier with over two decades of hands-on experience in Hotel Management. He collaborates with hoteliers, general managers, and marketing managers to guide them in implementing chatbots. His passion is to apply the latest advances in Generative AI in the hospitality industry. Nima and his team are bringing AI bot technology to hotels around the world.

Max Larson Henry is a network engineer, ICT instructor, and entrepreneur who founded Transversal in 2005, a company specialising in Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks, ICT training, and mobile application development. His company partners with major tech entities like Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, and Ubiquiti, deploying applications across Haiti, Nepal, East Timor, and the United States.

He serves as President of the Haitian Association for Information and Communication Technologies (AHTIC) and Vice President of the Haitian Internet Society Chapter. He has played significant roles in initiatives like the Cisco Networking Academy, the Haitian Internet Exchange Point, and the AYITIC Goes Global project (LACNIC). His contributions to ICT have earned him multiple recognitions, including the 2016 Digicel National Entrepreneur of the Year – Service Category, and awards from USAID and Harvard Business School for his pioneering efforts in mobile money and educational support in Haiti.

Introducing the topics discussed

In most countries and communities, we access internet service via a local telecoms company licensed to provide that service. However, for various reasons, there might be communities that are not connected to the local internet infrastructure thus maintaining and even widening the digital divide in the country. However, in such situations, communities can come together to establish and maintain an Internet connection themselves. So, our first topic was Community internet networks with Max sharing how these networks have been deployed in Haiti, which has been and continues to experience a broad range of disruptions.

Our second topic was the Eastern Caribbean Association of Science and Technology (ECAST), a recently established association that seeks to transform the Eastern Caribbean into a technologically advanced and digitally empowered region. Nima is the President of ECAST, so we discussed key challenges tech entrepreneurs have been experiencing as well as some of the innovative products and services that are being developed.

Finally, using a Letter to the Editor published in a Guyanese newspaper as a jump-off point, we discuss, Can Caribbean online shoppers get more protection?, on the tightrope Caribbean shoppers walk having made online purchases that may or may not be successfully delivered to them in their home country.

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:

• Nima Anvar
• Max Larson Henry
• GuestChat
• Internet Society Haïti Chapter
• Internet Society
• Internet Society Foundation article, Empowering Haiti: How the Internet is Improving Lives in Communities
• Eastern Caribbean Association of Science and Technology (ECAST)
• Kaieteur News article, More protection needed for online shoppers 

Images credit:  N Anvar;  M L Henry;  Hunter Masters (Unsplash);  Christian Schröder (Pixabay); Shane Rounce (Unsplash)

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!!

Agriculture has long been recognised as a crucial yet underdeveloped sector in the economy of virtually all Caribbean countries. Most countries struggle to feed themselves which has resulted in high food import bills, and the ongoing CARICOM 25 by 25 Initiative: to reduce the CARICOM region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025.

But to be fair, the agricultural sector is plagued with numerous challenges including, difficult terrain, weather peculiarities, the impact of climate change, the investment cost, the difficulty in securing financing, and the often relatively limited return on the investments made. However, it could also be argued that the region’s agriculture sector has not readily embraced technology, which could make existing operations more efficient and effective, ultimately resulting in better yields. At the same time, the region’s sector generally comprises subsistence and small farms that often do not have the money or the capacity to secure and leverage available technologies. Further, some of the solutions that are being offered would not work well in the Caribbean region and this particular customer segment – where, for example,  internet connectivity may still be a challenge in rural areas and farmers may not own the latest and most sophisticated computing devices.

Over the years, we have discussed agriculture technology (agritech) on the Podcast, cognisant of its importance not only to our economies but also to our food security. In this episode, we are highlighting a mobile application Latitude Sat2Farm, that puts a considerable amount of agriculture-related intelligence in the hands of our farmers.

Introducing our guest

An accomplished Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing specialist, Dr Haimwant Persaud has over 15 years of experience applying geospatial technologies to support natural resource management, sustainable development, and environmental conservation projects. He holds a PhD in Sustainable Forest Management, a Master of Science degree in Geographical Information Systems, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Engineering. He is also a Certified GIS Professional (GISP) accredited by the GIS Certification Institute.

Haimwant’s expertise spans the full range of GIS and Remote Sensing capabilities including spatial analysis, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), digital imagery processing, land use classification, feature extraction, database development, web application development, and more. Throughout his career, he has served as a Geospatial Consultant on projects for clients such as the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Natural Resources in Guyana.

Haimwant is the Director of Latitude Geospatial, a company dedicated to helping clients leverage geospatial technologies to enhance decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and support strategic planning across various industries, including environmental management, urban planning, transportation, and more. Latitude Geospatial is known for its innovative approaches and commitment to delivering high-quality, customized geospatial solutions.

Insights into our conversation

In the Caribbean, the majority of our farmers do not go to school to learn their craft and develop their expertise. They would have picked it up from family members and generally possess very basic skills. Further, the support structures for the agriculture sector tend to be limited, with the greatest investments being made for export crops. Access to granular and real-time intelligence is often non-existent, with farmers depending on field officers or the local agriculture office to provide guidance and assistance when needed.

However, as someone who grew up in a farming family in a remote community, and is also a farmer, Haimwant is intimately aware of the challenges of agriculture in the Caribbean region. On the flip side, it is fascinating the technology and useful farming data that can be generated and accessed via a simple smartphone. Thanks to the features and capabilities of Latitude Sat2Farm, farmers would not only have access to more agriculture and crop-related information, but they could also become more empowered and be in a better position to make more informed decisions.

Below are some of the questions that drove our conversation with Haimwant.

1. So tell us about Latitude Geospatial. Why did you set it up and what services does it offer?
2. What problem is Latitude Sat2Farm trying to solve?
3. How does Latitude Sat2Farm work? What are some of the technologies that Latitude Sat2farm uses?
4. Although Latitude Sat2Farm on the consumer side requires an app, what technology requirements would farmers (for example) need to have to interact with or access the insights produced via the app?
5. Okay, let’s step back a bit and tell us a bit of your story.
6. What is it like being an entrepreneur in Guyana? What do you think about the country’s start-up environment/ start-up culture?
7. Earlier this month, in July, Hurricane Beryl barrelled through the region and destroyed farming areas here in Jamaica. Looking into the future, and noting that our region is vulnerable to natural disasters, what benefit could Latitude Sat2Farm offer?
8. Also, are there any other tools or technologies the region should be leveraging to help us become more resilient?
9. Where would you like to see Latitude Geospatial in the next 3 to 5 years?

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:

• Haimwant Persaud
• Latitude Geospatial Consulting Inc.
• Latitude Sat2Farm | Google Play
• Landsat
• Copernicus

Images credit:  H Persaud;  Latitude Geospatial Consulting

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Monday, 17 June 2024

BTC fiber build-out in Grand Bahama more than 90 percent completed

Bahamas – As Grand Bahama prepares to position itself as the first “smart city” in The Bahamas, BTC continues to move full steam ahead to install its superfast fiber technology, thus decommissioning more legacy copper services in the coming weeks… more

Ex-ArawakX principals say ‘no further steps’ over BOB battle

Bahamas – The former directors of The Bahamas’ first-ever crowd-funding platform have pledged “to take no further steps” to advance their legal battle with Bank of The Bahamas under the terms of its full winding-up… more

FTX Bahamas customers given mid-August claims deadline

Bahamas – FTX customers who have not yet submitted a Proof of Debt claim in The Bahamas process have until mid-August to do so, according to the Joint Official Liquidators. The US Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to hear the Chapter 11 Debtors’ Reorganisation Plan on June 25th… more

Aeropost and WiPay partner to allow customers in T&T to shop online using local currency

Trinidad and Tobago – Aeropost and WiPay, have partnered to enable customers in Trinidad and Tobago to use their local currency for international transactions… more

TATT announces broadband service funded by the Universal Service fund at Parlatuvier

Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) will launch its first, large-scale broadband service in St. John’s Parish, Tobago, under the Universal Service Fund. This Broadband Infrastructure Project will bring reliable, affordable Internet access to residents of Parlatuvier, L’Anse Fourmi and Bloody Bay… more

Tuesday, 18 June 2024

ArawakX joint provisional liquidators appoint registrar and transfer agent

Bahamas – The joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) of Mdollaz Ltd., trading as crowdfunding exchange ArawakX, have chosen a company to carry out registrar and transfer agent services for the companies that were successful in raising money on the now defunct crowdfunding platform ArawakX, Guardian Business has learned… more

NY judge: ‘Give FTX’s $143m back to Bahamas’

Bahamas – A NEW York judge is being urged to return $143m seized by the US federal authorities to FTX’s Bahamian liquidators who have a “superior interest” to these assets… more

At a glance: The latest Caribbean 5G deployments

Caribbean – Operators have deployed 5G in only nine of the 30 Caribbean territories followed by 5G Americas and Telegeography, establishing a total of 15 5G networks as of June 2024, not counting Digicel’s recent 5G launch in Grand Cayman… more

Corporate business leaders and tech innovators connect and collaborate at Caribbean Export’s digital accelerator workshops

Caribbean – Corporate entities, tech start-ups, and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were brought together to collaborate on transforming the region’s digital business landscape at several recent workshops hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export)… more

tTech Limited reports 23.8% revenue growth for 2023

Jamaica –  tTech Limited, a Jamaican-based managed IT services provider, convened its annual general meeting (AGM) at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston last Thursday (June 13)… more

SVG lags behind in digital accessibility of laws

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Editor: From Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, to Guyana, all independent anglophone Caribbean countries appear to have at least one online website where persons can easily access most or all of their laws… more

iGovTT launches Cybersecurity Investment Tax allowance system

Trinidad and Tobago – The National Information and Communication Technology Company Limited (iGovTT) is excited to announce the launch of its Cybersecurity Investment Tax Allowance management system… more

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Digitization Unit established at the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources to enable farmers and fishermen to easily access services

Bahamas – As the government advances its objective of increasing efficiency and ensuring the ease of doing business for clients both locally and internationally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources is doing its part to meet this goal… more

Local software developer preparing to enter Cayman market

Bahamas – A local software developer is recruiting team members in the Cayman Islands, as he readies to have his human resources (HR) and payroll software Triblock HR software on the market by the end of August… more

Central Bank’s payment system wins consumer body’s support

Barbados – A proposal by the Central Bank of Barbados to centralise the commercial banking payment system has received support from a consumer group… more

Why a content creator should add print on demand for revenue

Caribbean – FOR content creators, diving into print on demand (POD) offers a unique opportunity to leverage their creative assets and audience engagement to generate additional revenue streams… more

Akademi launches Data Science Bootcamp in Jamaica

Jamaica – Akademi, an education company dedicated to training the next generation of Caribbean technologists, is excited to announce the launch of its Data Science Bootcamp in Jamaica… more

Young People Urged to Embrace AI and its Benefits

Jamaica – Young persons in Jamaica are being encouraged to take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) and not to be fearful about the new technology as the Government prepares for the development of a National AI Policy… more

ECA: Decent work agenda crucial in light of AI

Trinidad and Tobago – THE Employers’ Consultative Association (ECA) says it is “more crucial than ever” to maintain a decent work agenda in light of rapidly evolving technology and the possibility of job displacements owing to artificial intelligence (AI)… more

Thursday, 20 June 2024

Big data analytics: Driving informed business decision-making

Caribbean – In today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven world, businesses are inundated with an overwhelming amount of data. This data deluge, often termed ‘Big Data,’ has revolutionised the way companies operate, compete, and innovate… more

What are the top cities for fintech investment in the Caribbean?

Caribbean – As fintech continues to grow as a multi-billion-dollar industry that is revolutionising financial services, the Caribbean market is enjoying significant growth… more

Court system to go paperless

Jamaica – The Government will be introducing technology to facilitate a paperless system throughout the country’s court network… more

Gov’t to Establish Regulatory Framework for Ride-Sharing Service

Jamaica – The Government is moving to establish a regulatory framework to accommodate ride-hailing services in a manner that best serves the public interest… more

International firm offers robotics training to students from across island

Jamaica – In an effort to give a boost to Jamaica’s underperforming students by providing them with more critical thinking skills and creativity as well as fostering an appreciation for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM), at least 100 students from across the island are to be offered robotics training from international firm Zebra Robotics… more

Online Registration Only for Data Controllers

Jamaica – Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, is reminding data controllers that the organisation is only accepting online registrations through the My OIC portal on its website… more

TVJ expands NextGen TV signal to 66% of population

Jamaica – Television Jamaica’s NextGen TV test signal is now accessible to more than half of the Jamaican population with the installation of seven additional new transmitter sites across the island in June 2024… more

Huawei previews healthcare solutions

Trinidad and Tobago – Huawei has reaffirmed its commitment to providing innovative smart solutions to any sphere of life in T&T… more

Friday, 21 June 2024

Bastian: Technological evolution to drive significant reduction in webshop locations within the next decade

Bahamas – A prominent gaming house operator predicts a significant reduction in the number of webshop locations over the next five to ten years as technology evolves, rendering certain roles obsolete and necessitating upskilling for newer positions… more

Registrar General to launch Corporate Administrative Registry Services portal

Bahamas – The Registrar General is set to unveil its new Corporate Administrative Registry Services (C.A.R.S.) portal today… more

RCCbpo, Belize’s call center powerhouse, seeks senior talent acquisition specialist

Belize – RССbро, thе lеаdіng fоrсе іn Веlіzе’ѕ thrіvіng саll сеntеr іnduѕtrу, іѕ ѕееkіng а ѕеаѕоnеd Ѕеnіоr Таlеnt Асquіѕіtіоn Ѕресіаlіѕt tо јоіn thеіr dуnаmіс tеаm… more

RCCbpo seeks recruiters to join their growing team

Belize – RССbро, thе роwеrhоuѕе оf Веlіzе’ѕ thrіvіng саll сеntеr іnduѕtrу, іѕ lооkіng fоr nеw tаlеnt tо јоіn іtѕ ехраndіng tеаm. Wіth оvеr 2,000 еmрlоуееѕ аnd соuntіng, thе соmраnу іѕ nоt оnlу thе lаrgеѕt еmрlоуеr іn thе соuntrу but аlѕо а сhаmріоn оf lосаl wоrkfоrсе dеvеlорmеnt… more

‘ Teething’ problems delay online work permits

British Virgin Islands – The rollout of a much-vaunted initiative to put work-permit applications and renewals online has been hit by “inevitable teething issues,” Deputy Premier Lorna Smith said last week… more

New study shows LATAM Fintech ecosystem exceeds 3,000 start-ups

Caribbean – A new study has revealed that the fintech ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean has grown considerably to the extent that they now exceed 3,000 in 26 countries in 2023… more

Govt. launches online platform to streamline planning, building permit process

Guyana – The government, through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), on Wednesday officially launched the Electronic Planning and Development Single Window System… more

Guyana’s digital skills training programme lauded at CDB meeting – Finance Ministry

Guyana – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) recently held its 54th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Ottawa, Canada which was attended by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, and where Guyana’s efforts at digitalisation were lauded, a Ministry of Finance release stated yesterday… more

Doubling down on BPO status quo in counter to AI

Jamaica – The impact of artificial intelligence technology on the local outsourcing sector is expected to be minimal in the medium term, says Anand Biradar, president of the Global Services Association of Jamaica, GSAJ… more

EduFocal reports $79 million loss in 2023

Jamaica – EduFocal is reporting a loss of just over $79 million for the financial year ended December 2023… more

FLOW recovers stolen copper in Riverton

Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW on Thursday recovered a portion of copper wires stolen from its network in an operation in Riverton, St Andrew… more

Gov’t Unveils Two Groundbreaking Virtual Platforms to Enhance Diaspora Engagement

Jamaica – The Government has unveiled two groundbreaking virtual platforms – the Diaspora Registration portal, ‘ConnectMeJa’, and the Jamaica Diaspora Engagement Model (Jam-Dem), which aim to enhance diaspora engagement and connectivity globally… more

Industry Minister Encourages Companies to Embrace Technology

Jamaica – Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, is encouraging companies to embrace the use of technology across sectors for increased productivity, to meet international demand and drive Jamaica’s global competitiveness… more

IT company PBS growing fastest in Musson Group, says PB Scott

Jamaica – Paul ‘PB’ Scott, chairman and CEO of regional conglomerate Musson Group, says its publicly listed information technology firm Productive Business Solutions Limited, PBS, is the fastest-growing company in the massive corporation… more

MSMEs sceptic but expert says payment gateways secure for business

Jamaica – Amid the increase in online scamming schemes and bank card phishing, some entrepreneurs share skepticism in using online payment methods, despite their increasing popularity and usage… more

Saturday, 22 June 2024

NCB introduces new tap-on-phone contactless payment solution 

Jamaica – NCB Jamaica Limited is introducing a new tap-on-phone contactless payment solution, currently being piloted with a select number of its micro-, small-, and medium-sized (MSME) customers—marking a significant advancement in the domestic payments industry… more

St. Ann Community Gets Wi-Fi Service

Jamaica – Residents of Glasgow Lodge district in Murray Mountain, St. Ann on Friday (June 21), became the newest beneficiaries of the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) community Wi-Fi service… more

Sunday, 23 June 2024

Fintech industry grows 340% in Latin America and the Caribbean

Caribbean – The Fintech sector, which comprises companies that use technology for financial services, grew 340% between 2017 and 2023 in Latin America and the Caribbean and now exceeds 3,000 startups, according to a study published Thursday… more

Zanutix Consulting banks on AI, cybersecurity investments for growth

Caribbean – ZANUTIX Consulting Limited, a tech firm operating in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, is making strategic investments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced cybersecurity measures — all aimed at positioning the company as a strong competitor in the regional tech market… more

WiPay allows skybox shopping with TT$

Trinidad and Tobago – Leading regional payment solutions provider, WiPay Caribbean, has put its plans to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) on hold until next year, while it presses ahead with forming new partnerships and deepening its engagement with the remittance market… more

Image credits: rawpixel.com (Pexels); Wikimedia Commons; tTech; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Seek Vector Logo

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

Although we may not fully appreciate it, small farmers are the bedrock of Caribbean society. Many of our countries are very mountainous or have poor soils or little arable land, thus making agriculture difficult and in many instances, not very profitable. However, these small farms help us to feed ourselves and contribute to our food security.

Unfortunately, many Caribbean farmers are underbanked, and so are unable to access financing through traditional sources. This has been a perennial pain point, as the lack of funding for farming inherently hinders their growth and development, and keeps them at a subsistence existence.

In 2021, as part of a podcast series we did on technology-based social enterprises – that is, tech businesses that have a social impact among their core objectives – we featured FarmCredibly, which at the time, was known as a digital cooperative for farms that provides access to micro-investments for farmers in Jamaica. Three years later, a lot has happened. We have survived a pandemic, agriculture technology (or agritech) is booming with investment, we are moving closer to being digitally transformed and artificial intelligence is becoming mainstream. We are thus circling back to check in on FarmCredibly to see how it has been evolving and what lessons it has learnt along the way.

Introducing our guest and FarmCredibly

Danelia Doyle is a co-founder of FarmCredibly, Jamaica’s first farm funding platform. She is committed to innovation and sustainability in agriculture.

With over a decade of experience in project and business management, Danelia has honed her skills across various industries, including Media and Communications, Food and Customer Services, Event Management, Software Development, and FinTech.

Founded in 2018 by Varun Baker and Danelia Doyle, FarmCredibly addresses the challenges faced by Jamaica’s farmers. Recognising the profound impact of farmers’ exclusion from funding and technology access, the pair initially focused on providing simplified financial services to underbanked farmers, thereby transforming their lives.

More recently, FarmCredibly has introduced a WhatsApp-based tool that offers real-time financial insights and personalised support. This technological advancement empowers farmers to make informed decisions and optimise resource allocation. It streamlines farm operations and enhances financial literacy and stability within the agricultural community.

Insights into our conversation

Without a doubt, the life of a small farmer is tough. Besides battling Mother Nature, pests and thieves, struggling to keep a farm alive and ensuring there is enough to harvest, is an ongoing battle. So, technology solutions that in some way can address some of their challenges, can only be a good thing!

Engaging and very self-aware, it was a joy to chat with Danelia and to learn of all the pivots FarmCredibly has had to make since we interviewed the other Co-Founder, Varun Baker, in 2021. Two of the biggest takeaways from this conversation are solutions that should work in principle may not work in practice, and do not disregard simple solutions that may not be as tech-forward as you might want. Working within the skills and resources available to your customer base will increase the chances of take-up, and ultimately, success.

Below are questions posed to Danelia that drove our conversation.

1. How would you describe FarmCredibly, and do also share with us some of your background and what drove you to set up this venture?
2. Since FarmCredibly was launched in 2018, how has the ‘business of farming’ evolved? Were there any pronounced or continuing trends since the pandemic?
3. What has been happening with FarmCredibly since Varun was on the Podcast in 2021?
4. Has the FarmCredibly business model evolved over the years?
5. FarmCredibly has introduced a WhatsApp-based accounting service to assist farmers with bookkeeping and farm management. What is the pain point this service is trying to address?
6. Agriculture and agritech have become popular in the region, especially since funding may be a bit more readily available than before. What are your thoughts on this?
7. Many start-ups, and more so tech start-ups, fail.  In managing a small business yourself, what insights can you share?
8. Has FarmCredibly been able to forge strategic partnerships in other countries?
9. What important lessons have you learnt since launching FarmCredibly?
10. Where would you like to see FarmCredibly in the next three years?

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:

• Danelia Doyle
• FarmCredibly
• ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 138: Leveraging technology to provide micro investment to farmers, with Varun Baker of Farm Credibly

Images credit:  D Doyle;  Steven Weeks (Unsplash); Eveline de Bruin (Pixabay);  Dastan Khdir (Pexels);  Linny (Pixabay)

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

Podcast editing Support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Monday, 3 June 2024

BTC hit by ‘sabotage act’ in North Eleuthera

Bahamas – THE BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company (BTC) says it fell victim to “an act of sabotage” that knocked out all mobile, Internet and landline services to North Eleuthera customers on Friday… more

BELTRAIDE sails toward financial innovation with FINTECH 2024

Belize – Іn а соllаbоrаtіvе еffоrt bеtwееn thе Веlіzе Тrаdе аnd Іnvеѕtmеnt Dеvеlорmеnt Ѕеrvісе (ВЕLТRАІDЕ) аnd thе Сеntrаl Ехесutіng Unіt (СЕU) оf thе Міnіѕtrу оf Есоnоmіс Dеvеlорmеnt, Веlіzе іѕ еmbаrkіng оn а grоundbrеаkіng јоurnеу іntо thе rеаlm оf fіnаnсіаl іnnоvаtіоn… more

Caribbean innovations in justice technologies lauded at UK digital week

Jamaica – Caribbean-inspired innovations in technologies for the administration of justice in the courts were on show at UK Digital Week. Held last week (May 23-24), it was the staging of a special Justice Symposium hosted by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in collaboration with the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS)… more

How the police became a media outlet

Trinidad and Tobago – Earlier this year, former SBCS lecturer in media Abbigail Ajim successfully defended her thesis for a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Leicester… more

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Alleged landowner ‘sabotages’ BTC’s fiber optic cable in North Eleuthera, disrupting services

Bahamas – BTC says that an alleged landowner who has repeatedly threatened to sever the company’s fiber optic cable in an attempt to extort compensation followed through on the threat last week, resulting in disruption of service in North Eleuthera… more

BTC: Eleuthera sabotage was an ‘extortion’ attempt

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday asserted that its fibre optic cables serving Eleuthera were deliberately cut in a bid to extort money from it over a land dispute… more

CIBC eyes AI for future banking experiences

Caribbean – The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC Caribbean) has introduced “Tiffany,” an artificial intelligence (AI) module designed to enhance customers’ banking experience in TT… more

Dutch government hires US consultancy for subsea cables study

Caribbean – The Dutch government has hired American consulting firm Pioneer Consulting to conduct research into the digital connectivity of its three islands in the Caribbean… more

Wednesday, 5 June 2024

Survey on digital payments in Barbados

Barbados – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA), is conducting research on the challenges and opportunities of using digital payments in Barbados… more

Digicel activates subsea fibre cable, Deep Blue One

Caribbean – The mobile phone network and home entertainment provider, Digicel Group, has announced the activation of its subsea fibre cable, Deep Blue One, which is expected to “supercharge” connectivity across the Caribbean and South America, particularly benefiting Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago… more

Mastercard: Empowering MSMEs in the Caribbean

Caribbean – Financial inclusion goes far beyond connecting people to bank accounts. It is a powerful tool that allows them to exercise greater control over their expenses and income… more

Brakes on ridesharing

Jamaica – Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has recommended an “immediate ban” on ridesharing services which he says has triggered serious safety concerns for members of the public… more

DBJ launches first venture capital fund in 30 years

Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has made an investment of US$4.9 million into a venture capital fund, Jamaica’s first in over 30 years, it says… more

JSE suspends EduFocal and Equityline Mortgage Investment

Jamaica – The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has suspended the trading of shares of two listed companies after failing to file their audited financial statements for 2023… more

IT Department undertaking measures to ensure government’s cybersecurity

Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Department of Information Technology on Nevis is currently undergoing the process of ensuring the safety of the government’s cyber space and maintain cybersecurity… more

St. Kitts Health Services ICT Project Symbolises Government’s Strategic Step Towards Modernising Health Services Through Digitisation

Saint Kitts and Nevis – As part of its mandate to transform and modernise healthcare services in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has introduced a new high-speed, cutting-edge ICT network for the healthcare system, marking a crucial step in the digitisation of the public health sector… more

SVG Falls Behind in Digital Accessibility of Laws

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – From Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, to Guyana, all independent anglophone Caribbean countries appear to have at least one online website where persons can easily access most or all of their laws… more

Thursday, 6 June 2024

Digicel launches new subsea fibre cable system

Caribbean – Digicel Group on June 4 announced the activation of its subsea fibre cable, Deep Blue One, describing it as a “significant investment” in international submarine capacity that will supercharge connectivity across the Caribbean and South America… more

Don’t steamroll STEAM

Caribbean – GOOD SENSE has prevailed at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), which has reversed moves to cut a cluster of forward-thinking science and agriculture subjects from its syllabus. Regional educators should be cultivating more interest in these areas, not facilitating their demise… more

Vibrant activities in Fintech: Market Analysis on Financial Innovation in Curaçao and Sint Maarten

Caribbean – The financial sector undergoes a continuous stream of innovations. This leads to new products, services, and business models and rapidly transforms the market structure… more

WiPay acquires Miami-based travel company

Caribbean – WiPay, a Caribbean’s fintech company, is announcing its acquisition of Travelele.com, an innovative Miami-based online travel company that directly rivals Expedia’s offerings… more

Finance Minister: Cryptocurrency in Curaçao feasible and necessary

Curaçao – The allowance of cryptocurrency in Curaçao is not only feasible but also necessary. This was stated by Finance Minister Javier Silvania on Tuesday during the SiGMA Asia, an online gaming conference in Manila… more

EXCLUSIVE: TELEM CEO Kendal Dupersoy will soon be jobless.

Sint Maarten – The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TELEM Group of Companies, Kendall Dupersoy, will soon have to go job hunting as the Supervisory Board of TELEM has informed him that his contract will not be renewed come January 2025. Dupersoy has been heading the TELEM Group of Companies for the past eight years… more

Term Finance launches new learning platform

Trinidad and Tobago – Term Finance, one of the Caribbean’s largest web-based financial institution, launched its innovative Online Financial Wellness platform, which will be at no cost to individuals and micro, small, and medium-size businesses (MSMEs) using this platform… more

Friday, 7 June 2024

Mastercard and data.org launch AI challenge to accelerate inclusion and economic empowerment

Caribbean – The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, in collaboration with data.org, has launched the Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Inclusion Challenge (AI2AI Challenge), a global call for AI solutions to accelerate inclusion and economic empowerment… more

Bunting wants overhaul of Interception of Communications Act

Jamaica – Opposition Senator Peter Bunting is calling for a thorough overhaul of the Interception of Communications Act to address challenges being faced by investigators… more

inDrive denies suspect in Danielle Anglin’s disappearance used its platform

Jamaica – Ride-hailing company inDrive says the suspect in the murder of primary school teacher Danielle Anglin did not offer his service through its platform… more

Cariri launches virtual learning platform

Trinidad and Tobago – The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (Cariri) has launched the Innovation Nation Training Programme, a virtual learning platform that focuses on science, innovation, entrepreneurship and climate action… more

Saturday, 8 June 2024

Gov’t exploring e-schooling, voucher system for private schools in light of strike – Jagdeo

Guyana – Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday that the government is exploring the options of e-schooling and a voucher system to allow parents to enroll their children in private schools, to ensure that they receive a quality education… more

Online payment to T&TEC frustrating

Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: It is indeed frustrating and unfair when a payment made to a utility company, such as T&TEC, doesn’t show up due to bank processing delays, leading to service disconnection. This scenario typically unfolds as follows:… more

Sunday, 9 June 2024

Drones revolutionizing crop management – GRDB

Guyana – The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has been spearheading the use of drones in the agricultural sector since 2021, revolutionizing crop management for farmers… more

Driver dilemma

Jamaica – Up to a year ago, Sebastian Henry* was toiling more than 12 hours each day as a chef to earn a weekly salary of $15,000… more

‘From banana chips to microchips’

Jamaica – With hundreds of deaths and an almost-crippled economy, Jamaica’s brush with the COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionised the country’s employment and economic landscape, and its leadership should take note and adapt… more

Images credit: Free-Photos (Pixabay); Belize Chamber of Commerce; BTC (Facebook); Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; WiPay Caribbean; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia