{"id":168552,"date":"2023-06-14T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=168552"},"modified":"2023-06-17T19:45:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T00:45:18","slug":"ictp-256-the-new-digital-landscape-and-caribbean-fiction-e-government-in-the-caribbean-and-becoming-a-cashless-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2023\/06\/ictp-256-the-new-digital-landscape-and-caribbean-fiction-e-government-in-the-caribbean-and-becoming-a-cashless-society\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 256: The new digital landscape and Caribbean Fiction, e-government in the Caribbean, and becoming a cashless society"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>In our June 2023 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Communications Strategist, Liselle Yorke, and Tech Consultant, Amit Uttamchandani, the panel discusses: What does the new digital landscape mean for Caribbean fiction? e-Government, and the delivery of government services online in the Caribbean, and What will it take for the Caribbean to become a cashless society?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1539430465&#038;color=%23ff5500&#038;auto_play=false&#038;hide_related=false&#038;show_comments=true&#038;show_user=true&#038;show_reposts=false&#038;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" title=\"ICT Pulse Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICT Pulse Podcast<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\/ictp-256-the-new-digital\" title=\"ICTP 256: The new digital landscape and Caribbean Fiction, e-government in the Caribbean, and becoming a cashless society\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICTP 256: The new digital landscape and Caribbean Fiction, e-government in the Caribbean, and becoming a cashless society<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This episode is also available on <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SoundCloud<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9pY3QtcHVsc2UtcG9kY2FzdC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Google Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/3d0U4ZYX80e5lenYLdzyX4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/3f727ec1-de7d-416f-8bdc-31d9a911a09e\/ict-pulse-podcast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon Music<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The extent to which we, as individuals, and the societies in which we live have been leveraging technology is a discussion that emerges regularly and often takes a variety of forms. Although we may all appreciate the power of ICT and the internet for example, and the ways in which it has transformed how we live and work, in the Caribbean region, if one is prepared to delve beneath the surface, there is often a disconnect between that appreciation and how we actually use technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this month\u2019s Community Chat, the above seems to be an underlying theme across the three topics discussed. In other words, to what degree are we being proactive to advance areas or issues that are (or should be) important to us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing our guests and the topics discussed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"147289\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2019\/03\/ictp-047-digital-increasing-access-tech-projects-caribbean\/liselle-yorke-l-yorke\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?fit=629%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"629,640\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Liselle Yorke (L Yorke)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Liselle Yorke&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?fit=295%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?fit=629%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?resize=300%2C305&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-147289\" width=\"300\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?w=629&amp;ssl=1 629w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Liselle-Yorke-L-Yorke.jpeg?resize=295%2C300&amp;ssl=1 295w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Liselle Yorke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/liselleyorke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>Liselle Yorke<\/strong><\/a> is a mission-driven Communications Strategist with a deep commitment to sustainable solutions that benefit underserved communities. Based in the U.S., she has written about harnessing ICT for innovation in developing economies. She has 20 years of experience developing and executing communication strategies for non-profit organisations, with a particular focus on financial inclusion and social development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Liselle has also consulted with and provided pro bono communications support to various organisations in the Washington, D.C. area, including the Institute of Caribbean Studies and the University of the West Indies Alumni Association. She earned her master\u2019s degree in communications at Howard University and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of the West Indies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"157975\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/amit-uttamchandani-a-uttamchandani\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?fit=534%2C534&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"534,534\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Amit Uttamchandani (A Uttamchandani)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Amit Uttamchandani&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?fit=534%2C534&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-157975\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?w=534&amp;ssl=1 534w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Amit-Uttamchandani-A-Uttamchandani.jpeg?resize=440%2C440&amp;ssl=1 440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Amit Uttamchandani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With over 15 years of experience in business and ICT-related roles, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amituttamchandani\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>Amit Uttamchandani<\/strong><\/a> is an experienced Tech Consultant and is based in Barbados. He has worked across the Caribbean in various industries including technology, insurance, construction, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, government and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amit is also a part-time Citizen Journalist and Data Analyst, and is the writer behind CaribbeanSignal.com, where he writes data-driven articles on topics that often are rarely discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The topics discussed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\">\n<li><strong>What does the new digital landscape mean for Caribbean fiction?<\/strong> &nbsp;Digital technology has transformed the book publishing industry, expanding opportunities for authors to share their work and treating readers to fresh perspectives and narratives. In fact, during the pandemic U.S. book sales even grew. Although we don\u2019t have similar data for Caribbean fiction, there could be similar potential for growth. We thus explore how Caribbean fiction authors are tapping into these opportunities and the challenges they still face to publish and market their books.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>e-Government, and the delivery of government services online in the Caribbean<\/strong>. To varying degrees and for nearly 20 years, Caribbean Governments have been trying to advance electronic (e-)government, with arguably, limited success. With the pandemic, there was an expectation that e-government would have accelerated. Instead, the deficiencies became even more evident, and in some instances, there was a sense that governments had become less efficient than they had been before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What will it take for the Caribbean to become a cashless society?<\/strong> &nbsp;With the thrust towards digital currencies, national identification systems across the region, digital wallets, and digital forms of payment the Caribbean region seems to be moving towards becoming more cashless. However, that transition seems to be painfully slow, which suggests that there may be factors and concerns that have not been adequately addressed. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>&nbsp;pages, or via Twitter,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@ICTPulse<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode,&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>do get in touch<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Let\u2019s make it happen!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/liselleyorke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Liselle York<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/amituttamchandani\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Amit Uttamchandani<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trinidad and Tobago Guardian article, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guardian.co.tt\/article\/the-caribbean-book-clubchampioning-regional-writers-6.2.1717168.fee3ed7da2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>The Caribbean Book Club\u2013championing regional writers<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caribbean Book Club&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/937896063300811\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/caribbeanbookclub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RebelWomen Lit&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rebelwomenlit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Website<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/rebelwomenlit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bookofcinz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Book of Cinz\/Caribbean Girl Reading The World<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/herewereadforfun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Here We Read for Fun<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/calabashfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Calabash International Literary Festival<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bocaslitfest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Bocas Lit Fest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/desapublications.un.org\/publications\/un-e-government-survey-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">United Nations e-Government Survey 2022<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jamaica Observer article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamaicaobserver.com\/business\/cashless-society-underpinned-by-technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Cashless society \u2014 underpinned by technology<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode, <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3M9O0ub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>ICTP 251:&nbsp; Digital payment fraud, with Eldred F Garcia of First Atlantic Commerce<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/M-Pesa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">M-PESA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Images credit:&nbsp; L Yorke;&nbsp; A Uttamchandani; Andrea Piacquadio (<a href=\"http:\/\/pexels.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Pexels<\/a>);  CardMapr.nl (<a href=\"http:\/\/unsplash.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Unsplash<\/a>);  Seven Shooter (<a href=\"http:\/\/unsplash.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Unsplash<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Ch\u00e9rie), by Andy Narrell<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Podcast editing support:&nbsp; Mayra Bonilla Lopez<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our June 2023 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Communications Strategist, Liselle Yorke, and Tech Consultant, Amit Uttamchandani, the panel discusses: What does the new digital landscape mean for Caribbean fiction? e-Government, and the delivery of government services online in the Caribbean, and What will it take for the Caribbean to become a cashless society?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":168555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[355],"tags":[71,324,305,60,358,359],"class_list":["post-168552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-businesses","tag-digital-currencies","tag-digital-economy","tag-e-government","tag-financial-technology","tag-panel-discussion","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\/2023\/06\/Featured-Image-%E2%80%93-Community-Chat-No-6-of-2023.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-HQA","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168552","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=168552"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168570,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168552\/revisions\/168570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}