A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 10 February to Sunday 16 February 2020.
Monday, 10 February 2020
Caribbean territory of Anguilla cashes in on a quirky tech trend
Anguilla – The luxury resorts along serene white-sand beaches have long propped up the economy of Anguilla, a tiny British territory in the Caribbean… more
A Workshop to Strengthen Cybercrime Legislation in Belize
Belize – Cybercrime relates to offenses committed on the internet or on social media platforms on a number of issues… more
Gun-point robbery of GTT mini outlet at Giftland Mall
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GTT) kiosk on the lower flat of Giftland Mall was Monday night robbed by two youths armed with a gun… more
UK facilitates digital media workshops for Caribbean journalists
Regional – Media practitioners from Saint Lucia were given the opportunity to hone their craft and develop new skills, thanks to a UK-funded workshop delivered by Multimedia Trainer and Mobile Journalism Specialist, Dan Mason… more
NTRC facilitates consumer engagement with telecoms service providers
Saint Lucia – Users of telecommunications services were given an opportunity to interact with service providers, the regulators and consumer rights advocates during a town hall meeting organised by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the NTRC… more
LLA promotes digital responsibility
Trinidad and Tobago – International communications company Liberty Latin America (LLA) and its group of companies will celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) on February 11th by focusing on the importance of digital responsibility and the measures people can take to use the internet safely… more
TSTT warns: Do not return unknown foreign calls
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT is advising customers against returning missed calls from unfamiliar foreign numbers as this appears to be part of a “premium rate scam” designed to incur significant charges to their mobile phones or landline bills… more
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Anguilla’s Internet Domain Initials Mean Big Bucks for this Small Island
Anguilla – The luxury resorts along serene white-sand beaches have long propped up the economy of Anguilla, a tiny British territory in the Caribbean… more
BelizeON’s New Electronic Ticketing Service Brings Belize’s Events Online
Belize – Belize’s first multi-vendor, e-commerce marketplace, BelizeON.bz today launched the ticket sales for the first event in Belize to go entirely paperless for event access. Leo Matura, Owner of Mind & Me Music; the record label hosting the event “Lost at Tzatenaha,” said of this new-to-Belize method of purchasing tickets, “Progressive music entails progressive movement on all platforms… more
GTT kiosk in Giftland Mall robbed at gunpoint
Guyana – Two men, one of whom was armed with a gun, last night robbed a Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT) kiosk at the Giftland Mall of an undisclosed amount of cash… more
Guyana to launch biometric national ID card, Portugal and Jamaica digital ID plans advance
Guyana – Guyana’s government is planning to include biometrics among the security features of a new national ID card for use with all public services, according to Staebroek News… more
Digicel clarifies fair usage policy
Jamaica – Dear Editor, I write in response to a letter to the editor published in the Jamaica Observer on February 5, 2020… more
Digicel, Flow participate in today’s Safer Internet Day celebrations
Jamaica – Telecommunications providers Digicel and Flow will participate in the global celebration of Safer Internet Day today Tuesday, February 11… more
Today is Safer Internet Day
Jamaica – Jamaica’s two telecoms giants, Flow and Digicel, are today staging a range of activities to help students better use the world wide web as the island joins the globe in observing Safer Internet Day… more
Liberty Latin America promotes digital responsibility
Regional – Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or “LLA”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) will celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) across its markets by focusing on the importance of digital responsibility and the measures individuals can take to use the internet safely… more
Safer Internet Day: Microsoft recommendations for online protection
Regional – As part of Safer Internet Day, an international initiative to promote a safer and more responsible use of technology, especially among children and young people, Microsoft has compiled a series of recommendations aimed at improving the browsing experience in a safe and respectful way… more
TTIFC launches ‘cashless’ drive
Trinidad and Tobago – Can Trinidad and Tobago transition from walking around with cash in order to conduct day-to-day transactions to doing business cashless… more
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Bitt Launches World’s First Central Bank Digital Currency Hub
Barbados – Fintech company Bitt.com has taken the lead in offering a fully accessible, user-friendly repository of research and insights related to Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the future of financial technology… more
Emergency warnings to include mobile app
Cayman Islands – Phase II of the National Emergency Notification System (NENS) will include the creation of a new mobile alert application, which will be implemented in the next three months, officials said following a special meeting of the National Security Council last week… more
Telecom is ready to launch 5G in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Claro telecom on Wed. announced advances in this sector that in 2020 include a 5G deployment plan in the region where Dominican Republic has been making the necessary adjustments to its network to be able to launch the new technology in the market… more
Critical Security Legislation Coming
Jamaica – The Government will be tabling critical pieces of legislation in the 2020/21 fiscal year to improve security operations… more
Don’t block 5G
Jamaica – Dear Editor, I have been watching with great enthusiasm the recent back and forth battle between the US, UK, and Huawei… more
ICreate, Trend Media launch new digital certification portal
Jamaica – iCreate Institute and Trend Media have collaborated to launch a new learning portal aimed at driving digital skills across the Caribbean… more
Students join Digicel and partners in campaign for a safer internet
Jamaica – In support of Safer Internet Day, Digicel, Trend Media, Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) received commitments from over 200 hundred high school students from across the country that they will act as ambassadors for safer internet use by their peers… more
Ten companies chosen for BPIAJ project
Jamaica – Ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the global services sector (GSS) on Wednesday last were chosen for the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica’s (BPIAJ) ‘Scale up the value chain: targeting SMEs in the GSS’ project… more
Thursday, 13 February 2020
BTC teams up with RBPF & Top influencers to celebrate Safer Internet Day
Bahamas – BTC partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and five top social media influencers to celebrate Safer Internet Day 2020 (SID)… more
Complete Bahamian Digital Dollar Roll-Out By Year-End
Bahamas – THE Central Bank’s governor yesterday confirmed that the digital Bahamian dollar will be rolled-out throughout all islands during the 2020 second half after being introduced to Abaco by month’s end… more
Digital Dollar To Have ‘Monumental Effect’
Bahamas – The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive yesterday predicted that the Bahamian digital currency will “have a monumental effect” on the transparency and safety of local financial transactions… more
URCA Takes Consumer Protection To Eleuthera
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is planning to take its consumer protection message to Eleuthera and Grand Bahama residents this month… more
Free City WiFi ‘sometime after March’
Barbados – The Smart Bridgetown project, which includes free public WiFi, has been delayed another three months, the Government’s information technology chief has told Barbados TODAY… more
High-tech courses unveiled at SJPI
Barbados – The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology has introduced three new high-tech courses in a bid to help young people become disruptors in their technological fields, principal Ian Drakes has declared… more
Belize Cybercrime law to secure credit card payments
Belize – The Belize tourism industry stands to benefit greatly by having its electronic payments infrastructure secured by Belize’s first cybercrime law… more
Controversial Computer Misuse & Cybercrime Act now law
British Virgin Islands – The controversial Computer Misuse & Cybercrime (Amendment) Act of 2019 is now in effect in the British Virgin Islands after being assented by Governor Augustus Jaspert on Wednesday, February 12… more
New BVI Now app launched | Promises to put BVI above the competition
British Virgin Islands – A new mobile application that allows visitors and residents to find places to stay, dine, shop or relax has been launched in the British Virgin Islands… more
Virtual CXC workshops to be possibly implemented in BVI
British Virgin Islands – The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has hinted at implementing virtual workshops for teachers locally, to remedy the absence of regular CXC meetings in the territory… more
Claro Caribbean revenues slip 4% in Q4, up 6% in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – America Movil’s Claro units in the Caribbean reported fourth-quarter revenues down 4.3 percent year on year to USD 453 million, above all due to a 13.6 percent fall in fixed line service revenues to USD 177 million, partly offset by an 8.3 percent rise in mobile service revenues to USD 279 million… more
Digital systems have not ‘crashed’, says Supreme Court
Guyana – The Supreme Court of Judicature (SCJ) has refuted an article published in the Kaieteur News about alleged shortcomings in the Court’s Information and Technology (IT) Department… more
Guyana Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025- Analysis of Guyana Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Guyana – Guyana Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Guyana’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Haiti Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025- Analysis of Haiti Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Haiti – Haiti Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Haiti’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Flow taking cautious approach towards 5G tehnology
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm Flow Jamaica has said it is taking a cautious approach to the impending introduction of 5G technology… more
Students, teachers laud Digicel Safer Internet Day rap sessions
Jamaica – Students from a number of schools across the country were on Tuesday given tips on how to become better users of the internet, armed with information on how to avoid becoming victims of cyber crimes… more
FinTech promotes safer, cashless Carnival
Trinidad and Tobago – Cashless services and Carnival characters mixed and mingled on February 5 for the launch of the FinTech Association of TT at the National Museum and Art Gallery, Port of Spain… more
FLOW SHARES SAFER INTERNET TIPS WITH BATCE STUDENTS
Trinidad and Tobago – The Flow Education Road Show stopped at Bishop Anstey and Trinity College East (BATCE) on February 11, to observe Safer Internet Day… more
Friday, 14 February 2020
BARBADOS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK 2020-2025 AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Barbados – With Long Term Evolution (LTE) rapid expansion and slowdown in 2G and 3G services, the Barbados telecom market is evolving rapidly… more
Digital transformation is a team sport
Jamaica – If you have been keeping track of the conversations on digital transformation, then it would be no surprise to know that one of the most critical components of this innovation is people… more
Govt allocates $1.6b to NIDS
Jamaica – The Government has allocated $1.6 billion towards implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) project… more
Government involvment is crucial to roll-out of 5G in Jamaica
Jamaica – As the world moves to upgrade existing 4G wireless networks to the next generation of 5G, Government involvement will be crucial towards its success, according to Rohan Pottinger, chief technology officer at Digicel Jamaica… more
Gov’t rakes in revenue from telephone call tax
Jamaica – The Government is raking in more revenue from the telephone call tax… more
Government to increase technology to tackle indiscipline on roads
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness is promising that the Government will be increasing the use of technology to fight the indiscipline and lack of respect for law and order that now exist on the nation’s streets… more
Social media in tourism
Regional – Social media has permeated every area of business; it is valuable and works in some way or form — everywhere. Today I’ll be examining a few tips on using social media in tourism… more
ST. LUCIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK 2020-2025 AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Saint Lucia – With Long Term Evolution (LTE) rapid expansion and slowdown in 2G and 3G services, the St. Lucia telecom market is evolving rapidly… more
Local Journalists Enhance Digital Skills
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Journalists from a number of media houses across St. Vincent and the Grenadines were exposed recently to game-changing mobile and digital skills, in an effort to encourage them to re-think their role and make positive differences in their local communities and beyond… more
Saturday, 15 February 2020
ONLINE GUIDE FOR INVESTORS
Barbados – Investors interested in doing business in Barbados now have an online platform where they can gain information about how to do this… more
Government to table critical security legislation
Jamaica – The Government will be tabling critical pieces of legislation in the 2020/21 fiscal year to improve security operations… more
Major data breach at Victoria Mutual Wealth Management
Jamaica – Victoria Mutual Wealth Management says that it is reviewing its systems following a major data breach at the financial institution… more
Thousands to be trained for jobs in digitisation and animation
Jamaica – Thousands of young people are to be trained for jobs in digitisation and animation in the new fiscal year… more
Sunday, 16 February 2020
Guyanese IT business honoured at BIZ X awards in US
Guyana – Local Information Technology (IT) company Techlify Inc has been named the winner of Best IT Organization and Best Business Software at the 2020 BIZ X Awards, an annual event that honors the best of the best small and medium-sized businesses around the world… more
Flow shares safer Internet tips with BATCE students
Trinidad and Tobago – The Flow Education Road Show stopped at Bishop Anstey and Trinity College East (BATCE) on February 11, to observe Safer Internet Day… more
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