{"id":169758,"date":"2024-01-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=169758"},"modified":"2024-01-14T11:01:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T16:01:13","slug":"roundup-for-the-week-ending-14-january-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2024\/01\/roundup-for-the-week-ending-14-january-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 14 January 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 January to Sunday 14 January 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday, 8 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FTX real estate sell-off can\u2019t cover $256m debt<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The sell-off of FTX\u2019s high-end properties \u201cwill not be sufficient\u201d to fully repay the $256.3m debt owed to\u00a0the crypto exchange\u2019s Bahamian subsidiary, it has been asserted\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FTX US chief feared $9bn Bahamas \u2018risk\u2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 FTX\u2019s US chief has admitted he feared a \u201crisk\u201d that the crypto exchange\u2019s Bahamian liquidators \u201ccould be awarded material\u201d sums on their $9bn-plus claim if he failed to settle their dispute\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Amazon.com Shipped Directly To My door in Jamaica, Finally!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 I don\u2019t know about anyone else but I\u2019ve never gone to Amazon.com, had it detect my Kingston, Jamaica location, ask me if I want to have my stuff delivered to an address there, accept my Jamaican address, then asked me for my Passport or TRN so it can handle customs clearance fees, then when I have my things in my Cart go over the Jamaican Government allowed US$50, it calculates the Jamaican customs rate, when it\u2019s below, there is no customs fee, then add its global delivery charge, accepts my Jamaican bank Visa Debit Card as Payment. Then for delivery, tells me me it will take 2 1\/2 weeks then delivers my packages within a week to my door\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary schools next phase of ICT push by Education Ministry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Ministry of Education and Youth is to introduce technology labs in primary schools in the next phase of its ongoing drive to build out information and communications technology (ICT) across the education sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ransomware\u2019s Ripple Effect<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 On December 29, 2023, The US Sun published an article, \u201cHACKED IN \u2018My hand was shaking,\u2019 Citibank customer says as $65,000 wiped from accounts after his cell phone SIM card was swapped.\u201d The author described the experience of a Kai Chin, a Citibank customer whose Personal Identifiable Information (PII) was obtained from the dark web by fraudsters. Kai Chin\u2019s bank account was depleted of US $65,000 after fraudsters swapped his cell phone SIM and stole the contents of his account via wire transfer\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuesday, 9 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fintech Islands Experience (FiX) Leading the Region\u2019s Charge in Financial Technology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Fintech industry leaders from all over the world will gather at the Sam Lord\u2019s Castle Wyndham Grand Barbados from January 24\u201326, 2024, for the second edition of Fintech Islands Experience (FiX). FiX24 is gearing up to be bigger and better than the inaugural conference held in 2022, with over 700 fintech professionals, start-up founders, financial regulators, policymakers, and more who are set to participate in this landmark gathering\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route engineering set to start for TAM-1 Caribbean submarine cable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Trans Americas Fiber System is set to kick off the route engineering stage for TAM-1, a submarine cable linking Florida to Central America and the Caribbean, cable builder Xtera said\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica\u2019s Education Ministry Fosters Digital Skills with Tech Labs in Primary Schools<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth is making strides to integrate Information and Communications Technology (ICT) comprehensively into its education sector. Minister Fayval Williams announced the introduction of technology labs in primary schools as an initiative to instill critical digital age skills from an early age\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Should Improve at Homestead Primary with Smart Room<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 With the establishment of a smart room, learning should improve at the Homestead Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union ready to tackle other issues after TSTT CFO\u2019s firing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 The Communications Workers Union (CWU) says it is ready to move on from last week’s sacking of Shiva Ramnarine as Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) chief financial officer (CFO) and is focused on improving the company for the sake of customers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday, 10 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

RBC Royal Bank to halt online fees and reimburse customers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 RBC Royal Bank, the lone commercial bank that was charging customers for transactions done via the automated clearing house (ACH), will cease doing so and also refund those who have been charged\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean Netherlands and other island nations see digital transformation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Digital transformation initiatives among Caribbean islands are seeing success. A program line for digital development in the Caribbean Netherlands has reached its one year mark\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEADLINE EXTENDED \u2013 OECS Global Startup Hub February 2024 cohort<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean<\/em> \u2013 The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, in partnership with Draper University and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), has relaunched the OECS Global Startup Hub for a second cohort\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fintech Islands 2024 \u2013 All you need to know<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean<\/em> \u2013 Fintech Islands 2024 is poised to be a landmark event in the global fintech landscape. Scheduled for January 24-26, this event is set to unfold in the picturesque and historic setting of Sam Lord\u2019s Castle in Barbados\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministry refuses release of study on proposed subsea cable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cayman Islands<\/em> \u2013 The planning and infrastructure ministry has released some documents relating to the proposed new undersea communications cable and the recruitment of the project manager and team, as well as the basics of the CI$1.3 million contract with Cambridge Management Consultants\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘It’s wasting resources’<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 FORMER governor the Central Bank of Barbados DeLisle Worrell has slammed efforts by central banks around the region to establish central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) such as JAM-DEX here in Jamaica saying they are nothing but a waste of time and resources, because “there is no longer any need for currencies of any kind”\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TELEM CEO Advises staff to read the full audit report that was leaked.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 The Chief Executive Officer of TELEM Group of Companies Kendall Dupersoy penned a letter to his staff on Wednesday requesting that they read the full audit report that was leaked to all social media platforms. Below is the memo sent to the staff of TELEM\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TELEM CEO Responds.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 Dear Mr. Editor,\u00a0 I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing in response to the front-page article published in the Daily Herald on January 3, 2024, which referenced a confidential operational audit report of the TelEm Group of Companies\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Trinidad and Tobago be an AI health hub of the Caribbean?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in various industries, and healthcare is no exception\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday, 11 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Artificial intelligence experts to address AI use cases for local businesses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 T<\/strong>wo artificial intelligence (AI) experts are slated to chat with Bahamian businesses on the benefits of using (AI) for day-to-day operations at a micro level for starters, in order to bring efficiency to tasks, a statement on the upcoming AI talk hosted by Plato Alpha Design at Crypto Isle explained\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital evolution drives retail\u2019s transformation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 In the fast-paced realm of business, the evolution of e-commerce has been nothing short of revolutionary. Over the past few decades, technology has transformed the way we shop, ushering in an era where the traditional brick-and-mortar stores are increasingly being complemented, if not replaced, by online retail platforms\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FTX Bahamas properties must fetch \u201880% of value\u2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 All sales of FTX\u2019s 35 high-end Bahamas properties must fetch a price that is \u201cequal to or greater than 80 percent\u201d of their broker-appraised values, it has been revealed\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FTX seeking permission to sell Bahamas properties<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 FTX is hoping to get permission from a Delaware bankruptcy court to sell $222 million in luxury real estate once owned by the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, a Law360 article released Friday said\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FTX submits revised proposal to liquidate Bahamas properties<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 FTX has submitted a revised proposal, bolstered by an agreement with Bahamian joint official liquidators of FTX Digital Markets, to a Delaware bankruptcy court in a bid to sell $222 million in luxury real estate across 35 different units, once owned by the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, a court document filed in US bankruptcy court yesterday revealed\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Target data storage for Bahamas AI growth<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 A Bahamian software developer yesterday said data storage represents the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) related growth area that this nation can exploit for economic advantage\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online appointments to cut waiting time at public hospitals \u2013 Health Minister<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony has announced that his ministry is currently narrowing down proposals submitted to facilitate the digitalization of the country\u2019s health sector, as well as implementing online appointments that will significantly cut down waiting time at the public hospitals. The appointments will be done through a mobile app\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Holness Lauds Digicel Founder, Denis O\u2019Brien<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed Digicel founder, Denis O\u2019Brien, for his role in establishing the company that has grown to be a major operator in Jamaica\u2019s telecommunications landscape\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Denis O\u2019Brien is the greatest entrepreneur the Caribbean has ever seen<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 On Tuesday night at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston, a reception and farewell was held for the founder and Chairman of Digicel, Denis O\u2019Brien\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday, 12 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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‘You need to pay’<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 DIGICEL chairman Denis O’Brien has called again for over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Google\/YouTube, WhatsApp, Netflix and Facebook to be made to share a portion of revenues generated in the region with the telecommunication networks on which their services are accessed. O’Brien, who is scheduled to retire as chairman in two weeks, when he will take up a non-executive directorship, reiterated the call at a glitzy retirement party held for him at the AC Hotel Kingston Tuesday night, saying if they are not made to pay, the telco will not invest in 5G technology\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TTCSIRT Manager passes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Angus Smith, Manager of the TT Cyber Security Incident Response Team has passed according to a note posted on the TTCSIRT website\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday, 13 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite cyberattack, QEH official praises benefits of \u2018technology boost\u2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Although acknowledging that a cyberattack over a year ago disrupted services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), a senior official has stressed the importance of transitioning the healthcare facility into the digital age\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday, 14 January 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Mastercard forecasts stable inflation in Latin America, but Central America, Caribbean may be vulnerable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Caribbean <\/em>\u2013 Mastercard, in its yearly economic outlook, is predicting a deceleration in inflation across Latin America from 6.0 per cent in 2023 to 4.9 per cent year in 2024. It, however, forecasts that the economies of Central America and the Caribbean will be more vulnerable this year from the slowdown in the US economy due to weaker exports and lower remittances\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gov\u2019t to use facial recognition to track criminals \u2013 Jagdeo<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Guyana<\/em> \u2013 Vice President,\u00a0 Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said that the government\u00a0 is working on a biometric project that will allow the authorities to use facial recognition software to track people with criminal records and pinpoint their exact location at any given time\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Images credit: Freepik<\/a>; Fintech Islands<\/a>; Telem Group<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a>; Wikimedia Commons<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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