This is a roundup of the ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 7 May to Sunday 13 May 2012.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Money laundering and murder in Jamaica lottery scams
Jamaica – Lottery scams are the single most significant contributor to the increase in murders in the St James parish in most recent years… more
We have honoured our GCT requirements — DIGICEL
Jamaica – Telecommunications Company Digicel says despite checks by Tax Administration Jamaica that an operation at its New Kingston office on Friday was to ensure that the company was paying over its General Consumption Tax (GCT) it has always complied with the requirement… more
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Ritz-Carlton introduces new mobile app
Cayman Islands – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has introduced a mobile application… more
Digicel Heads To Court Over Tax Raid
Jamaica – Lawyers for telecommunications company Digicel are to go before the High Court today, to challenge a warrant granted to the tax authorities to search its head offices… more
Jamaica looking to make greater use of social media
Jamaica – The government of Jamaica is looking to implement an appropriate social media policy to more effectively engage ordinary Jamaicans in decision making… more
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Call Centre Closing
Antigua & Barbuda – Call Center Services (CCS) which operates from the ACT Teledome Building on Old Parham Road, has told its 156 employees that the company will be shutting up shop as of July 9… more
Cayman Government Visits Panama Social Telecoms Projects
Cayman Islands – Representatives from the Cayman Islands Government have visited Cable & Wireless Communications’ (CWC) operations in Panama to see how telecoms technology has improved public service delivery… more
Digicel snarls back
Jamaica – Digicel snarled back at the Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ) yesterday, accusing the government body — which launched an armed raid on the cellphone operator’s offices last week — of “utter and complete incompetence”… more
Fewer digits, more business
Jamaica – The Office of the Utilities Regulations (OUR) has opened discussions on premium rate and value-added services that could be provided by telecommunications operators using common short code… more
Internet threat to cable
Jamaica – Jamaican cable operators are at a competitive disadvantage against emerging Internet protocol television (IPTV) providers with lower infrastructure costs and no regulatory constraints, says the head of the local broadcasting commission… more
Microwork promises jobs for Jamaicans
Jamaica – Microwork, via the Internet, could provide thousands of jobs to unemployed youth and women in Jamaica… more
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Call center job losses worry labour officials
Antigua & Barbuda – Labour Minister Dr Errol Cort and Labour Commissioner Hesketh Williams have both expressed concern over the impending closure of Call Center Services (CCS), a business process outsourcer to the Bodog Brand, its biggest client… more
Digicel appoints new CEO
Antigua & Barbuda – Digicel is today announcing the appointment of Victor Corcoran as CEO of its operations in Antigua & Barbuda… more
Does the Govt Really Care
Antigua & Barbuda – Sometimes, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda simply fails to properly address the problem. For me, this has never been clearer than with the cell tower project… more
Belize Telemedia to launch 4G Services in Belize
Belize – Looking at the ecological process that humankind has transitioned through, it is quite evident that communication is a requirement… more
Gov’t Defends Digicel Tax Raid
Jamaica – The Ministry of Finance and Planning has broken its silence in a vigorous public debate over a tax raid on telecommunications firm Digicel late last week, claiming there appears to be “a concerted campaign to discredit the work of the Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ)”… more
Social media is an opportunity for journalism: World Press Freedom Day celebrated in Kingston
Jamaica – Declaring that governments must stay connected to the people, Ms Falconer said, “We have to use social media as one of the new voices for transforming our society. By challenging ourselves to use social media, we will allow more people to participate in our democracy.” … more
Global Hindi language resource portal to be launched in Suriname
Suriname – After hosting the World Hindi Conference in 2003, Suriname will now host a global Hindi language initiative. This will not be a conference or seminar but Suriname will witness the launching of the largest global resource portal of the Hindi language at hindihomepage.com … more
Friday, 11 May 2012
Jobs website goes mobile
Regional – The first mobile website for Jamaican jobseekers has been launched, enabling people to search and apply for jobs on the go… more
Saturday, 12 May 2012
New IBM delivery center opens in Costa Rica
Costa Rica – IBM officially opened on Thursday its new Costa Rica Delivery Center, in America Free Zone, Heredia. IBM will invest US$300 million over 10 years, and intends to employ up to 1,000 people by 2014… more
Ellington probing cops’ role in Digicel raid
Jamaica – Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has launched a probe into the conduct of police personnel who accompanied representatives of the Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ) on its raid of Digicel’s head office in New Kingston last Friday… more
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Cops need technology to fight high-tech lottery scam
Jamaica – WITH criminals involved in the multi-billion dollar lottery scam resorting to highly sophisticated tactics, the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) says it needs additional resources to sustain the crackdown on those behind the racket, which has further tainted Jamaica’s image overseas… more
Lotto scammers living large
Jamaica – Lottery scammers are living high on the hog, earning millions of Jamaican dollars a week and using Champagne to wash their cars in a boastful lifestyle reflecting the ease with which they come by their ill-gotten gains, police from the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) have reported…more
Make doing business with lottery scammers a crime, say police
Jamaica – Head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID), who has been engaged in a near five-year offensive against perpetrators of the multi-billion- dollar lottery scam, says local legislators should consider introducing laws that will make it mandatory for businesses to report suspicious cash transactions… more
Image courtesy of Gary Thomson, flickr
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