A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 January to Sunday 29 January 2017.
Monday, 23 January 2017
Digicel increases fees despite no governmental approval
Antigua and Barbuda – Telecommunications company Digicel has applied fee increase, despite the matter still lacking formal approval from the necessary ministries to do so… more
Curacao Gets Deal with Airbnb
Curaçao – Curaçao has become the third Caribbean destination to sign a deal with homestay network Airbnb… more
CDB Calling Tech Entrepreneurs
Regional – A technology incubation programme that provides business support services for young entrepreneurs in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and Haiti is open for applications… more
Youth Entrepreneurship Tech Programme To Address Unemployment
Regional – Following the success of a youth technology employment programme in Jamaica, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank have established a tech programme to provide business support services for young entrepreneurs in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and Haiti… more
Free WiFi on maxi taxis soon
Trinidad and Tobago – ACCESS to the internet is increasingly important but not everyone can afford to pay for all of the data they need and therefore rely on free WiFi to get online… more
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Antigua: Digicel rate hike approved
Antigua and Barbuda – Antigua Observer:-Government has given Digicel permission to increase the rates for their post-paid and data services… more
Christie Backs Probe Of BTC
Bahamas – PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday told his critics, who have questioned his administration’s take back of the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTC), that the government’s actions will be revealed in the results of Parliament’s select committee probe… more
Good year for Digicel
Barbados – 2016 was a stellar year for Digicel Barbados with over 50,000 customers – from government departments, postpaid consumers, corporate businesses and residential customers – switching to the country’s leading communications company, the telecommunications company has reported… more
NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR BARBADOS
Barbados – The Ministry of Health is working towards a paperless environment… more
Dominican telecom watchdog updates noncompliance fines
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic’s telecom regulator, Indotel, has approved a resolution under which the minimum amount to be paid by companies for … more
From the Dominican Republic to the World: United Telemedicine Network
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has long been one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for Americans and Europeans to escape and enjoy its beautiful beaches, mountains, cultural heritage and gastronomy… more
Caricel ‘Comforted’ Judge Finds No Apparent Threat To National Security
Jamaica – Telecommunication company Caricel says it is comforted by the finding of Supreme Court judge Leighton Pusey that there is no apparent threat to national security as a result of the mobile licence granted to its parent company Symbiote Investments… more
Jamaican doctor ready to roll out health service technology using app
Jamaica – After 16 years of research and development, Dr Winston Davidson yesterday revealed that he is ready to launch medical technology that will revolutionalise the provision of health services in Jamaica, starting with the hospitality industry… more
UPDATE: Caricel comfortable with legal basis for court’s decision
Jamaica – Caricel in a release this afternoon said that it is comfortable with the legal basis on which the Supreme Court made its judgment today, in its case seeking to block the Government from revoking its mobile spectrum licence… more
CXC launches electronic testing
Regional – Candidates taking the test from the Caribbean Examinations Council may now to do so using a computer or an equivalent device… more
CXC successfully hosts inaugural e-testing
Regional – In its continued quest to embrace the evolution of Information Technology, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) yesterday announced that it has successfully hosted its inaugural bout of electronic testing (e-testing)… more
FLOW Announces New Retail Sales Manager And Commercial Manager
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Mr. Kevin Edwards, the former Marketing Manager, replaces Anthony Morton as the new Retail Sales Manager as of January 1, 2017… more
Cyber laws and individual rights
Saint Lucia – With racy photos and screenshots circulating the internet like wildfire and political temperaments are rising, many users are now concerned with the privacy of their conversations, texts and video chats while using the web… more
Going global with local services
Trinidad and Tobago – There were a lot of words spoken at the “initiation” of the Global Services Promotion Programme, a project of the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)… more
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
GK set to launch mobile money product — GK MPay
Jamaica – GraceKennedy subsidiary GK Money Services Ltd, which will in February launch its mobile money product, GK MPay, indicates that it expects to compete strongly around the issue of security… more
Jamaica ready to go mobile with government payments — Livingstone Morrison
Jamaica – Payment systems expert, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Deputy Governor Livingstone Morrison, says that Jamaica — for which payment systems are much more advanced than some of its neighbours — is now ready to provide government payments on a mobile platform… more
Regional Examinations Body Begins E-testing
Regional – The Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) reported success as it officially launched its Electronic Testing Service to the region yesterday… more
Uber told they’re breaking TT’s laws
Trinidad and Tobago – UBER may have been ill-advised about this country’s laws regarding cars for hire prior to its January 16 launch, says Works and Transport Minister, Rohan Sinanan… more
Thursday, 26 January 2017
ASYCUDA still under review
Antigua and Barbuda – Following the introduction of the ASYCUDA World system, officials here have mapped out the next step for review, to ensure that the system is functioning as intended… more
Mother sentenced for damaging son’s phone
British Virgin Islands – A mother has appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in the British Virgin Islands for damaging her son’s mobile phone… more
Alexandra Hospital To Issue Computerised Health Information Cards From January 30th
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Alexandra Hospital, the main health facility on Nevis, will move closer to offering optimal service, when it begins issuing computerised Health Information cards from January 30, 2017… more
The trouble with Transparency
Trinidad and Tobago – Placing 101 out of 176 countries on Transparency International’s corruption perception index is not good. That’s T&T’s score this year, on a par with Peru, the Philippines and Gabon. But just how good is the index? … more
Friday, 27 January 2017
Education Ministry and CXC commence e-testing talks
Guyana – In the near future, local students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination could look forward to doing so by means of electronic testing (e-testing)… more
Caricel could be heading back to court
Jamaica – EMBATTLED mobile phone provider Symbiote is now contemplating whether it should seek judicial review in relation to notices of investigation issued by the Government in its move to take steps to revoke the company’s domestic mobile carrier and spectrum licences… more
Destination Experience kicks off
Jamaica – The list of speakers for this week’s Destination Experience continues to grow, with the announcement that overstock.com’s CEO and founder Dr Patrick M Byrne will be attending Jamaica’s Global Economic Renaissance Summit being held at Spanish Court Hotel – The Worthington in New Kingston… more
Digicel, Flow endorse Stay Alert App
Jamaica – Telecommunications providers Digicel and Flow today endorsed the Stay Alert App, introduced by the Ministry of National Security as an important technological tool in the fight against crime… more
Jamaican opens way to revocation of Caricel licence
Jamaica – A Jamaican court has dismissed the application for an injunction brought by Symbiote Investments, the holding company for the Caricel brand, against an investigation ordered by country’s Spectrum Management Authority (SMA), reports the Jamaica Observer… more
Stay Alert To Be Automatically Available On Smartphones
Jamaica – The Ministry of National Security has partnered with telecommunications companies Digicel and Flow to make the Stay Alert application (app) automatically available on smartphones… more
Time to turn up innovation and introduce block chain technology — Street Forrest
Jamaica – Asserting that in uncertain times the need for innovation increases, general manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Marlene Street-Forrest said responsible authorities within the region must begin to embrace the changes dictated by global trends — including removing artificial currency controls and opening doors to new technology… more
Call for e-money to be made simple
Regional – Financial Technology Developer Alex Straun has told financial stakeholders in the Eastern Caribbean who are considering using digital currencies they must ensure that the system is simplified in such a way that everyone can use it… more
Digicel Launches New App for Music Lovers
Regional – As the region’s leader in telecommunications and entertainment Digicel has unveiled yet another amazing product offering to the St. Lucian market… more
NTRC I² Competition Concludes
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The annual ‘Ideas and Innovations, I² Competition’ hosted by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), culminated in a Grand Finale and Prize Giving Ceremony at the Conference Room of the National Insurance Services, Thursday, 19th January… more
Uber to work closely with Govt
Trinidad and Tobago – SAN FRANCISCO- BASED online transportation network Uber Technologies Inc, is pledging to work closely with relevant government agencies to provide a “modern, affordable, safe and insured alternative transportation” network for the public… more
Saturday, 28 January 2017
GWI systems hit by malware
Guyana – The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says several of its systems have been hit by malware and other arrangements have to be made for billings and collections as of today… more
Message From Dr. Hon. Andrew Wheatley on Data Privacy Day
Jamaica – Jamaica joins the rest of the world in observing Data Privacy Day, on Saturday, January 28, under the theme; Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust… more
NWC work damages FLOW fibre network, customers affected
Jamaica – FLOW Jamaica has advised that accidental damage to its fibre network, caused by work being carried out by the National Water Commission (NWC) in the Spanish Town, St Catherine has affected in its services in the area… more
Sunday, 29 January 2017
GWI calls in cyber crime police to probe malware attack
Guyana – The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has called cyber crime experts from the police force and has engaged other technical personnel to determine whether its system was deliberately attacked… more
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