A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 20 November to Sunday 26 November 2017.
Monday, 20 November 2017
ALIV Business Solutions “No Limits”
Bahamas – ALIV is pleased to announce that its Business Solutions Team is now stronger and more efficient than ever following its initial launch earlies this year… more
FLOW Managing Director For Engineers’ Gala
Jamaica – Stephen Price, managing director of FLOW Jamaica, will be the guest speaker at the 40th anniversary gala dinner of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on November 25… more
Caribbean Businesses Stand To Profit From Quad9 Cyber Security
Regional – Cyber crime is a source of growing concern for businesses in the developing countries of the Caribbean. Law enforcement officials and security experts in those regions and around the world struggle to keep pace with the escalating sophistication of transnational cyber criminal operations. By some estimates, cybercrime will cost approximately $6 trillion per year on average through 2021… more
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Aliv And Kicking For Bahamas Business
Bahamas – LIV is pleased to announce its Business Solutions Team is now stronger and more efficient than ever following its initial launch earlier this year. From then to now, the Business Solutions provides corporate services for over 450 plus clients… more
Belize ranked 156 out of 196 countries in cost of broadband Internet
Belize – Belize was ranked 156 out of 196 countries on a list of the world’s most expensive broadband Internet rates compiled by UK-based consultancy firm, BDRC Continental and broadband watchdog, Cable.co.uk. Among 37 Caribbean and Central American nations listed, Belize ranked 28th… more
Unions Frown on B.T.L. Settlement; Will Workers Get Shares?
Belize – The more than half a billion-dollar in settlement for Belize Telemedia Limited with its former owners has been paid off, but at what cost to the nation? … more
Several ex-employees rehired – Digicel
British Virgin Islands – Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Gordon said a number of employees who left the company earlier this year have been rehired… more
‘Smart serve’, gaming lounge at fresh Digicel store
British Virgin Islands – Long lines of customers flooded the Digicel flagship store in Road Town today as the company unveiled their new Digicel Experience Store… more
Concerns Surrounding NIDS
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: One benefit I can appreciate about the National Identification System (NIDS) is that children will be able to have a means of identification they can use prior to becoming 18 years of age… more
Data breaches from within
Jamaica – Much hysteria has been attributed to the “cybersecurity epidemic” and the spotlight has quickly shifted to hackers, crackers, and other threat agents… more
Growth & Jobs | Demystifying BPO – JAMPRO Hosts Career Fair To Educate Young People On Industry
Jamaica – As one of Jamaica’s newer non-traditional sectors, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has grown at a staggering rate, but is also clouded in mystery leading to misunderstanding, and, in some cases, stereotyping… more
Jamaica’s New Privacy Protection Bill
Jamaica – On 10 October 2017, Jamaica introduced into its House of Parliament a comprehensive Bill for privacy and data protection, entitled “An Act to Protect the Privacy of Certain Data and for Connected Matters.” … more
Legislators Take Final Look At NIDS Bill
Jamaica – The National Identification Registration Act 2017 will again come under the microscope of lawmakers today in the Lower House when the amended legislation is tabled for consideration in the House of Representatives… more
SKN Broadband Charges High, But Could Be Worse
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Broadband Internet service in St. Kitt and Nevis isn’t cheap. At around $78 per month the most positive thing you can say is it’s not nearly as bad as Haiti, with the Caribbean’s most expensive Internet service at $224 per month… more
Fired IT technicians want Minister to reconsider*
Trinidad and Tobago – SOME 150 information technology (IT) technicians, whose contracts were not renewed by the Ministry of Education, are facing a sad Christmas… more
T&TEC launches new mobile app
Trinidad and Tobago – As part of of its plan to transform its service to the public, the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has introduced a mobile application enabling it to respond in a more timely manner to customer reports and complaints… more
The ICT in Human Resources
Trinidad and Tobago – Last week’s two-day conference at the Hilton Trinidad explored the intersections between HR and ICT, two departments seem to always be considered at opposite ends of the engagement spectrum in most businesses… more
Use technology to capitalise on opportunities
Trinidad and Tobago – Entrepreneur and Executive Director of Tobago Bridal Association, Duane Lyons, on Monday said a commitment to excellence was crucial to success in tourism as he urged young people to make use of their technological know-how to own and transform the island’s tourism industry… more
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Former C&W shareholders take telecoms company to court
Barbados – Cable & Wireless West Indies Limited, which trades here as Flow, has been taken to court by a group of former shareholders… more
UK REPORT: BVI internet one of the worst on earth
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands has been confirmed to be an underperforming country that has one of the most expensive internet services on the planet… more
Broadcasting Commission says digital switchover to increase GDP by $6b
Jamaica – Assistant executive director of the Broadcasting Commission, Karlene Salmon believes the switch from analogue to digital will have a positive impact on Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)… more
ARIN Backs Caribbean Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Regional – Of all the problems unleashed by recent hurricanes, the failure of communications networks is one of the most worrying issues for Caribbean territories grappling with uphill recovery efforts… more
Thursday, 23 November 2017
New online food market launched
Barbados – A new agricultural trading platform was launched here this week by the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), with Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick suggesting that it had the potential to transform the local sector… more
Altice backs Dominican Republic public Wi-Fi initiative
Dominican Republic – Altice’s recently-merged telecommunications unit in the Dominican Republic has pledged to back the government’s “Digital Republic” programme, which aims to activate some 6,000 public internet zones by 2020… more
Altice could flog Dominican Republic business to address debt pile
Dominican Republic – French telecoms group Altice is planning to sell its business in the Dominican Republic to show it’s serious about whittling down its debt pile, according to a report… more
GTT billed for overseas calls not made
Guyana – Dear Editor, Not too long ago, one used to associate GTT with efficient and reliable service… more
DIGICEL CALLS FCC REPEAL OF NET NEUTRALITY “A VICTORY FOR TELECOMS, CONSUMERS AND ECONOMIES” Urges Caribbean regulators to take note
Regional – The move by the FCC in the US to roll back restrictive net neutrality regulation as it relates to regulating the Internet is a “victory for telecoms, consumers and economies” … more
Giving Thanks: How An Irish Billionaire Is Helping The Caribbean Bounce Back After Hurricane Maria
Regional – Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien is no stranger to chaos and disaster… more
VIDEO: Broadcasters urged to develop and export local content
Regional – Caribbean countries can earn significant hard currency revenues through the export of local content, according to Shola Taylor, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)… more
Flow celebrating Blue Friday!
Saint Lucia – his Friday, November 24th 2017, Saint Lucia and the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications service provider is turning up the Christmas spirit with extra savings and extra giveaways at its retail outlets in Castries (Dayana Centre), Gros Islet (Baywalk Mall), Vieux Fort (Daher Building) and Soufriere (Church Street)… more
Friday, 24 November 2017
Belize compensates former owner of BTL for 2009 nationalization
Belize – Belize’s government has reportedly paid US$78mn to British politician and businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft as a settlement fee for the nationalization… more
Hackathon’s Second Pitch
Belize – On November 13, a total of five teams competed in a first pitch Hackathon Competition that was held by the Small Business Development Center Belize (SBDC) of BELTRAIDE and sponsored by Belize Electricity Limited (BEL)… more
Communications network to be moved underground
British Virgin Islands – Telecommunications infrastructure in the British Virgin Islands will be moved underground, the government has said… more
TRC dodges blame for bad internet report
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) is dodging responsibility for the BVI being labelled as an underperforming country that has one of the most expensive internet services in the world… more
Flow restores mobile service to La Plaine & other parts of the East
Dominica – Flow has welcomed mobile customers of Laplaine and surrounding communities back on the network as service has been restored in parts of the east of the island… more
M&CC, GTT partner for payment of rates, taxes through Mobile Money app
Guyana – The Mayor and City Council (M&CC), through a partnership with GTT, on Tuesday launched its Mobile Money payment platform, which now allows rate payers to pay rates and taxes using the application… more
The Smart Classroom
Guyana – As technology advances generally, and developments in information technology in particular, continue to refine the way we live, it is no surprise that the concept of e-Learning has taken hold in classrooms of many countries of the world… more
Advertorial: Stakers To Present Progressive Web App
Jamaica – The iGaming operator Stakers.com is introducing a progressive web app for its mobile version… more
Wheatley: digital opportunities are tremendous
Jamaica – Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley says the digital environment presents “tremendous opportunities” for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean to capitalize on… more
Caribbean Carriers Adjust To Post-Storms Slump
Regional – Four years of airline industry growth in the Caribbean came to sudden halt in October, when capacity trends turned negative after hurricanes ravaged islands throughout the West Indies and forced weeks-long airport closures… more
Saturday, 25 November 2017
‘Ganja,’ Telecoms Bill for last sitting
Antigua and Barbuda – A Bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use is to come before Parliament at its last sitting of this session scheduled for December 12… more
At My Wits’ End Over Digicel Woes
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: This is an open letter to Justin Morin, CEO of Digicel… more
Rockfort gets Internet café
Jamaica – Residents of Rockfort in Kingston now have easier access to Internet and other computer-related services with the establishment of a community access point (CAP) in the community by the Universal Service Fund (USF) at a cost of $2.6 million… more
Bahamas to host APEX Technology Convention
Regional – Leading jurists, attorneys and legal professionals from across the region will be gathering in The Bahamas for a special convention to discuss technology innovations for improving justice delivery in the Caribbean… more
Sunday, 26 November 2017
BADD’s digital leap
Barbados – Drag racing in Barbados is moving to the next level… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Brands of the World; Wikimedia
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