A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 27 March to Sunday 2 April 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday, 27 March 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

E-procurement platform has saved govt $2.6 million, says Halkitis<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Since it launched its new e-procurement platform last November, the government has realized a savings of more than $2.5 million, Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis said\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology to be introduced in social homes to tackle loneliness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 Minister of Health & Social Development Marlon Penn has highlighted that his ministry is exploring ways to improve interactivity for persons in social homes, particularly seniors who remain in isolated spaces to prevent unwanted illnesses such as COVID-19\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altspace, we hardly knew ye<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 It hasn\u2019t been a good month for tech as the fallout from the shrinkage in the US technology sector creates continuing contractions and fractures in a growth surge that seemed unstoppable just a year ago\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crypto revival<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 The current plight of the banks brings back memories of the 2008 financial crisis. Calls for alternatives are getting louder. Bitcoin supporters are feeling encouraged\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica prepares for digital ID awareness campaign, biometric passport rollout<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The government of Jamaica says a sensitization campaign on the implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) will soon begin as a procurement process to that effect is being finalized after the process failed last year. This comes as the country is looking forward to the rollout of its new generation biometric passport from 31 March\u2026 more<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Digicel moves call centre to Jamaica: 126 laid off<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Digicel has retrenched some 126 workers after a decision to move its Trinidad consumer contact centre to a consolidated regional hub in Jamaica\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TSTT CEO tells parents: Do not push your children into traditional fields<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 PARENTS are being advised to encourage their children to pursue careers in technology as opposed to traditional fields\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union challenges Digicel\u2019s firing of 126 workers employees<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Less than a month after Digicel entered a debt restructuring plan, the company has announced plans to lay off 126 employees based in Trinidad and Tobago… more <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuesday, 28 March 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Senate Sitting on Data Protection Bill postponed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Grenada <\/em>\u2013 The Regular Sitting of the Upper House of Parliament or the Senate that was scheduled for 29 March 2023 will not take place. A new date will be announced\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seniors equipped to avoid falling victim to online scams<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 In light of increasing anxieties concerning online frauds as well as other cyberattacks, a group of senior citizens were educated on Saturday on how best to use the Internet and its applications in a safe and responsible way\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bmobile launches offshore plans<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Bmobile yesterday announced the launch of its new Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan and its Maritime Plan, two mobile offerings designed to provide continued connectivity to people and businesses involved in offshore and maritime activity\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

InvestTT offers hope for retrenched Digicel workers\u2014Minister<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Digicel T&T Ltd has made efforts to get the 126 employees who will be retrenched on May 10 introduced to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agents, or businesses that already exist in T&T and are expanding, says Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon… more <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour Minister: Ex-Digicel workers can\u2019t challenge retrenchment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 MINISTER OF LABOUR Stephen Mc Clashie said the 126 retrenched Digicel workers cannot challenge their termination as the process was done in accordance with labour laws\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday, 29 March 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FTX chief hit with fresh $40m bribe accusation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 FTX\u2019s founder was yesterday hit with fresh accusations that he sought to pay a $40m bribe to Chinese officials to obtain the release of more than $1bn in crypto assets frozen by that nation\u2019s authorities\u2026 more<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart Belize celebrates 18th anniversary with Double up, Triple up and giveaways<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Belize<\/em> \u2013 Smart is celebrating 18 years of service, a monumental achievement with double up, triple up and tons of giveaways\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

French regulator awards 5G bands to 8 carriers in Caribbean<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean<\/em> \u2013 France’s telecoms regulator Arcep has assigned 5G spectrum bands to eight mobile carriers in the Caribbean territories of French Guiana, Saint Barth\u00e9lemy and Saint Martin\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Starlink satellites may be visible in Cayman Wednesday<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 A mysterious bright light in the skies over Cayman last month turned out to be SpaceX Starlink satellites. If you missed that, there\u2019s a possibility newly launched Starlink satellites will be visible to local skygazers tomorrow evening, Wednesday, 29 March\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government and GNTA sign MoU<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Grenada <\/em>\u2013 As part of the ongoing thrust for digitisation and economic transformation, the Government of Grenada and the Grenada National Training Agency (GNTA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), to formalise the role of the NTA as the implementing agency for Grenada\u2019s Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), a World Bank funded project\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Bangers\u2019, smartphones can make payments with MyCash app<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Paymaster Jamaica launched its new digital wallet MyCash yesterday (March 28), promising to make electronic transactions possible for all Jamaicans using their handsets, even \u2018banger\u2019 phones, on any network… more <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel joins digital wallet game with MyCash<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em> \u2013 Telecommunications provider Digicel launched its MyCash mobile wallet, with the technology minister lauding such technology one way of countering the risk of carrying cash amid a series of robberies… more <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday, 30 March 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FTX Bahamas liquidators accuse FTX US of violating cooperation agreement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Liquidators for FTX Digital Markets have accused the company\u2019s US arm of violating a cooperation agreement reached back in January as both sides appear locked in a jurisdictional battle regarding the ownership of customer accounts amounting to billions of dollars\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B.T.L. Introduces Digi One!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 This morning at the Biltmore, Belize Telemedia Limited introduced its latest offering, an all-in-one product called Digi One.  It\u2019s a quad play service that includes Internet and television, as well as other features. B.T.L.\u2019s Chief Executive Officer Ivan Tesucum told us more\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding advanced people search<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Finding people has never been easier thanks to the internet and more specifically, due to the widespread popularity of people search websites. With the click of a button, you can find friends or family members you lost touch with years ago, or even locate new acquaintances using these types of online resources\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why your business needs e-mail marketing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 These days social media can be a pretty crazy place behind the scenes. Think about it: Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri have been really changing up Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp every week, making it more confusing as the days pass\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerns about Data Protection Bill founded in \u201cpolitical mischief\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Grenada <\/em>\u2013 Attorney General Claudette Joseph told a town hall meeting that they should not be drawn into empty noises from some people regarding legislation that the Government will put forward to the Houses of Parliament for approval\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nadia Nivens Jarrett\u2014 CHARGE LEADER<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Nadia Nivens Jarrett is the senior marketing manager at fintech firm Lynk. Having served in communications for over 15 years, she now leads the charge as one of several female leaders at Lynk which operates in what is a male-dominated field\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MC Systems inks partnership to strengthen microfinancing industry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 MC Systems (MCS), through its fintech subsidiary Phoenix International, this week signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jamaica Association of Microfinancing (JAMFIN) to bolster the digital capabilities of the local microfinancing industry\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treasure beach and Mountainside get free Wi-Fi service<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 ST JAMES, Jamaica – The communities of Treasure Beach and Mountainside, in St Elizabeth, have been provided with free Wi-Fi service by the Universal Service Fund (USF)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puerto Rico aiming at universal internet coverage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Puerto Rico<\/em> \u2013 Puerto Rico aims to achieve universal internet coverage within five years, allocating \u201ca historic amount of state and federal funds,\u201d governor Pedro Pierluisi said during a presentation before the legislative assembly\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday, 31 March 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Deltec agrees $50m FTX loan resolution<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 The role played by FTX\u2019s former Bahamian chief in arranging a $50m loan to Deltec Bank & Trust\u2019s parent company yesterday came under scrutiny through fresh legal filings\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FTX\u2019s Bahamas liquidators slam \u2018inflammatory\u2019 claims<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 FTX\u2019s Bahamian liquidators yesterday slammed their US counterparts for \u201cbizarre\u201d and \u201cinflammatory\u201d claims while they themselves were accused of seeking to \u201ctorpedo\u201d the Chapter 11 proceedings for the failed crypto exchange\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JPLs fire back at FTX US<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 The joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) overseeing the winding up of cryptocurrency exchange FTX Digital Markets yesterday fired back at FTX\u2019s US debtors, who are seeking to strip them of any claim or access to FTX\u2019s assets\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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OKX to turn over frozen assets in FTX bankruptcy case<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cryptocurrency exchange OKX revealed in a statement yesterday that it will turn over to FTX debtors $157 million in frozen assets on its exchange that are linked to bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX and cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Digital Connect Center to support MSMEs inaugurated in Corozal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 \u041en \u041c\u0430r\u0441h 28, 2023, th\u0435 G\u043ev\u0435rnm\u0435nt \u043ef \u0412\u0435l\u0456z\u0435, thr\u043eugh th\u0435 \u0412\u0435l\u0456z\u0435 \u0422r\u0430d\u0435 \u0430nd \u0406nv\u0435\u0455tm\u0435nt D\u0435v\u0435l\u043e\u0440m\u0435nt \u0405\u0435rv\u0456\u0441\u0435 (\u0412\u0415L\u0422R\u0410\u0406D\u0415), und\u0435r th\u0435 \u0412u\u0456ld\u0456ng R\u0435\u0455\u0456l\u0456\u0435nt \u041c\u0405\u041c\u0415\u2019\u0455 \u0410\u0441\u0441\u0435l\u0435r\u0430t\u0456ng D\u0456g\u0456t\u0456z\u0430t\u0456\u043en \u0420r\u043e\u0458\u0435\u0441t w\u0456th \u0430 v\u0430lu\u0435 \u043ef U\u0405D$360,000.00 fund\u0435d b\u0443 th\u0435 Un\u0456t\u0435d N\u0430t\u0456\u043en\u0455 D\u0435v\u0435l\u043e\u0440m\u0435nt \u0420r\u043egr\u0430mm\u0435 (UND\u0420), \u043e\u0440\u0435n\u0435d \u0456t\u0455 \u0455\u0435\u0441\u043end D\u0456g\u0456t\u0430l \u0421\u043enn\u0435\u0441t \u0421\u0435nt\u0435r \u0430t th\u0435 \u0421\u043er\u043ez\u0430l \u0420ubl\u0456\u0441 L\u0456br\u0430r\u0443 \u0456n \u0421\u043er\u043ez\u0430l \u0422\u043ewn\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cenerva and University of Strathclyde Partner to Offer MSc in Communications, Technology Policy & Strategy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Cenerva, a leading international telecoms consultancy, and Strathclyde University, a world-renowned academic institution, announce a new partnership to offer an MSc in Communications, Technology Policy & Strategy. This cutting-edge programme will equip students with the practical knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the dynamic and evolving telecoms sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel bondholders given more time to strike deal as grace period extended<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Bondholders involved in a deal to reduce the debt of Denis O\u2019Brien\u2019s Digicel by taking an equity stake in the business have been given more time to reach a final agreement, the company said in an update on Friday… more <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel clears key hurdle in debt restructuring<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Denis O\u2019Brien\u2019s Digicel said on Friday it has managed to secure backing from two key groups of creditors to advance a massive debt restructuring that would see $1.8 billion (\u20ac1.66 billion) of borrowings written off and the businessman\u2019s stake fall as low as 10 per cent… more<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huawei calls for acceleration of 5G roll-out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Huawei is calling for regional governments to consider giving away the spectrum on which 5G operates to encourage telecom providers to accelerate investments in the technology for faster economic growth\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gov\u2019t committed to boosting cyber resilience \u2013 PM<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday underlined the Government\u2019s commitment to supporting investments to strengthen Guyana\u2019s cyber resilience as it looks towards ICTs to facilitate the country\u2019s transformation\u2026 more<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital transformation has to be CEO-driven, says Hylton<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaica\u2019s largest banking group has grown its loan portfolio sevenfold since the start of its journey towards digital transformation in 2015\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday, 1 April 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Huawei revenues increase in region despite global fall in profits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean<\/em> \u2013 Huawei’s revenues have increased in the Americas and in TT, despite the global company showing a decrease in profits by more than half, amid heavy US sanctions and restrictions\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday, 2 April 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remittance via digital wallets top US$1m year to date<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Nearly eight thousand remittance transactions have been recorded since the start of this year via two digital wallets approved so far by the Bank of Jamaica, the central bank has said\u2026 more<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Images credit: Ono Kosuki (Pexels<\/a>); Wikimedia Commons<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a>; Wikimedia Commons<\/a>; MC Systems<\/a>; Wikimedia Commons<\/a>; Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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