{"id":140231,"date":"2018-10-01T06:30:11","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T11:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=140231"},"modified":"2018-09-30T19:02:41","modified_gmt":"2018-10-01T00:02:41","slug":"roundup-week-30-september-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2018\/10\/roundup-week-30-september-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 30 September 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 September to Sunday 30 September 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday, 24 September 2018<\/h3>\n

Guyana gets US$36.5M China loan for broadband boost<\/h4>\n

Guyana<\/em>\u2013 Guyana and China yesterday signed a framework agreement under which Beijing will fund the extension of the Guyana National Broadband Project on a RMB 250 million (US$36.46 million) concessionary loan, and an economic and technical cooperation pact for RMB 100 million (US$14.58 million) grant aid\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

STEMGuyana signs pact to bring international robot competition to Guyana<\/h4>\n

Guyana<\/em>\u2013 On September 19, 2018, STEMGuyana signed a pact with the International Youth Robot (IYR) Association to be the prequalifying body for organizing the annual qualifier national robot competition among Guyanese primary and secondary school-aged student-teams to represent Guyana at the International Youth Robotics Competition\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

How IBM and Plastic Bank Are Using Blockchain to Boost Recycling in Haiti<\/h4>\n

Haiti<\/em>\u2013 The blockchain is helping clean up the oceans. That\u2019s thanks to the efforts of Plastic Bank, a non-profit that pays people in developing countries for handing over recyclable plastic using a cryptocurrency-like token system\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Local Number Portability (LNP) services to be launched in ECTEL member states<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em>\u2013 The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) is pleased to announce that Local Number Portability (LNP) services will be launched in all ECTEL Member States on Monday, 19th November 2018\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 25 September 2018<\/h3>\n

\"\"‘Tech Hub’ Booster Expands To Nassau<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The firm that gave the Government’s “technology hub” ambitions a major boost is expanding its Bahamian presence through opening a satellite office in Nassau by early December\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BSE to begin crypto-trading<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 The Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE) is to join the blockchain revolution by soon opening up a market for crypto-assets, BSE Managing Director Marlon Yarde has revealed\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

eShore steps up cybersecurity presence with hire<\/h4>\n

Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 Stephen Dawson has joined eShore as a technical account manager. With a background in cybersecurity, he will be offering IT solutions to the Caribbean and wider Latin American markets to help businesses understand where potential threats can come from\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel subsidiaries extend early tender for Exchange Offers<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Group announced on Monday that two of its subsidiaries are extending the early tender and expiration dates of\u00a0 each of their previously announced Exchange Offers with respect to certain series of the group’s outstanding senior notes\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

ECTEL announces availability of LPN service<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Consumers in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) who wish to change their cellular phone service provider but keep their telephone number will soon be able to do this\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Rise of Cyber Crimes in SVG highlighted at Insurance Institute Seminar<\/h4>\n

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/em>\u2013 Cyber Crime was on the menu when members of the Insurance Institute of SVG met for their September Seminar on Wednesday September 12 at De Salad Shop in the Kingstown Cruise Terminal\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Google to join LACNIC for Internet Week workshops<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Google will be in Port-of-Spain next week when the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Registry (LACNIC) recognises Internet Week with a series of workshops\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tech start-up brings innovation to farming<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 NOVO Farms, a one-year-old local, agri-tech startup organic farm, has been able to successfully grow foreign crops using its farming innovation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 26 September 2018<\/h3>\n

New Broadcast Authority board appointed<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em>\u2013 A new board has been appointed to the Barbados Broadcast Authority\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Extends Refinancing Offer As Bondholders Revolt<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em>\u2013 Digicel Group was huddling with its creditors on Tuesday after they summarily rejected a plan to swap out US$3 billion of the telecom’s bond for longer term debt, a proposal that would have given the company a two-year reprieve\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW Makes Amends With Customer<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 THE EDITOR, Sir:\u00a0 We write in response to a letter to the editor titled ‘Disgusting FLOW service’ and published in your newspaper on September 18, 2018\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Peter Harrison Is The Only Caribbean Candidate For ARIN Board Of Trustees Elections \u2013 Here\u2019s Why That Matters<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em>\u2013 Peter Harrison has been named among four finalists to contest elections for two seats on the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) board of trustees in October 2018\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean hoteliers embrace digital technology to promote region<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em>\u2013 The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) says it is moving to further develop its digital technology resources so as to better promote the \u201cmany exciting and diverse travel choices\u201d visitors can experience throughout the region\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Meet Peter Harrison, the only Caribbean candidate in ARIN\u2019s Board elections<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em>\u2013 Peter Harrison has been named among four finalists to contest elections for two seats on the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) board of trustees in October 2018\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean cybersecurity in focus at Internet Week Trinidad and Tobago<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em>\u2013 The Latin American and Caribbean Internet Registry (LACNIC) will lead a regional cybersecurity workshop in Port of Spain from October 4 to 5\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday, 27 September 2018<\/h3>\n

\"\"Crypto Balance Must Combat ‘Scam Artists’<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas must strike a balance between facilitating initial coin offerings (ICO) and crypto currency exchanges and combating “scam artists”, a top accountant urged yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Digital\u2019 may transform, displaced workers \u2013 BWU<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 A union boss has given tourism workers a sober reminder that as the digital technology revolution leads to disruption in the instruction, it could also leave displaced workers in its wake\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Four universities to unveil tech innovations at UNDP summit<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em>\u2013 FOUR of Jamaica’s top universities, led by their presidents and principals, will be coming together for an unprecedented unveiling of their own technology innovations that can impact health, crime, natural disaster risk and the blue and green economies, at the annual Social Good Summit 2018\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Privacy Built In – Israelis Among Overseas Experts To Help Engineer NIDS For Data Security; $400m Cut From Project’s Budget<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Israeli cybersecurity specialists were among a number of experts who advised the Jamaican Government about key aspects of the proposed structure that will govern Jamaica’s National Identification System (NIDS)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Technology to take tourism forward<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the tourism development agency for the region, joins the global community today in celebrating World Tourism Day 2018 under the theme Tourism and the Digital Transformation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Conferees discuss initiatives to improve government services<\/h4>\n

Saint Kitts and Nevis\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 St. Kitts and Nevis has launched initiatives to enhance the delivery, quality, adoption and use of government services, according to Minister of Communications and Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0St Kitts’ website wins coveted award<\/h4>\n

Saint Kitts and Nevis\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 The website of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, www.stkittstourism.kn, has won a highly coveted Magellan Award by Travel Weekly\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Samsung launches Note 9 in TT<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 ON TUESDAY last week, Samsung formally launched the Note 9 in Trinidad and Tobago\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

The story behind T&T’s 868 code<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 To some, 868 is just another number, but for Trinbagonians, those three iconic digits have become part of our identity. While 868 is the unique dialing code that routes international calls to the phones of consumers in Trinidad and Tobago, those three digits have also become a symbol that evokes a sense of national pride, passion and love for country\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday, 28 September 2018<\/h3>\n

Delay in tax on online transactions<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Government will delay the introduction of value added tax on online transactions by two months\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

950 Primary Schools to Receive Tablets and Computers<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Some 950 primary schools across the island are to receive tablets and computers over the next four months\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW Ruined My Business<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 THE EDITOR, Sir: I returned to Jamaica to start my business. Everything was going wonderfully until October 2017 when the FLOW cable wires that provide service to my home and business were damaged\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Galaxy Note9 now available in Jamaica<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Samsung Electronics has announced the arrival in Jamaica of the latest addition to its premium Note series: the Samsung Galaxy Note9, designed for a generation of creators, achievers, and entrepreneurs who are remaking the world, and relying on technology to do it\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Jamaica approves tech park in Portmore<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Jamaican government has approved the development of a 34-acre (138,000m2) technology park in Portmore, across the harbor from capital Kingston… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica is Leading Digital Transformation in Tourism \u2013 says Bartlett<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaica\u2019s Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry is creating the framework to make Jamaica a smart destination\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaicans urged to protect online presence<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Individuals and companies are being encouraged to exercise greater care in managing and protecting their online presence\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (Ja-CIRT) in the Ministry of Science and Technology will observe its third national Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean ministers promote streamlined communications<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The enhancement of a single Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Space was endorsed by ministers from across the Caribbean region who said it is important to streamline economic development to promote a common identity via travel that facilitates integration of culture\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Crypto-Caribbean: The World’s Most Idyllic Blockchain Sandbox<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The concept of a financial or technology sandbox, popularized over the last decade, is gaining sway around the world, particularly as regulators try to put cryptocurrency, blockchain and technology genies back in the bottle and under observation (perhaps even starving them of oxygen)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Completes Sale and Leaseback Agreement With Phoenix Tower International<\/h4>\n

Regional\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 \u00a0Digicel has completed a sale and leaseback agreement with Phoenix Tower International LLC (PTI) through its Jamaican subsidiary, Phoenix Tower Jamaica Limited, in relation to a number of its towers in Jamaica, it was announced today\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines sign 15-year ICT contract<\/h4>\n

Regional\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 \u00a0The governments Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines have signed a 15-year agreement with ICT managed services provider, Digicel\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"C&W\/Flow Customers Well Positioned to Access Superior Digital Experiences<\/h4>\n

Saint Kitts and Nevis <\/em>\u2013 \u201cFlow Caribbean customers are well-positioned to enjoy unparalleled access to the rapidly expanding data needs of an evolving digital lifestyle,\u201d said Magnus Ternsjo, C&W\u2019s Vice President, Central Caribbean as he addressed the Caribbean Telecommunications Union\u2019s (CTU) 17th Caribbean Ministerial Strategic Seminar to mark ICT – Week September 26-27, 2018 in St. Kitts\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Insurance Institute On Cyber Crime Watch<\/h4>\n

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines <\/em>\u2013 Cyber Crime was on the main course on the menu when members of the Insurance Institute of SVG met for their September Seminar on Wednesday, September 12 at De Salad\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, 29 September 2018<\/h3>\n

Starr Computer donation helps to upgrade Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre\u2019s IT Department<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Starr Computer Inc. on Thursday donated a Computer Smart Lab to the Information Technology (IT) department of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cabinet approves joint venture agreement for tech park in Portmore<\/h4>\n

Jamaica\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 CABINET has given approval for a joint venture agreement for the development of the Naggo Head Technology Park in Portmore, St Catherine\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel raises $90m through Jamaica sale and leaseback<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em>\u2013 Denis O\u2019Brien\u2019s Digicel Group has raised in the region of $90 million (\u20ac77.6 million) by entering into a sale and leaseback agreement for 451 of its wireless communication towers in Jamaica\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Editorial | Buzz Around Cybersecurity<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em>\u2013 During October, there is expected to be sustained buzz around cybersecurity as Jamaica and the global community pause to observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

ICT week exceeded expectations<\/h4>\n

Saint Kitts and Nevis <\/em>\u2013 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Week successfully wrapped up on Sept. 28, leaving delegates from across the Caribbean region with a wealth of knowledge on the latest technological advancements and how they can be used to enhance the life of citizens and government operations\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

868 said to evoke national pride, passion<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em>\u2013 The Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) is creating awareness about this country\u2019s code of 868, saying these unique digits have become a symbol that evokes a sense of national pride, passion and love for country\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, 30 September 2018<\/h3>\n

Digicel buys some time, but is it enough as hard choices loom?<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em>\u2013 When Denis O’Brien sensationally pulled the long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) of Digicel shares at the 11th hour in October 2015 he was robust in his defence of the decision. “Why would you sell your front garden when you know it’s worth a lot of money and why would you sell at a discount?” he told CNBC\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image \u00a0credits: \u00a0carterse<\/a> (flickr); \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikimedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 September to Sunday 30 September 2018.   Monday, 24 September 2018 Guyana gets […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":61864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[77],"tags":[81,105,36,99,60,48,43,79],"class_list":["post-140231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-broadcasting-2","tag-cybercrimecybersecurity","tag-devices","tag-digicel","tag-e-government","tag-infrastructure","tag-internet-governance","tag-numbering","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Winston-retrieves-the-news-by-carterse-flickr.jpg?fit=640%2C464&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-AtN","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140231"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140235,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140231\/revisions\/140235"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}