A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 11 May to Sunday 17 May 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Monday, 11 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Digital Provider Handles 20% Of Nib Payments<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 A digital payments provider says it is now handling 20 percent of COVID-19 benefits payouts on behalf of the National Insurance Board (NIB)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tech donors urged to contact Ministry of Education<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Companies and individuals seeking to donate devices for the Google G Suite Tech Drive for Education Project should liaise with the Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), or Haigh Communications Inc. the public relations firm retained to assist with the project\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Can Digi and Smart rebound from COVID-19?<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 A report released this week discusses the long-term forecast for the survival of Belize\u2019s telecoms industry after more than a decade of upheaval\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Distance learning in the COVID-19 age<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 As the debate escalates as to whether or not online lessons are reaching Jamaica’s most digitally disadvantaged children in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) continues its e-training programme for Jamaican teachers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Flow wires Gov\u2019t Quarantine Facility<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 The C&W Business\/Flow Trinidad teams demonstrated their ability to deliver under challenging conditions as they provided free internet and television services for 62 rooms at the most recent Quarantine Facility at the TTFA Headquarters in Couva\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Tuesday, 12 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Antigua\u2019s UWI Open Campus to lead the way in digital learning<\/h4>\n

Antigua and Barbuda<\/em> \u2013 In plotting the map through sustained online learning \u2013 brought to the fore by the coronavirus pandemic \u2013 the University of the West Indies (UWI) will be depending on its Open Campus for directions\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

EDITORIAL: ONLINE LEARNING PART OF THE NEW NORMAL<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 According to the World Economic Forum, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

The post-COVID-19 classroom<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 As we begin to explore how best to reopen our economy, it behoves our educators, in preparation for the reopening of schools in September for the 2020-21 academic year, to initiate conversations in regard to the implementation of physical distancing and good hygienic practices to safeguard against any further outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus due to community spread in Jamaica\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel\u2019s US$1.7-b debt restructuring deal amounts to default, says Moody\u2019s<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Moody\u2019s, one of the world\u2019s leading credit ratings agencies, is describing Digicel\u2019s plan to wipe away as much as one quarter of its US$7-billion (\u20ac6.5bn) debt through restructuring as defaulting\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital Arts Operator Holds Animation Training Online<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 David Martin is staging online workshops to help persons learn a new skill in animation and the digital arts as they spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Wednesday, 13 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Communications Sector Rebounds From 5-Year Low<\/h4>\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 The Bahamian electronic communications industry recovered from a five-year low in 2018 to grow its total revenues by three percent to $390m in 2019, sector regulators have revealed\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

We \u2018dropped the ball\u2019 on eLearning<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 The country has failed to capitalise on the opportunity presented 25 years ago to make a significant change to teaching methods, a retired principal has said\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Bushlot Library\/ICT Hub destroyed in early morning fire \u2013 arson suspected<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Guyana Fire Service on the West Coast of Berbice is currently investigating a fire that occurred at Bushlot Village\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Iwokrama to use high-tech drones to spot illegal miners<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation says it will be using technology to monitor and catch gold miners and other people engaged in illegal activity in or near the 371,000 hectare (almost one million acre) reserve, in the wake of unauthorised mining that has damaged the forest floor\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW Parent Promises No Disconnections<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Liberty Latin America, the parent company of telecom FLOW, indicated that it will hold prices firm and generally not disconnect customers in arrears for the moment\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

USF Donates ICT Equipment To JCPD<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Universal Service Fund (USF) has donated information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, valued at $1.5 million, to the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), to improve the Council\u2019s communication with its clients\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Thursday, 14 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Online festival<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 There is growing optimism among local promoters and entertainers about the possibility of producing some aspects of the Crop Over festival online including a Soca Monarch Competition or similar event with a different name\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

iConnect launches online marketplace for small businesses, customers<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 A technology solutions provider has launched an online marketplace it says will allow small businesses to be able to connect with potential customers and sell their services to buyers across the Caribbean\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Food leads in digital innovation<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Last month, Food-TT.com, an online aggregator for all the food delivery services in TT was launched \u2013 and within six weeks, has seen over 30,000 unique visits to the site\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Friday, 15 May 2020<\/h3>\n

App To Monitor Those In Self-Isolation<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 THE Ministry of Health has signed a contract for a web and mobile app which will provide a 24-hour monitoring service for those in self-isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Webshops Gearing Up To Challenge Close Order<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Several web shops will take legal action over the sector\u2019s renewed closure as early as Monday if they do not receive the desired response from the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, a prominent QC revealed yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Lotomobil: An Ultra-Modern App; A Unique Opportunity For Haiti<\/h4>\n

Haiti<\/em> \u2013 Lotomobil\u00a0is a new mobile application that aims to revolutionize gambling in Haiti. It makes every experience a chance to win\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

IT experts urge SMEs to utilise productivity apps and tools during COVID-19<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Information technology experts are urging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to utilise productivity software to manage their business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

SmartTerm to offer services for free until new school term<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 With schools closed to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), online learning platform SmartTerm says students and teachers can access the platform at no cost until the start of the new school year, which will begin on September 7\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Data\u2014solution for the elderly, disabled<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 To approach life with any form of accountability, only a structured method of design can be predictable\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Technology boost for health workers<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Health officials will be better placed to continue the battle against Covid-19 thanks to the donation of 20 high-quality laptops from the Calvin Ayre Foundation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Saturday, 16 May 2020<\/h3>\n

\u2013 Nil \u2013<\/p>\n

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Sunday, 17 May 2020<\/h3>\n

FLOW BARBADOS ZERO-RATES MORE THAN FIFTY WEBSITES<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Flow Barbados has zero rated more than 50 websites to facilitate online schooling for students at primary, secondary and tertiary level institutions\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Flow makes online learning easier<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Flow Barbados has zero rated more than 50 websites to facilitate online schooling for students at primary, secondary and tertiary level institutions\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BOJ wants more applications for mobile payment technology<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 As economies remain under lockdown and movement restricted as a result of COVID-19, there has been the growing need for more digital payment technology to access services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

E-Sports \u2013 the new frontier?<\/h4>\n

Guyana \u2013 Has the electronic sports (e-Sports) phenomenon officially arrived in Guyana? This is the firm belief of sports journalist Michelangelo Jacobus, who served as the coordinator of the recent inaugural I-Bet Supreme FIFA 20 \u2018League of Champions\u2019 e-Sports tournament\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

NCEL to launch new online course for principals, vice-principals<\/h4>\n

Jamaica \u2013 The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) is now accepting applications for its Virtual Instructional Leadership (VIL) online course that will be launched within weeks\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Point Fortin mayor launches digital grant<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 MORE than three weeks after Point Fortin Mayor Kennedy Richards Jr placed a video on Facebook announcing the imminent launch of his digital grant initiative, the young councillor made the first disbursement under the programme to ten single mothers from the southern town on Friday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Image credits: rawpixel.com (Pexels<\/a>); \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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