A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 March to Sunday 19 March 2017.
Monday, 13 March 2017
LIME’s appeal to Industrial Court ruling stalled
Antigua and Barbuda – The Deputy General Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) Senator Chester Hughes said there’s a delay in the appeal process in the case of telecommunications giant LIME, now trading as FLOW and the 13 workers alleging unfair dismissal from the company… more
Senator Weston: Technology threatens local businesses
Antigua and Barbuda – Traders in Antigua & Barbuda are being warned that the development in technology is likely to have serious implications on their operations if care is not given… more
Web Shop Gaming Moratorium ‘Stinks’
Bahamas – The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader says the 10-year moratorium on new web shop gaming licenses “stinks”, branding it anti-competitive and accusing the Government of pandering to ‘special interests’… more
Back to C.C.J. on B.T.L?
Belize – As part of his Budget address, Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave an update on the continued wrangles with the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited and the owners of the various arbitral awards… more
Internet service
Guyana – Misha Goodchild: `I use it on my phone, I use it on my laptop, at home and at work. My internet service provider is GTT… more
Haiti Teleco—the sordid affair nears an end
Haiti – The 2011 Haiti Teleco FCPA matter brought some of the most dramatic results of any recent FCPA matter on record… more
A Digital World Consumers Can Trust
Regional – WE are once again at another milestone in our drive to educate, support and provide direction to our fellow consumers with specific emphasis on the rights of consumers… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Top ten ways you can grow your business using webinars
Regional – Webinars are live online events that use video conferencing software applications to do presentations, demonstrations, discussions, lectures, workshops, or instructional sessions… more
2operate Signs Contract with Sint Maarten-based TelEm Group for 2solve Deployment
Sint Maarten – 2operate announced today at Mobile World Congress that it has signed a contract with TelEm Group in /Sint Maarten for the deployment of its award-winning 2solve solution for mobile network assurance. The contract is 2operate’s first in the Americas… more
E-payments coming soon
Trinidad and Tobago – ELECTRONIC payments for government transactions will be coming soon… more
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Denied Web Shop Slams 10-Year Bar
Bahamas – The only web shop operator denied a license yesterday slammed the 10-year block on new industry entrants, saying: “It makes no sense.” … more
JCNP recognizes BTC for its commitment to culture
Bahamas – BTC was recognized for its commitment to culture during the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence’s (JCNP) Annual Awards Banquet… more
Coming Up With A Relevant Curriculum
Belize – The high school curriculum hasn’t been revised since the 90’s. Now unless, everyone is comfortable with their kids being stuck in the 20th century, then it’s about time for an education reform… more
PM: Ashcroft Inflating Costs in Second Payment Due for BTL
Belize – During the budget presentation for 2017/2018, Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed that there are currently four arbitration awards against the Government of Belize… more
Prime Minister Fights on Over B.T.L. Settlement
Belize – Is the Government conceding that the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited have triumphed in relation to the second payment of the B.T.L. settlement? … more
50 years ago: Brac Cable & Wireless exchange opens
Cayman Islands – In the March 15, 1967 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch wrote… more
Registration Deadline For e-LJam Technology Day is March 17
Jamaica – The deadline for schools to register for e-Learning Jamaica (e-LJam) Technology Day 2017 is March 17… more
LACNIC On The Move rolls into Guatemala City
Regional – Guatemala will host this year’s first edition of the regional technology event LACNIC On The Move, which will take place in Guatemala City on March 20 to 22… more
Senior ICT officials meet to discuss work plan for Single ICT Space
Regional – The Meeting of Senior Officials ahead of the Sixty-Eighth Special Ministerial session of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – will convene via video conference on Wednesday, 15 March, 2017… more
Prosecutor’s Office calls attention to cybercrime
Sint Maarten – A number of Government Departments’ information communication technology (ICT) networks were affected by cyber-attacks recently. One attack took place in November 2016, while the other effectively shut down most departments that cater to the public last week Tuesday… more
Social media has ruined my life
Trinidad and Tobago – A 33-YEAR-OLD Siparia hairdresser is seeking to clear her name after her photograph went viral over the weekend on social media as the person held for the recent murder of Siparia real estate agent Sylvestine “Baby” Bertrand, 87, and her daughter Kathy Ann, 51… more
Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Global tech giant supports Antigua and Barbuda for ICT Week
Antigua and Barbuda – Global technology giant Huawei has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the establishment of the Single ICT Space by participating in the CTU’s ICT Week and Symposium – Antigua and Barbuda on March 21, 2017… more
LIME’s appeal to Industrial Court ruling stalled
Antigua and Barbuda – The Deputy General Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) Senator Chester Hughes said there’s a delay in the appeal process in the case of telecommunications giant LIME, now trading as FLOW and the 13 workers alleging unfair dismissal from the company… more
BTC’s FTTH service up to 5,000 customers
Bahamas – Bahamas operator BTC has announced that over 5,000 customers have signed up to its fibre to the home (FTTH) service since its launch last year… more
BTC’s restoration in GB expected to be 99% by end of the month
Bahamas – In October of 2016, Hurricane Matthew ripped through The Bahamas as a very large and dangerous Category 4 system, bringing with it heavy rains and high winds, which downed power lines, uprooted trees, flooded low lying areas and left a trail of destruction in its wake, particularly on Grand Bahama which received a near-direct hit… more
Belize Celebrates world consumer rights day
Belize – The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS), in commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day, is holding a public awareness drive in three locations… more
Diego Bol Addresses I.T. Management for Kim Passport
Belize – Two of the scheduled three witnesses for today’s public hearings of the Senate Special Select Committee on Immigration testified… more
ICT tender: Dominican Republic wants to reduce power losses
Dominican Republic – The government of the Dominican Republic is inviting interested companies to bid on a tender for the acquisition of a system … more
Tambourine Army leader arrested and charged
Jamaica – The police have arrested controversial figure and co-founder of the advocacy group Tambourine Army, Latoya Nugent… more
ECTEL and NTRCs observe World Consumer Rights Day
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) and the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commissions (NTRCs) join with the rest of the world in observing World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) on Wednesday, March 15th… more
Flow launches March Madness promotion
Saint Lucia – Flow customers are getting chances to win in store, by signing up for TV, broadband and postpaid services and adding prepaid combo mobile plans in the month of March… more
Thursday, 16 March 2017
Parents welcome new eBook computer rollout
Antigua and Barbuda – Many of the parents of students at the All Saints Secondary School (ASSS) have placed their faith in the newly distributed eBook computers to transform the way their children learn, and stated that they are in support of the initiative… more
COMMISSION ON COMPETITIVENESS TO BE REINVIGORATED
Barbados – Government is putting the relevant institutional infrastructure in place to ensure that greater levels of efficiency, productivity and international competitiveness are achieved… more
Telecoms provider promises better service
Barbados – Local businesses are demanding more of their telecommunications provider as they seek to become more competitive… more
Supreme Court to decide if Ashcroft can collect from GOB
Belize – Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin is deliberating on whether or not he should lift a temporary injunction against the Ashcroft Alliance, which the Barrow Government got from the Supreme Court earlier this year. They are trying to get enforcement of a 50 million US dollar judgment which the Caribbean Court of Justice has refused to allow in Belize, but which has been granted in the US District Court… more
Data Protection Bill revival surprises lawmakers
Cayman Islands – Another oft-debated and much-maligned proposal – the Data Protection Bill – suddenly appeared before Cayman Islands lawmakers Wednesday, in the midst of their ongoing debate over the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill… more
Free Access to all Government Websites
Jamaica – All Government websites can now be accessed free of cost from any Internet-compatible device… more
House Approves Legislation on Telephone Tax
Jamaica – Legislation was passed in the House of Representatives on March 16 giving legal authority to the Government to collect taxes imposed on certain telephone calls since 2012… more
Increased Access to Technology in Public Libraries
Jamaica – The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) is hailing the Global Libraries ICT Project as a major success, as it has significantly transformed public libraries across the island through increased access to technology… more
Cloud Carib Named Veeam Caribbean Impact Partner of the Year
Regional – Cloud Carib Limited announced today they have been selected as the 2016 Veeam Impact Partner of the Year, Caribbean by Veeam® Software, the innovative provider of solutions that delivers Availability for the Always-On Enterprise™. The winners of the 2016 Veeam Impact Partner Awards™ were announced on March 16, 2017… more
Cybersecurity on the agenda for RSS Council of Ministers Meeting on Friday
Regional – The Council of Ministers of the Regional Security System (RSS) will meet at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on Friday (March 16) to review a number of critical matters including extra-regional cooperation, which has implications for training, and security operations to tackle drugs, arms and human trafficking… more
BTP attending regional frequency coordination meeting of the ITU
Sint Maarten – From March 8th till 10th the Head of the Technical Department of Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten, Mr. Sidney de Weever, attended a regional frequency coordination meeting that was hosted by the International Telecom Union (ITU) on the use of the VHF band (174-216MHz) and the UHF band (470-806MHz), which took place in Managua, Nicaragua… more
Friday, 17 March 2017
Jones still challenged by Maths results
Barbados – The Ministry of Education is looking to retrain Mathematics teachers in a bid to improve the national performance in that subject area, Minister of Education Ronald Jones has said… more
Computers donated to Crisis Centre
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre has received 10 brand new computers, thanks to a generous donation by Conyers Dill & Pearman, one of Cayman’s leading law firms… more
AT&T, Millicom eyeing Dominican Republic – Indotel
Dominican Republic – Both AT&T and Millicom could be interested in expanding their business to the Dominican Republic, reports business daily El Dinero, citing new Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) president Jose del Castillo Savinon… more
‘Red phones’ for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries
Guyana – The E-Governance service, when rolled out to the Ministry of Communities, its various departments and sub-agencies, will greatly revolutionize and enhance the efficient functioning of the ministry… more
Chuck Says Telephone System Coming For Courts Despite Eight-Month Delay
Jamaica – Eight months after the cabinet approved a contract for a new telephone system for the courts, the project is yet to materialise… more
Gov’t working on e-commerce laws – Samuda
Jamaica – Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, says the Government continues work to ensure that the requisite laws are in place to govern e-commerce transactions… more
Jamaica Loses US$100 Million To Cybercrime
Jamaica – The Cybercrimes Unit says it is expecting Jamaica to lose more than the US$100 million it lost last year due to criminal activities on the Internet… more
Jamaica partners with telcos to provide free access to govt websites
Jamaica – Jamaican citizens can now access all 256 government websites free of charge from any internet-compatible device. The initiative has been enabled thanks … more
CDB Funds Project To Prevent Loss Of Correspondent Banking Relationships ICT Space
Regional – The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding of USD250,000 to strengthen financial transparency, and assist in preventing the loss of correspondent banking relationships (CBRs) in the Region… more
Taiwan Technical Mission Conducts ICT Training
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Thirty-three residents of Layou and surrounding communities are currently engaged in a 6-week Information Technology Course… more
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Jones closer to answering cellphone call
Barbados – Minister of Education Ronald Jones says he is currently reviewing feedback from education stakeholders, in order to issue a revised policy on the use of cell phones in schools… more
Final proof that GTT money was not paid to PPP/C government
Guyana – Dear Editor, In the Stabroek News of March 16, it was reported that representatives of the Chinese company, Hong Kong Golden Telecom Limited (HDGT), were in Guyana and recently put forward a proposal for payment of the outstanding US$5 million for the sale of the 20% shares of GTT owned by government… more
Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue expansion… GPL, GTT awarded $50M in contracts for relocation of utilities
Guyana – In the past, the timely relocation of utilities had proven to be a major stumbling block in Government projects being carried out on time… more
Legislators Say Arbitration Law Full Of Gaps
Jamaica – Debate on the Arbitration Act, 2017, was suspended in the Senate yesterday after lawmakers highlighted gaps in the legislation that has been in gestation for some time now… more
Public Wants Drone Use Regulated
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Drone technology could be exploited and used for possible illegal and malicious purposes, if its usage in the country is not properly regulated by the government… more
Sunday, 19 March 2017
BUSINESSES TOLD – USE THE B.E.S.W
Barbados – If Barbados is to reap the multi-dimensional benefits from the Barbados Electronic Single Window (BESW), the system must be thoroughly used… more
Phone book recycling program begins
Cayman Islands – Recycling containers are in place throughout Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac for people to drop off their old phone books for recycling… more
Digicel gets $27M contract to install police 911 system
Guyana – Telephone service provider, Digicel, has been awarded a $27M contract for the installation of the 911 business solution emergency service contract…. more
Guyana tribe goes hi-tech to protect its land
Guyana – Eleazer Mawasha speaks haltingly. English is not his first language, and Skype not his preferred method of communication… more
Consumer Affairs Commission going after digital awareness
Jamaica – The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) has embarked on developing digital awareness for consumers as a part of its World Consumer Rights Day 2017 celebration… more
Drive on to defeat cybercrime
Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Cybercrime Unit is using public education as its main initiative to tackle the growing challenge of cybercrime… more
Pay but not play from Digicel
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne: On October 18, 2016, I signed up with Digicel for cable, internet and telephone service. I selected the Play Strong package and was required to make a deposit of $3,000… more
Image credits: filipe ferreira (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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