A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 April to Sunday 23 April 2017.
Monday, 17 April 2017
DCA is going digital
Antigua and Barbuda – The Chief Town and Country Planner Frederick Southwell says efforts are underway to speed up the time in which the Development Control Authority approves projects… more
Online buzz
Barbados – MORE BARBADIANS are turning to the Internet to beat the high cost of shopping in Barbados… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Easy marketing using Pinterest
Regional – Pinterest is a social media network with a focus on users posting photos or videos (called ‘pinning’ on the service) to their own or others ‘pinterest boards’, which are a collection of usually similarly themed ‘pins’… more
Plan Retirement Advisory
Trinidad and Tobago – We’re making things SIMPLE… more
Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Girls ‘Hack’ For Change
Regional – Approximately 90 girls and young women will compete for prizes at the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day Caribbean Hackathon on Thursday, April 27, 2017… more
More women needed in top ICT positions
Trinidad and Tobago – CHIEF Information Officer, and General Manager Department of Information Technology of the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) Nuria Simo, says the time is ripe to see more women in leadership positions in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.” … more
Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Laws to govern placement of cell towers in the making
Antigua and Barbuda – A new set of regulations will be introduced shortly to govern the placement of cell towers in Antigua & Barbuda, especially within residential areas… more
The best thing about Samsung’s new Galaxy S8, aside from the design
Antigua and Barbuda – With just two days to go until the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are released, the verdict is in: Samsung’s new flagship smartphones are fantastic… more
BTC salutes ‘high flyers’ in customer service
Bahamas – As Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) continues to transform to meet the ever changing communications needs of its customers across The Bahamas, the company has continued to attract the best and brightest from communities across The Bahamas as well… more
Fitzgerald To Enact ‘Parts’ Of Freedom Of Information Act
Bahamas – “CERTAIN parts” of the highly anticipated Freedom of Information Act are slated for enactment this week, according to Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday… more
Web Shop Fears 150 Bahamian Job Losses
Bahamas – A web shop operator is warning that 150 Bahamians will be made jobless if the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) makes good on its threat to cancel its Freeport license… more
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: Contradictions
Barbados – I’M WORRIED ABOUT Barbados’ economic future… more
PUC: Attacking Cyber Crime on All Angles
Belize – Next Monday will see the opening of the first National Cyber Security Symposium to be conducted in Belize with an aim to address the various social, legal and criminal aspects of how the internet is being used… more
Internet monitor of child abuse tracks Cayman
Cayman Islands – The Internet Watch Foundation, a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to the removal of online child abuse imagery, released its 2016 Annual Report last week… more
Logic joins IMPACT 17
Cayman Islands – Cayman Enterprise City and the Internet Marketing Association, co-hosts of the IMPACT 17 Conference announced local telecommunications provider Logic, is the lead local partner to the conference… more
GTT, govt at odds over calls for audit of Digicel’s “alleged” illegal bypass
Guyana – Government on Tuesday downplayed calls by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) for an audit of Digicel’s allegedly illegal bypass operation that might have cost the national treasury more than US$30 million… more
MOU signed to better UG’s ICT platforms
Guyana – Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes and University of Guyana’s (UG), Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost the Information Communication Technology (ICT) platforms at the Turkeyen campus… more
Data Protection Act to be Tabled Shortly
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the Data Protection Act is expected to be laid before Parliament for debate within another three months… more
Minister ties ICT achievements to huge spending
Jamaica – Energy, Science and Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley announced Tuesday the rollout of additional access points for free public Wi-Fi, as he highlighted other achievements in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) field… more
Web Security Policy Being Developed
Jamaica – A web security policy for the Government is being developed and will be completed within the next six months… more
How to manage your personal e-reputation
Regional – “A digital footprint is what you leave behind when you surf the internet, and it can be seen by others, including potential employers,” warns Simon Quance, creative director of Digital Visitor, a social media and digital marketing agency… more
LINK-Caribbean to host Caribbean Angel Investor Forum
Regional – THE inaugural Caribbean Angel Investor Forum (CAIF) will take place from May 11 – 12 in Montego Bay, Jamaica… more
Satellite tracking tiger sharks in the Dutch Caribbean
Regional – Tiger Shark ‘Quinty’ swims from the Saba Bank to Trinidad in four weeks! … more
Howard University Open Day event focuses on role of tech
Trinidad and Tobago – “One of the things that motivated me when I was growing up, was no one in my household ever told me that I could not do something… more
Uber is operating illegally in Trinidad, says minister
Trinidad and Tobago – United States-based Internet taxi service, Uber, is operating illegally in Trinidad, Works minister Rohan Sinanan confirmed yesterday… more
Thursday, 20 April 2017
Taking Security Beyond The Passwords, Firewalls
Bahamas – It may be fair to wonder, especially if a Board member does not have a professional information technology (IT) background, whether asking management about specific security measures might invite jargon-ridden replies that leave the director no wiser than before… more
High tech
Barbados – Barbados spent about $223 million on the importation of electronic goods in 2016… more
Digicel partners with ETECSA to provide lower roaming rates for Cuba travelers
Cuba – Telecommunications company Digicel today announced its new Cuba roaming SIM card offered in conjunction with Cuban telecoms provider, ETECSA, offering lower mobile roaming rates for travellers in Cuba… more
Digicel denies GT&T’s allegations of illegal bypass, tax evasion
Guyana – Digicel’s Guyana operations on Thursday denied claims by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) that it has evaded taxes through what its competitor called an illegal bypass… more
GTT maintains has adequate capacity to handle all overseas traffic
Guyana – GTT yesterday stated that it has more than enough capacity to handle all of Guyana’s overseas traffic and it called for Digicel’s bypass operation to be audited by an “independent and trusted organization”… more
Ministry, UG clinch MoU for ICT upgrade
Guyana – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between the Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, for the upgrade of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) platforms on all University of Guyana (UG) Campuses…more
Telecoms liberalization war… GTT: We have enough capacity to handle Guyana’s overseas traffic
Guyana – The war of words between US-controlled Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and Digicel Guyana is continuing to heat up, with accusations being raised again of billions of taxes being lost by the country from international calls… more
Wheatley promises Cybercrimes Act review this year
Jamaica – MINISTER of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says that the process of reviewing the Cybercrimes Act will commence this year… more
Airbnb meets with Caribbean government reps
Regional – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and government representatives from eight member countries met with Airbnb officials to discuss Airbnb’s growing presence in the region and to address areas of mutual cooperation as outlined in an agreement signed in February… more
Chatting CARICOM – Live Regional Television Talk Show launches next week
Regional – CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque will be the first guest when Chatting CARICOM, a series of live regional television talk shows, is launched on Tuesday 25 April 2017, at 8:00 pm… more
‘Ground-breaking’ CCTV project in the works for PoS hospital
Trinidad and Tobago – The intern who claimed she had been accosted and robbed, and his having to spy in the dead of night at the Port of Spain General Hospital, have prompted Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh to invite Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to do a pilot project on closed circuit coverage… more
Mobile 4G LTE service continues solid growth
Trinidad and Tobago – The faster your internet connection, the better your experience when using a smart phone/smart device and in Trinidad and Tobago that means having access to Fourth Generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE), the latest in mobile broadband technology… more
Friday, 21 April 2017
URCA reminds broadcasters of broadcasting conduct during election period
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) refers to the dissolution of Parliament on April 11, 2017 and the subsequent announcement that the general election will be held on May 10, 2017… more
Digicel introduces lowest mobile roaming rates for travellers in Cuba through partnership with ETECSA
Cuba – Total communications and entertainment provider, Digicel, today announced its new Cuba Roaming SIM card offered in conjunction with Cuban telecoms provider, ETECSA, offering lower mobile roaming rates for travellers in Cuba… more
Digicel raps GTT over bypass, tax allegations
Guyana – Digicel yesterday said that it had noted with great disappointment GTT’s most recent statements to the press in which it “repeated untrue allegations and more specifically claimed that Digicel has denied the Government of Guyana payment of taxes”… more
Saturday, 22 April 2017
THE HOYOS FILE: Amid the gloomy forecasts, Sir Richard sees blue skies
Barbados – SIR RICHARD BRANSON may never know how grateful I was to him last week… more
GTT moves to upgrade Broadband Access
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company (GTT) has announced the commencement of work to significantly improve the Broadband Core and Access Network… more
How FLOW Rear-Ends Jamaican Subscribers!
Jamaica – I am using this opportunity to share my experience of the treatment meted out to Jamaican consumers who subscribe to FLOW… more
Sunday, 23 April 2017
Irresponsible broadcasters will not go unpunished – GNBA Chairman
Guyana – Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Leslie Sobers is putting Broadcasters on notice that the Authority will not be encouraging the continuous broadcasting of inappropriate content… more
Health + Tech | Mobile Money – Broadening Access To Health-Care Services
Jamaica – Mobile money has been hailed as a possible solution to the problem of financial inclusion and can be a solution to many challenges, such as money laundering and praedial larceny… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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