{"id":150611,"date":"2019-10-28T06:00:16","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T11:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=150611"},"modified":"2019-10-28T07:08:55","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T12:08:55","slug":"roundup-week-27-october-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2019\/10\/roundup-week-27-october-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 27 October 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 21 October to Sunday 27 October 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday, 21 October 2019<\/h3>\n

Tech entrepreneur secures funding through SBDC<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Accessing capital was next to impossible in the past for entrepreneur James Woodside, who recently received $112,500 in investment loans from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) thanks to the assistance of the Access Accelerator \/ Small Business Development Centre (SBDC)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Using ROV technology<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Barbados is being encouraged to employ the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) underwater to make it easier to inspect boats and marine life\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel awards scholarships to tech-savvy university students<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Ten members of Jamaica’s next generation of innovators are now pursuing another year of tertiary-level studies, having received scholarships valued at $145,000 each from Digicel\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Low skills, low wages don’t generate prosperity’<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 At Jampro’s ‘Future of Work’ conference at AC Marriott last Wednesday, Utah-based venture capitalist Paul Ahlstrom (the founder of venture capital firm Altaventures) renewed his ambitious promise to train 1000 \u201cfull-stack\u201d Jamaican software engineers per year made at the June Development Bank of Jamaica conference on ‘Private equity, Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship and Innovation’\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Commonwealth finance ministers urge progress on taxing digital commerce<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) finance ministers have joined their Commonwealth colleagues in urging progress on taxing digital commerce to tackle debt\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S7 now receiving October 2019 security patch<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Despite being over three years old at this point, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is now receiving the October 2019 security patch\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Trinidad: Lawsuit filed against Facebook user who named man a \u201cbandit\u201d<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 The Ministry of Health employee whose image was plastered over social media earlier this month and labelled as a \u201cbandit\u201d, has instructed his attorneys to issue a pre-action protocol letter to the woman who made the original post seeking a public apology and \u201csignificant\u201d monetary compensation for defamation of character\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tuesday, 22 October 2019<\/h3>\n

\"\"Fisherfolk Sharpen ICT Skills to Ensure Safety at Sea<\/h4>\n

Saint Lucia<\/em> \u2013 A group of over fifteen fishers, staff of the Fisheries Division and fisheries organization representatives participated in the two day Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training workshop\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Finalists named for NTRC icode784 competition<\/h4>\n

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines <\/em>\u2013 The names of the schools and groups that have made it to the finals of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission\u2019s (NTRC)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Julien: eTeck case was a nuisance<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 It was a nusaince. That\u2019s how Emeritus Professor Kenneth Julien described the legal battle he\u2019s been engaged in with the State for the past eight years\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s $400 Million Bond Offering<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Morgan Lewis represented Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) in the transaction\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wednesday, 23 October 2019<\/h3>\n

Bahamas Tech Institute Launches CDB Funded Project<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) yesterday launched its enhancement project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the government to upgrade its facilities\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Inefficiency at best, incompetence at worst<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Dear Editor,\u00a0 I write in my capacity as director of Health Plus Associates. We are a multidisciplinary medical centre located in the Boulevard Supercentre\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

itelbpo nears completion of specialised AI platform<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaican homegrown Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), itelbpo, is nearing completion of its implementation of specialised artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Observe AI, to transform learning and development across the global organisation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Jamaican technology firm enters US market<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaican-founded digital transformation firm Ingenuity Technologies Limited says it has entered the US market and secured its first US customers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Social media and your staff<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 A few weeks ago a staff member of a well-known company posted quite a deplorable tweet, with regards to some actions he planned to take\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tablets in Schools project hits another big snag<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 It appears that the Tablets in Schools (TIS) initiative has hit another hurdle, as reports are now emerging that e-Learning Jamaica has terminated its contract with GeoTechVision, a contractor that was selected to provide the equipment in educational institutions across the country\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

We are not cutting out BPO jobs \u2013 Gloria Henry<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 President of the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) Gloria Henry has said that despite all the talk of the 4th Industrial Revolution and the changing nature of work, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector for many years to come will continue to be a viable entity. This will be ensured by retooling and preparing segments of the sector to upscale\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday, 24 October 2019<\/h3>\n

UB Agrees Deal For Digital Survey<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 A CONTRACT was signed yesterday by a government official and the University of the Bahamas to allow UB to conduct a survey to gather information that the government will use to measure the progress and success of digitisation in the public service\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

#BTEditorial \u2013 High internet prices limit access and retard growth<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 We again find ourselves compelled to address yet another aspect of the high cost of doing business in Barbados that is retarding needed efforts to revitalise a long-ailing domestic economy through home-grown investment\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital cash on the horizon<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Local officials believe digital currencies will replace hard cash in the future, insisting that it will create an opportunity for more people to have access to financial systems and services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Innovation is key<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Policymakers in Barbados are being called on to urgently attend to outstanding issues impacting on the ease of doing business here in order to attract more investment and to grow the international business sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thieves burning cable for copper<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Cable thieves are back on the prowl, and Barbadians are being urged to report any suspicious activity to the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital markets, funding and payment services in British Virgin Islands<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 i Crowdfunding The recent amendments to the FMSA appear designed to cover crowdfunding, and a Class F licence under FMSA would be required to the extent that the activity constitutes P2P, P2B or B2B lending or finance\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Can GTT explain?<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Dear Editor, About three weeks ago I received a phone call from a relative in the US\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

How Mobile Money Is Increasing Financial Stability<\/h4>\n

Haiti<\/em> \u2013 According to a 2014 survey of Latin American countries, 80 percent of Haitians don\u2019t have a bank account\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

GeoTech Vision, E-Learning Jamaica In Dispute Over Tablets In Schools Project<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013\u00a0 Officials at of information technology company GeoTech Vision are livid as it stands to lose some $30 million dollars as a result of the state-owned e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited terminating its contract to supply devices under the Tablets in Schools Project\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Not true<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 GeoTech Vision Enterprises has rejected a claim that the devices it has produced, under a US$16-million deal for the Tablets in Schools project, do not meet the contract requirement, and that this is the basis on which the company’s services are being terminated\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Flow Head Office Temporarily Closed \u2014 Employees Health and Safety is Company\u2019s First Priority<\/h4>\n

Saint Lucia <\/em>\u2013 FLOW Saint Lucia confirms that its Head Office located at Corinth was closed on Friday, October 18th due to air quality concerns\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday, 25 October 2019<\/h3>\n

Businesses may shift to digital following Dorian<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Catastrophic events like Hurricane Dorian may cause some small business owners to reformat their business models to be more digital-based, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) CEO Jeffrey Beckles asserted\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Telecom Tax Matters Still Piled High<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 We also asked the Financial Secretary about the pending matter with a sales tax department audit which alleges that BTL failed to pay 25 million dollars in sales tax\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Innovative Business Lab to be established in BVI by 2020<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 Government will be establishing an Innovative Business Lab in the British Virgin Islands next year\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Arium Health announces agenda of the 1st Latin American Digital Health Congress<\/h4>\n

Dominican Republic <\/em>\u2013 This event will have experts and health and technology authorities that will analyze the challenges of the sector to promote a digital transformation in health\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

SEBI students touted to be practical leaders\u2013GTT CEO<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Chief Executive Officer at GTT, Justin Nedd, has encouraged students of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) to exercise practical leadership styles as they prepare for the world of business\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BPO Job Boom – $3.5b Portmore Investment To Generate Work For 4,500<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 A J$3.5-billion business process outsourcing (BPO) development funded by local investor Gordon Tewani is expected to grow the fastest-emerging sector by more than 12 per cent and provide 4,500 new jobs\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

GeoTechVision requests PM’s intervention in Tablet in Schools contract dispute<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Local ICT company, GeoTechVision, has written to Prime Minister Andrew Holness requesting his intervention following the decision by e-Learning Jamaica to terminate the contract to provide tablet computers under the tablets in schools programme\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Telecoms players encouraged to expand Internet reach<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 MINISTER of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams has called on players in the telecommunications industry to expand their Internet reach so that services can be readily accessed by more Jamaicans in the rural area\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Southern Caribbean Fiber Wins Multi-Million Dollar Contract to Connect Montserrat By Summer 2020<\/h4>\n

Montserrat<\/em> \u2013 The Government of Montserrat through the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth (CIPREG) today signed a landmark multi-million-dollar deal with Southern Caribbean Fiber (SCF), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digicel Group, for the installation of a new subsea fibre optic cable system… more<\/a><\/p>\n

UWI And FLOW Launch Partnership<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles and Country Manager (Barbados), Flow, Jenson Sylvester have signed an agreement, formally launching the partnership which has led to UWItv being accessible on Flow channels across the Caribbean\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saturday, 26 October 2019<\/h3>\n

\"\"Bahamas\u2019 central bank to experiment with CBDCs on Abaco islands<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 At Counsellors Limited\u2019s Exuma Business Outlook event on October 25, Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, John Rolle, announced that it would be considering early experimentation with Project Sand Dollar, the Bahamas\u2019\u00a0CBDC<\/a>\u00a0project, in the Abaco islands\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Bahamas to Release Fiat Digital Currency to Counter Cash<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBOB) is planning to release its own fiat digital currency in order to ensure economies\u2019 resilience in the event of a natural disaster\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Flow introduces new digital facility<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Flow, Barbados leading telecommunications provider, in keeping with its commitment to providing improved customer experience has introduced a new way for customers to schedule installations for its new fixed service bundles\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

GPL submarine cable back in operation<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) on Saturday announced that its 69,000 volt (69kV) submarine cable is back in operation following the successful completion of remedial works\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sunday, 27 October 2019<\/h3>\n

YOUTH WARNED TO BE CYBER SMART<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Students of the Combermere School recently were brought up to scratch on how they could be cyber smart, by engaging in strategic practices to ensure that they remain safe, while using the Internet\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

E-commerce gurus take stage at CONNECTECOMM 2019<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 CoolMarket, Jamaica’s largest and most trusted digital marketplace, hosted CONNECTECOMM 2019, the premier ecommerce conference in Jamaica, last Wednesday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW SMARTPHONE PROBLEM<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Dear Claudienne, On September 3, 2018, I purchased a smartphone from a FLOW dealer in Red Hills Mall on Red Hills Road\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

The social media challenge<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 As in much of the rest of the world, the experience and opportunities of social media have captivated the widening population of users here\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credits: (rawpixel.com (<\/i>Pexels<\/a>); \u00a0<\/i>Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0<\/i>Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0<\/i>Wikipedia<\/a>: \u00a0Belize Web<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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