{"id":3795,"date":"2012-05-07T05:53:08","date_gmt":"2012-05-07T10:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=3795"},"modified":"2012-05-07T05:54:09","modified_gmt":"2012-05-07T10:54:09","slug":"roundup-for-the-week-ending-6-may-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2012\/05\/roundup-for-the-week-ending-6-may-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 6 May 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a roundup of the ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 30 April to Sunday 6 May 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n

Monday, 30 April 2012\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/thurm\/\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

\u2013 nil \u2013<\/p>\n

Tuesday, 1 May 2012<\/h3>\n

US$100,000 grants available for innovative Caribbean business ideas<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 If you have an innovative business idea, here is your opportunity to secure up to US$100,000 in grant funding. Compete Caribbean is inviting applicants from the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora in the USA, Canada and the UK to apply for the Caribbean Idea Marketplace (CIM). Successful applicants can receive the above mentioned funding to develop their innovative projects\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CARICOM: Secretary General Advocates for One Regional Information Technology Space<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque continued his busy round of meetings in Washington DC, USA on Wednesday holding discussions with the World Bank, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Organisation of American States (OAS)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

ITU seeks next generation of social entrepreneurs<\/h4>\n

Switzerland <\/em>\u2013 ITU has launched the second edition of its Young Innovators Competition, giving young, talented social entrepreneurs the opportunity to attend its key global networking and knowledge sharing event, ITU Telecom World 2012, and the chance to win funding, mentorship and ongoing support…more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 2 May 2012<\/h3>\n

URCA\u2008blocks FNM\u2008ad<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday temporarily banned a political ad sponsored by the Free National Movement (FNM) that Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell threatened to sue the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) for airing\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Barbados bridging the digital divide<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 While telecommunications has been designed to bring us together, it has often divided us\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME gets licks from Bajan consumers<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Barbadians\u2019 satisfaction with the service provided by telecoms giant LIME appears to be souring, judging from data obtained by the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

US wants independent Guyana broadcast authority ; disagrees with self-censorship<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The United States on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day- Thursday- welcomed Guyana\u2019s move to end the decades-old government monopoly on radio broadcasting but called on government to ensure a fair system in granting radio station licenses\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Call Rates To Drop<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Government is pushing to have amendments to the Telecommunications Act established into law by weekend, enabling the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to set interim wholesale and retail telecommunications rates\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Call rates to plunge<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Parliament yesterday sanctioned amendments to the 11-year-old Telecoms Act, signalling the end to any possibility of monopoly in the telecoms market and paving the way for \u201ca massive decline in rates locally and internationally\u201d, according to Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGICEL to inform successful VSP applicants on Friday<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Telecommunications Company DIGICEL will inform successful applicants of its Voluntary Separation Programme (VSP) on Friday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Entertainment services company begins Caribbean operations<\/h4>\n

USA<\/em> \u2013 TiVUS, Inc., a technology entertainment services company providing Internet-based TV and cable programming, interactive game content, and goods and services to the hotel\/hospitality industry, has expanded operations into the Caribbean, a rich source of hotels and resorts, and has completed a site survey of its first property in Puerto Rico\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

V.I. Next Generation Network approves contracts<\/h4>\n

US Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 The V.I. Next Generation Network approved two contracts at its board meeting Tuesday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday, 3 May 2012<\/h3>\n

New consultant to deal with end of phone monopoly<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/em>\u2013 The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Science & Technology is increasing the human resource capacity in its Telecommunications Division with the appointment of Daryl Jackson as Telecommunications Consultant\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC Brings Hi-Speed Internet To Cat Island<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Over the past weekend BTC took its Neighborhood Connect program to Old Bight, Cat Island where hundreds of Cat Islanders were treated to a street party complete with local entertainment, local cuisine and giveaways, while browsing the latest technology and services from BTC and being among the first to sign up for high-speed internet service\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC to complete $44M network this summer<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The CEO of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) plans to launch the firm\u2019s 4G network in Bimini next week, followed by the Berry Islands and Abaco\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME: Still committed<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>– LIME says it remains committed to the negotiating process with the Barbados Workers\u2019 Union\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME workers walk off job<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 LIME\u2008staffers took major industrial action yesterday that crippled the company\u2019s operations, and it seems Prime Minister Freundel Stuart will once more play a part in the long running dispute\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Global rights watchdog says journalists face increased threats in Cuba<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/em>\u2013 The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has used Thursday\u2019s World Press Freedom Day to highlight what it said were increased threats and intimidation facing independent journalists and bloggers in Cuba for publishing information critical to the authorities\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Congrats, Minister Paulwell \u2014 way to go on the Telecoms Act<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 For over a year now my articles on the telecoms market in Jamaica have reflected a position which was congratulatory to Digicel for its mighty rise to the top of the mobile phone market but which also recognised that stipulations in the law gave Digicel, as a monopoly, an unfair advantage in setting termination rates and putting a chokehold on the only other viable player, LIME\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Police Close In On Web Extortionists<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Police investigators say they are close to making an arrest in an extortion case in which sexually explicit pictures and videos of several Jamaican women were posted on the Internet\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean entrepreneur unveils organ and blood donation mobile app<\/h4>\n

St. Vincent & the Grenadines <\/em>\u2013 I guess Facebook has let the cat out of the bag,\u201d says Herbert (Haz) Samuel, explaining why he\u2019s taking the wraps off his new mobile app project today, even before he\u2019s built anything\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday, 4 May 2012<\/h3>\n

Court orders new hearing in case involving former Marpin director<\/h4>\n

Dominica <\/em>\u2013 The Dominica High Court has set aside a judgement against the former managing director of Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting, Ron Abraham, who had been ordered to pay EC$16.2 million (US$6 million) to the company\u2019s liquidator after the court had ruled on March 2 that he carried out the company\u2019s business with reckless disregard to its obligation to pay its debt\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaican Youth To Show Off Technology Skills In Mobile Apps Contest<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Government of Jamaica and the World Bank have sponsored a mobile application contest to encourage and inspire youth to develop their information technology skills\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME keeps $59m in unclaimed dividends<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Cable and Wireless Jamaica, which trades as LIME, has retained $59 million in dividends left unclaimed for 12 years\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

New Telecoms Act sets new playing field<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Amendments to the new Telecoms Act will undoubtedly lead to yet another fall in cellphone rates and a more competitive landscape\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, 5 May 2012<\/h3>\n

LIME smiles<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Hundreds\u2008of\u2008LIME\u2008workers should be smiling once more\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

DIGICEL staff upset at police action<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Telecommunications company DIGICEL said staff at its New Kingston office was upset by the conduct of officials of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and police personnel which resulted in them being inconvenienced\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Short-Sighted!’ – Senator Questions Move To Give Our More Powers<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Arguing that consumers do not have much confidence in the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Opposition Senator Tom Tavares-Finson said yesterday that giving the body more powers in the amended Telecommunications Act is short-sighted\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, 6 May 2012<\/h3>\n

Ministry\/LIME conclude training for teachers<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/em>\u2013 The Ministry of Education on Friday completed training for 100 teachers who are to return to the classroom and better utilise technology in their work\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Media Challenges – Internet Use In Jamaica Troubling<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), the Media Association of Jamaica and UNESCO Caribbean launched the PAJ’s Hall of Fame and hosted a forum under the theme, ‘New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies’. Veteran broadcast journalist and managing director of Nationwide News Network, Cliff Hughes, was among the presenters. This is an edited version of his presentation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Review tax collection policy, Opposition tells Gov’t<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday called on the Government to review its tax collection policy, arguing that the heavy-handed raid on two New Kingston offices operated by telecoms giant Digicel on Friday afternoon risked sending a bad signal to investors\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Images courtesy of johnthurm<\/a>, flickr.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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