{"id":151802,"date":"2020-04-13T06:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T11:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=151802"},"modified":"2020-04-12T16:15:20","modified_gmt":"2020-04-12T21:15:20","slug":"roundup-week-12-april-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2020\/04\/roundup-week-12-april-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 12 April 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 6 April to Sunday 12 April 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday, 6 April 2020<\/h3>\n

Digicel reconnects customers, extends payment deadlines during curfew<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Digicel (Barbados) is working to keep its customers connected during this COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Education Ministry assessing if students have the tools to access online classrooms from home<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands<\/em> \u2013 The Ministry of Education will be conducting a territory-wide evaluation to determine how well students will be able to access online classroom platforms while schools remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

GTT workers take COVID-19 induced pay cuts<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) says it will be cutting salaries temporarily in an effort to ensure the country\u2019s largest telecommunications company survives the \u201cturbulent times during the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Ministry of Education, Digicel team up to offer subsidized data plan for teachers, students<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 In light of the continued home-schooling efforts due to the impact of COVID-19, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Digicel Jamaica have joined forces to offer increased access to the internet through the provision of a subsidised data plan and zero-rated data access to frequently used learning platforms and websites\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Agenda: Denis O\u2019Brien will pay later for the time bought now<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Denis O\u2019Brien has mastered the art of buying time, cheaply\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Digicel restructuring plan aims to cut debt by $1.7B<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 Digicel Group has issued a new restructuring plan intended to cut its debt burden by as much as US$1.7 billion\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW enabling students to benefit from Virtual Learning Platform<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Students in Anguilla and across the Caribbean can benefit from the Flow Study programme free of charge, from now to June 15\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TUTTA: TT not ready for CXC e-testing, consider 2021<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Though the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) postponed its traditional May\/June exams to July and announced plans to roll out the exams digitally \u2013 in light of the covid19 pandemic \u2013 president of the TT Unified Teachers Association (TUTTA) Antonia DeFreitas questions this country\u2019s readiness for e-testing\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tuesday, 7 April 2020<\/h3>\n

Cable Bahamas Group sees\u00a0\u2018significant\u2019 demand for data across fixed and wireless networks<\/h4>\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 \u00a0The Cable Bahamas Group\u2019s top executive said yesterday there has been a \u2018significant\u2019 increase in demand for data across its fixed and wireless networks since the COVID-19 restrictions came into effect\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable Bahamas Teams For Cash Bill Payments<\/h4>\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Cable Bahamas has teamed with a Bahamian money transmission services provider to enable customers to pay their REV bills in cash during the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/www.bahamaslocal.com\"Cable Bahamas temporarily lays off 96 workers<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Cable Bahamas Group today announced that it will temporarily lay-off 96 employees in response to the economic fall-out from the COVID-19 global pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Lloyd Urges Online Learning As Schools Set To Stay Closed<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd has said schools will not open until the competent authority gives approval as he urged parents to ensure students are registered for online learning\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cultivating community online: YEP adapts to pandemic<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands<\/em> \u2013 Though the Youth Empowerment Programme has shut its doors as part of territory-wide efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, it remains committed to the approximately 130 children enrolled in the after-school programme\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Growth & Jobs | Ricardo Allen: Revolutionising Online Education<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 WHEN RICARDO Allen declined his Fulbright Scholarship, little did he know he would be helping to further the educational development and achievement of thousands of secondary-school students across the Caribbean by creating One on One Educational Services Limited\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Parliament creates history – holds first virtual meeting<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 The Jamaican Parliament made history today (April 7), with its first virtual parliamentary meeting, using the remote conferencing platform, Zoom\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cybersecurity takeaways as COVID-19 outbreak grows<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 As a result of the COVID19 outbreak, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting organizations that now have more remote workers and fewer IT and security staff ready to detect and mitigate attacks and intrusions\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel aims to slash debt burden<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel is aiming to shave $1.7 billion off its $7 billion debt burden through a debt restructuring which could eventually result in creditors owning nearly half the company\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Government to spend $4 million on computer tablets for students<\/h4>\n

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines <\/em>\u2013 FOUR MILLION dollars of a Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which will be debated in Parliament today, will go towards buying computer tablets for students\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TelEm Group taking corporate citizenship serious during Coronavirus emergency<\/h4>\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 -TelEm Group said it is taking its corporate citizenship seriously during the ongoing coronavirus emergency\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wednesday, 8 April 2020<\/h3>\n

100,000 Students in The Bahamas served with virtual Education; Minister\u2019s remarks<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Today, I update this Honourable House and the nation of the progress by the Ministry of Education is delivering \u2018live\u2019 instructions, making educational resources available, and assisting parents, teachers, administrators and all stakeholders in the execution of the online educational system that is now full steam in the Bahamas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital payments provider sees COVID-19 spike<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 A Bahamian digital payments provider says it has seen a significant spike in transactions on its platform and downloads of its application in recent weeks\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Hundreds Lose Jobs As Cable Bahamas And John Bull Shut Shops<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas yesterday confirmed the temporary lay-off of almost 100 staff as its top executive revealed that major corporate clients are warning “daily” they may stop using its services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Layoffs at Cable Bahamas, Aliv<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Cable Bahamas Group of Companies\u00a0announced in a statement yesterday that\u00a0almost 80 Rev employees and 20 Aliv employees have been let go from the company as a result of the economic impact of the\u00a0coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in The Bahamas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Ministry of Education designing platform for internet-deprived and device-challenged students<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Ministry of Education (MOE) in collaboration with its providers, Aliv and BTC, is designing a platform to allow internet-deprived students, or device-challenged students, to access internet capability, get devices, and alternatively view lessons on two dedicated Cable Channels that will be populated with the appropriate content for their use\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BACK ONLINE<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Supermarkets are restarting operations today, but will not be allowing in-supermarket shopping\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"GTT staffer in quarantine after displaying \u201cCOVID-19 symptom\u201d on the job<\/h4>\n

Guyana<\/em> \u2013 After displaying at least one symptom, consistent with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) staffer has been placed in a quarantine setting\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel launches Education Plan to further support e-Learning options<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 In keeping with its pledge to keep everyone connected during Jamaica\u2019s response to Coronavirus, Digicel has introduced the 14-day Education Plan – giving students access to their schools\u2019 virtual learning sites from the safety and comfort of their homes\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Announces Extension Of Consent Solicitation Expiration Date<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Finance Limited (“DIFL”) and Digicel Holdings (Bermuda) Limited (“Holdings,” and together with DIFL, the “Issuers”) today announced the extension of the expiration date of the consent solicitation (the “Consent Solicitation”) seeking consents to effect certain proposed amendments (the “Proposed Amendments”) to the indenture governing the existing 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 co-issued by the Issuers (the “Existing DIFL Notes”)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TSTT seeing 40% hike in broadband demand<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Homes into offices. Homes into classrooms. Homes into entertainment centres\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday, 9 April 2020<\/h3>\n

\"\"CaribNOG and ARIN launch “COVID-19 and the Caribbean Internet” webinar series<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 With many organisations now mandating that employees work from home amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, millions around the world are seeing major disruptions to their daily routines\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

COVID-19 fight: Digicel keeps Cuban medics in Barbados connected<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Digicel (Barbados) donated 105 SIM cards to the Cuban health professionals who recently arrived in Barbados to stop the spread of COVID-19\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

COVID-19 crisis proves the internet is indeed a Caribbean right<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 The coronavirus pandemic has, in the most emphatic way, shown us all just how interconnected everything and everyone is\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Education continues in OECS Member States as educators facilitate and support at home learning<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 As countries around the world adjust to a new normal with social distancing and self quarantines, the Education Ministries of the Member States of the OECS in collaboration with the Education Development Management Unit (EDMU) and the OECS\/USAID Early Learners Programme (ELP) are activating programmes to support students while at home\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

400 teachers being trained to administer lessons online to students<\/h4>\n

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines \u2013 At least 400 teachers are being trained locally to administer lessons online to students who will have to remain at home due to COVID-19\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

High school students receive tablets and Wifi routers for home studies<\/h4>\n

Sint Maarten<\/em> \u2013 Students from the two Lyc\u00e9es in Marigot and Cit\u00e9 Scolaire in La Savane have received a significant amount of digital materials to assist them in their studies at home during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TelEm Group reactivating expired Prepaid customers, adding credit to depleted accounts.<\/h4>\n

Sint Maarten<\/em> \u2013 TelEm Group is helping its Prepaid customers whose accounts have expired by restoring their prepaid balance and reactivating their mobile accounts\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel changes network identifier during COVID-19<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Hundreds of thousands of Digicel mobile users are now seeing \u2018Stay Safe\u2019 at the top of their screens as the company has changed its network identifier in light of COVID-19\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday, 10 April 2020<\/h3>\n

I urge GTT to reconsider the pay cuts<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Dear Editor, That announcement from GTT about a pay cut leaves a bad taste in the mouth and all over\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Carib NOG and ARIN launch \u201cCOVID-19 and the Caribbean Internet\u201d webinar series<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 With many organisations now mandating that employees work from home amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, millions around the world are seeing major disruptions to their daily routines\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"CSEC Students access free online Math Programme with bmobile\u2019s help<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Over 20,000 students, who will be writing the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics examinations across Trinidad and Tobago, will be provided with free online mathematics revision through a partnership between bmobile and local NGO, Restore A Sense of I Can (RSC)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saturday, 11 April 2020<\/h3>\n

No 5G in Barbados<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 There are no 5G stations in operation in Barbados\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CTU: No 5G, COVID-19 link<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) has weighed in on the debate about whether the next generation of wireless technology, 5G networks, is fueling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, insisting that there is no link\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sunday, 12 April 2020<\/h3>\n

BPO Worry – Workers Scared After Colleague Tests Positive For COVID-19<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Call-centre workers employed to a business process outsourcing (BPO) outfit are now concerned following the announcement that one member of staff has tested positive for COVID-19, triggering fear across its Portmore and Kingston locations\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Respect The Digital Algorithm<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 When I speak on this topic, I must admit that almost always, I get a stuttered response from a baby boomer: \u201cW-Wait, what\u2019s what?\u201d \u2026more<\/a><\/p>\n

Open schools online: Catholic Archbishop wants classes to resume<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 NO child will be left behind\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Teachers, principals, Garcia clash over ‘data collection’ drive<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 THE TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) has said its recent response to requests made by the Education Ministry was not \u201ccombative\u201d as claimed by Education Minister Anthony Garcia\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TSTT: Deferring customers payments ‘complex matter’<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 THE national lockdown over the covid19 pandemic has led to a surge in online activity for which TSTT has had to respond to by upgrading its infrastructure, the company said on Thursday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credits: (Mick Baker)rooster<\/a> (flickr); \u00a0Brands of the World<\/a>; \u00a0Bahamas Local<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Guyana\u00a0<\/a><\/em>Chronicle; \u00a0CaribNOG<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

————-<\/p>\n

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