A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 August to Sunday 19 August 2018.
Monday, 13 August 2018
Airbnb high
Barbados – At least 7 000 visitors came to Barbados during the just ended Crop Over festival using the growing Airbnb option… more
Registration for Hackathon 2018
Haiti – The International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF) (Regional Office of the Caribbean and Latin America), launches the 6th edition of the Hackathon competition “media innovation marathon” (also known as a “médiathon”) which aims to promote the creation and development of innovative information products and services, in line with the evolution of technologies (especially mobile) to meet the needs of the population… more
C&W reports mobile decline
Regional – REGIONAL telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), which operates in T&T as Flow, last week reported a decline in its mobile subscribers, but increases in its fixed-line and broadband Revenue Generating Units (RGUs)… more
Internet registry elects first board member from the Caribbean
Regional – Regenie Fräser, the former secretary general of a regional trade association, has been selected to serve a one-year term on the board of trustees of the American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN)… more
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
RBC Customers Hit In ATM Scam
Bahamas – ROYAL Bank of Canada (RBC) yesterday confirmed some of its Bahamian Visa debit and Visa credit card holders had fallen victim to “skimming”, with some irate customers reporting “thousands of dollars” having been wiped off their accounts…more
CIG signs deal paving way for ‘digital economy’
Cayman Islands – Commerce Minister Joey Hew has said that a partnership with TechCayman, a new venture from the business leaders of Health City, could make the Cayman Islands the “Silicon Valley” of the Caribbean… more
Caribbean found “wanting” in broadband internet speeds
Jamaica – A new study conducted by Cable.co.uk has found the Caribbean wanting in terms of average broadband internet speeds measured across 200 countries… more
Holness says press freedom safe under Data Protection Bill
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness last night assured the regional media that his Government will ensure that the investigative rights of the Jamaican media remain protected under the new Data Protection Act… more
Cryptocurrency Firm Bitt Signs MOU With Another Caribbean Central Bank
Regional – Barbados-based cryptocurrency firm Bitt has partnered with the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) to explore the creation of a central bank-backed digital currency… more
Turks and Caicos gov’t acquires 100-plus CCTV cameras
Turks and Caicos Islands – More than 100 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been acquired by the Government, 11 of which are already installed and working around Providenciales… more
Wednesday, 15 August 2018
RBC Scam Shows Direct Downside On Debit Cards
Bahamas– A leading accountant and fraud expert yesterday urged Bahamians to be aware of the fraud risks associated with debit card usage, noting its duel benefit has been a “blessing and a curse”… more
The Bahamas Blockchain Technology Angel Investment Network (“BBTAIN”) Inaugural Signature Event as Startup Ecosystem And Foreign Direct Investment Advocate
Bahamas – WHAT: The Bahamas Blockchain Technology Angel Investor Network (“BBTAIN”), is an exclusive, invitation-only, global angel investor membership and networking organization founded to sponsor bi-monthly meetings not only to tackle the funding gap, but also increase investor access to companies (deal flow) both within Blockchain enabled technologies and in other areas such as… more
FLOW Jamaica Hauls In $23b Over Six Months
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as FLOW, earned US$183 million ($23 billion) in revenue over six months ending June, derived in part from price increases… more
Caribbean broadcasters meeting in Jamaica
Regional – Caribbean and international broadcasters are meeting here amidst calls for regional governments to adapt to the new media environment of which social media is now a critical part… more
Thursday, 16 August 2018
– Nil –
Friday, 17 August 2018
Social media make youth more prone to bullying – Ricardo Drue
Antigua and Barbuda – Soca artiste Ricardo Drue feels that social media has made the current generation of youth more susceptible to bullying… more
Symonette: ‘Public Needs To Be Cautious’ With ATMs
Barbados – FINANCIAL Services Minister Brent Symonette said yesterday that Bahamians will have to exercise greater “caution” when utilising ATMs, calling the recent Royal Bank of Canada “skimming” incident “unfortunate”… more
Belize represented at 1st Global Robotics Olympics in Mexico
Belize – Belize is proudly being represented at the First Global Robotics Olympics in Mexico…more
GTT shares…NICIL heads to court again for US$5M owed by Hong Kong company
Guyana – The National Industrial and Commercial Investment Inc (NICIL) is again looking to head to the courts in the United Kingdom (UK) in an effort to recover the US$5M owed to Guyana… more
New PUC-ordered landline rollout does not include Blaze services – GTT
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has disclosed that its Blaze services are not being counted in the rollout of new landlines for customers… more
Jamaica Stock Exchange explores cryptocurrencies
Jamaica – The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) has expressed an interest in allowing investors to trade cryptocurrencies on its platform… more
Kingston hosts earn US$2.4m from Airbnb service in 2017
Jamaica – PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says there is scope for greater expansion of the Airbnb service in Jamaica, which earned hosts in Kingston US$2.4 million in 2017…more
Sagicor Partners With Digicel To Roll Out Mobile Money App
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Digicel Group and partners are expected to announce the launch of a mobile money app this month that is usable internationally, more than a year after the product was first targeted for market entry… more
Saturday, 18 August 2018
FLOW Is A Disaster
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I have resided at Caymanas Country Club Estate for almost a year, and FLOW services are interrupted at least once a week. It’s terrible… more
Sunday, 19 August 2018
USF Managing Director Suzette Buchanan Separated From Agency
Jamaica – Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Suzette Buchanan has “separated” from the Agency… more
Image credits: Megan Trace (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; Facebook
