A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 January to Sunday 14 January 2018.
Monday, 8 January 2018
CWJ to ‘vigorously oppose’ lawsuit by shareholder
Regional – Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited (CWJ), says it intends to “vigorously oppose” an application made by one of its shareholders seeking permission from the Supreme Court to file a derivative action in a court in Florida… more
DATA WARNING
Regional – CHAD Blackman, a Senior Partner and International Trade Advisor, wants Barbados and other Caribbean countries to become aware of new European Union regulations on data protection… more
Happy New Year from Flow!
Saint Lucia – This week, Flow will be presenting the next five Christmas Comunity Cash prize winners. Each winner will be gifted two thousand dollars [$2,000.00] CASH in hand! Stay close to your phone, because YOU could be one of Flow’s WINNERS! … more
Tuesday, 9 January 2018
Shareholder in Jamaican unit sues Cable and Wireless
Regional – A shareholder in Cable and Wireless’s Jamaican arm has launched legal action against the firm, claiming financial transactions to its parent company have impacted the regional unit… more
C&W parent completes Caribbean split-off
Regional – Cable & Wireless parent company Liberty Global announced last week that it has completed the separation of its Latin American and Caribbean businesses – including the Cayman branch of Flow – into a separate entity called Liberty Latin America… more
Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Do online payments offer economic options?
Barbados – Information and Communication Technology (ICT) remains a viable, little-understood tool to help pull the Caribbean out of its economic mess… more
Social media – For better or for worse
Barbados – 2018 has started and usually at this time of the year one finds several organizations and institutions giving out awards for the year that has passed… more
Emergency alert system proposed
Cayman Islands – Government is in discussions with cellphone providers over a new emergency alert system that will allow it to send instant messages to all smartphone users in the Cayman Islands… more
Post-hurricane Dominica (Part 4): Here is why we care about communications, as well as food
Dominica – An outlandish big white ball stands out among the school, a church with a twisted cross and a dozen fishing boats in the community of Saint Sauveur… more
Samsung shows big ambition at CES
Regional – Samsung led big with its presentation at CES 2018, introducing the intimidatingly named The Wall, a massive 146 inch television sporting a list of new technologies… more
Digicel customsers start new year on a winning note
Saint Lucia – The new year is looking bright for Digicel customer, Mack Martie, grand prize winner of $10,000 in the recently concluded ‘Gift of Christmas’ promotion. Martie, a painter, was a picture of colourful delight after hearing the news on local media… more
TATT writes TTPBA again: Shal, TUCO react
Trinidad and Tobago – For the second time in less than a month, Dr John Prince, CEO of the Telecommunications Authority (TATT), has written to Daren Lee Sing, president of the TT Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA), about its concerns about another song released for the Carnival season… more
TSTT retail stores ready for customers; Massy renamed Amplia
Trinidad and Tobago – State telecoms company, TSTT, says even though it has closed its nine retail outlets, it has partnered with over 85 dealers who are now equipped to provide the full suite of services to customers… more
Thursday, 11 January 2018
URCA Eases Sebas’s Radio Delay ‘Hardship’
Bahamas – Regulators have moved to ease “the hardship suffered” by Sebas Bastian after the Island Luck chief’s radio launch was blocked by an ongoing court dispute… more
Gov’t to acquire system to recover stolen cell phones
Jamaica – National Security Minister, Robert Montague has announced that a system to aid in the recovery of stolen cellular phones is being acquired for use by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)… more
Telecoms company wants Data Protection Act implemented over 30-month period
Jamaica – TELECOMMUNICATIONS company, Digicel, is suggesting that the Government phase in the implementation of the proposed Data Protection Act within a 30-month period… more
CWU: TSTT fired four workers
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communications Workers Union (CWU) is calling on TSTT to immediately fire its executive vice president of human resources, industrial relations and corporate services, Carol David, after she sent dismissal letters to four workers… more
Friday, 12 January 2018
Bahamas government to sell 52% Aliv stake sale by April
Bahamas – The government of the Bahamas is looking to finalise the sale of its 51.75 percent stake in mobile operator Aliv by April, reports local news site… more
Jamaican Conglomerate Enters Bahamas’ Money Transmission Business
Bahamas – A publicly-traded Jamaican conglomerate has expanded its Western Union partnership into the Bahamas and pledged to open multiple money transfer locations in 2018… more
Next-generation 911 call centre coming next month
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands is rolling out state-of-the-art, next-generation 9-1-1 technology for its new emergency call centre which will become operational early next month… more
Guyana’s Telecommunications “100-metre dash” Begins This Year
Guyana – Guyana’s journey to becoming a technologically advanced nation will be mainstreamed this year, Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes says… more
The use of blockchain could prevent voter fraud
Guyana – Dear Editor, If you’ve heard of Bitcoin, you know of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin has started a revolution so great that it threatens the very existence of how our current system of government, finance and business is done… more
Digicel Making Amends To Customer
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: In response to the letter from Digicel customer Safiya Gordon published in The Gleaner on January 11, 2018… more
Digicel Play – Slowest And Worst Customer Service
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I signed up for a Play Big package on October 4, 2017, for my home… more
Flow shares $20,000 among Christmas winners
Jamaica – Flow has lived up to its promise to reward at least one customer from every district on island, coming out of the telecommunications company’s 2017 Christmas promotion… more
Going After Cellular Thieves – Police To Get Equipment To Trace Stolen Phones
Jamaica – The Ministry of National Security is to spend US$45,000 to provide the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) with technology to allow the police to go after persons who steal cellular phones… more
ICD acquires minority interest in Intcomex
Jamaica – ICD Investments Ltd has acquired minority shareholding in Intcomex Global Investments Holdings, SL, a leading go-to market platform of value-added solutions and technology products in Latin America and the Caribbean… more
JCF to Use Technology in the Recovery of Cell Phones
Jamaica – National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, says that technology valued at US$45,000 is being procured to aid in the recovery of stolen cellular phones… more
Social media is everybody’s
Jamaica – It’s just the beginning of the year, and there have already been a slew of public relations issues for businesses that have either started, played out or been sustained on social media… more
Samsung Note 8 Now Powered By Flow LTE
Saint Lucia – The latest, most exciting, next-generation handset from the world’s leading manufacturer is now available in Saint Lucia, on the island’s fastest mobile data network, and at all of its retail outlets islandwide… more
Emails Defaming Prominent Vincentians Making Rounds On Social Media
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Two email messages currently making the rounds on social media, which accuse certain prominent Vincentians of extramarital affairs, kinky sex and being HIV positive, among other things, have inflamed some persons here… more
Saturday, 13 January 2018
Estonia and Georgia share their e-governance expertise with the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda – When it comes to the Caribbean’s vision for 21st Century Government, Estonia is an excellent example of the possibilities for transforming governments and countries… more
National CCTV system to get additional funding
Jamaica – SECURITY Minister Robert Montague says nearly $3 billion will be needed over the next two years for the full roll out of the national Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System, dubbed JamaicaEye… more
Travellers to Jamaica will soon be able to complete landing form online
Jamaica – THE Passport, Citizen and Immigration Agency (PICA), in conjunction with the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) will be launching an online version of the Immigration and Customs Declaration form (C5) to facilitate a speedier processing of passengers and their baggage at the island’s international airports… more
Sunday, 14 January 2018
Data Disquiet! – Proposed Powerful Information Commissioner Sparks Concerns
Jamaica – The proposals surrounding the creation of an office of an Information Commissioner have raised the first red flag in the Data Protection Act now being considered by a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament… more
Digicel says Data Act may impact proposed Caricom Single ICT Space
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says every effort is being made to ensure that Jamaica’s Caricom partners are not disadvantaged by the provisions of the new Data Protection Bill, currently before Parliament… more
FLOW fixes landline after six months
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, We live in Mandeville, and my husband’s FLOW landline has not worked for the past six months. He has made numerous complaints to FLOW’S customer service to no avail… more
The Future of Blockchain in the Caribbean
Regional – Recent days have seen the cryptocurrency Ripple rise fast. Like the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, it’s underpinned by blockchain technology… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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