A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 March to Sunday 22 March 2020.

 

Monday, 16 March 2020

BUSINESS BYTE: Statement by Flow on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Dominica – We are facing an unprecedented situation with the Coronavirus. Developments are rapidly occurring. Decisions are being made in real-time that affect our colleagues, our families and our communities… more

Dominican banks apply protocols with technology

Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic Commercial Banks Association (ABA) on Mon. said that its 18 members abide by Public Health Ministry recommendations and World Health Organization (WHO) protocols to contain coronavirus, declared a pandemic… more

COVID-19 telephone numbers zero-rated — Fayval Williams

Jamaica – Jamaica’s two major telecommunication providers – Digicel and Cable and Wireless (FLOW) – have agreed to zero-rate access to all novel coronavirus (COVID-19) numbers in use by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, effective Friday, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams announced weekend… more

Internet Bullies Cause Safety Concerns For Judge In Grant- Powell Vs. Tanzil Case

Saint Kitts and Nevis – Social media users threatening violence in reference to resident judge Eddy Ventose- from St.Lucia- has caused local and regional judiciary groups to be concerned for his safety and are calling on wrong doers to stop behaving in such manner… more

Coronavirus: Limit use of cash; make use of online, mobile banking — Saint Lucia bankers

Saint Lucia – The Bankers Association of Saint Lucia has been monitoring the global and regional developments as it relates to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and we continue to do so with heightened awareness following the announcement of Saint Lucia’s first COVID 19 case on Friday, March 13th, 2020… more

SALCC rapidly scales-up online instruction

Saint Lucia – The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College has moved rapidly to scale-up online delivery of academic courses given the suspension of face-to-face classes which came into effect on Monday March 16, 2020… more

Best tech for working from home

Trinidad and Tobago – As confirmed coronavirus cases increase worldwide, more businesses are mandating employees work from home… more

Bmobile zero-rates 12 websites for covid19 access

Trinidad and Tobago – BMOBILE has zero rated 12 websites for customers to access accurate information and news on covid19… more

T&TEC urges online payments

Trinidad and Tobago – As the provider of an essential service, the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission is committed to maintaining its high level of service to customers as the country collectively adopts measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus)… more

 

Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Growth & Jobs | Address ‘Digital Divide’ To Facilitate Rural Development

Jamaica – St Ann-based banker Dr Ransford Davidson is suggesting that a partnership between the Government and the private sector could assist to address what he observes as being a ‘digital divide’ affecting the pace of rural development… more

Growth & Jobs | MSMES Urged To Leverage Technology

Jamaica – With the micro and small Enterprises (MSME) sector contributing $80.4 billion in revenue in 2018, and accounting for some 35 per cent of jobs in the Jamaican economy, the sector is being urged to leverage technology to facilitate further growth… more

Companies gearing up for remote workers

Trinidad and Tobago – ONE telecommunications company is planning for an increase in traffic on both their full fibre and mobile networks in Trinidad and across the Caribbean as more and more companies are allowing their employees to work from home via technology amidst the deadly COVID-19 outbreak… more

 

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Penn calls for Internet Exchange Point to manage heavier online traffic from COVID-19 response

British Virgin Islands – Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has said he believes the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and local internet service providers should find common ground to establish the long-discussed Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in the British Virgin Islands… more

ADVERTORIAL| Bringing Your Own Device To Work Can Benefit Employers

Jamaica – “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine” is an old idiom, which is often used to express generosity in relationships… more

Flow takes additional steps to serve customers

Jamaica – Flow Jamaica today announced several additional measures that the company has put in place for its retail and technical operations to further protect its team and its customers… more

Letter from Flow to customers

Saint Lucia – Dear Valued Customers and Partners, We are facing an unprecedented situation with the Coronavirus. Developments are rapidly occurring. Decisions are being made in real-time that affect our families, colleagues and our communities… more

How Synapse created a digital workplace

Trinidad and Tobago – On Monday, the Caribbean Ideas Synapse team was already planning to work from home as part of a company experiment in remote working protocol. However, that day the Prime Minister announced stricter government measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus… more

Judiciary uses technology to cope with covid19

Trinidad and Tobago – A HIGH Court judge has fallen ill with the flu and is suffering from mild pneumonia forcing him to suspend sitting on cases so he can remain at home… more

 

Thursday, 19 March 2020

ALIV committed to supporting customers amidst COVID-19

Bahamas – ALIV has begun company-wide social distancing measures but branded outlets will remain open as the provider monitors COVID-19 developments… more

Educators to be trained in alternative learning platforms as schools undergo closure

British Virgin Islands – Educators in the British Virgin Islands will be trained in alternative learning platforms in the next few days as all local schools undergo an initial 14-day closure… more

Telecoms companies implement new measures in response to COVID-19 threat

British Virgin Islands – Local telecommunications providers have adjusted a number of their policies in light of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to protect the safety of customers and employees in the British Virgin Islands… more

GTT extends bill payment period; increases payment points – promises to promote social distancing

Guyana – To keep its customers electronically connected and to promote social distancing, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has extended its bill payment period, beginning April 17, 2020, to the 17th of each following month and has swiftly moved to secure new and additional points of payment for ease of access… more

GTT makes COVID-19 hotlines toll free

Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday confirmed that after interactions with officials from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the company has decided to make all Covid-19 hotline numbers toll free… more

BPO sector implements measures for safer workspace amid COVID-19

Jamaica – In light of the spread of the coronavirus locally, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies have implemented measures aimed at protecting their employees… more

Digicel joins forces with Ministry of Health in fight against COVID-19

Jamaica – Digicel customers are now able to receive timely, accurate text message updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation as a result of a public education partnership between Digicel and the Ministry of Health and Wellness… more

Jamaican Gov’t allocates $1.2 Billion for Jamaica Eye, CCTV

Jamaica – The Government will be ramping up the mounting of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at locations across the island under Jamaica Eye… more

Technology Platform Of JCF Expanded

Jamaica – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) technology platform has been expanded to accommodate a greater number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which will enable officers to monitor more public spaces… more

Digicel International helps families stay connected during the times of uncertainty

Regional – During this time, where all of us have to take extra precautions and most likely stay at home, being able to talk to the people we care for the most is extremely important… more

Digicel offers relief to customers during coronavirus crisis

Trinidad and Tobago – Free calls to health care providers, zero-rated news websites, discounts on plans and free data all form part of Digicel’s response to customers’ needs, as people start working remotely in efforts to stop the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)… more

 

Friday, 20 March 2020

BPO sector welcomes policy to work remotely

Jamaica – President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) Gloria Henry is happy with Government’s decision to allow players in the sector to work from home due to the novel coronavirus threat… more

Computer Waiver Boosts Work-At-Home For BPOs

Jamaica – The Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) has welcomed the positive response by the Government to its request for a waiver on computers to be used by select employees under a work-from-home (WAH) arrangement as the nation combats the spread of the novel coronavirus… more

Jamaica National Hit By Major Cyber Attack

Jamaica – The Jamaica National Group is reporting that one of its systems suffered a ransomware attack that saw the data of some members and customers being stolen… more

More pressure on Caricel bosses

Jamaica – The tug-of-war involving local law enforcement agencies — Symbiote Investments Limited, which trades as Caricel, and Xtrinet Limited, which reportedly purchased the spectrum licence issued to Symbiote — is heating up… more

FLOW Company Statement

Saint Kitts and Nevis – We are closely monitoring the evolving situation surrounding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and are following guidance from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO)… more

Jury trials suspended, High Court civil matters to be heard via Skype

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – JURY TRIALS at the Criminal High Courts have been suspended and telecommunications software Skype will be used to hear matters at the Civil High Courts… more

TelEm field technicians given new COVID-19 instructions

Saint Maarten – TelEm Group is putting strict safety measures in place for Outside Plant (OSP) and technical staff who are coming into contact with customers and members of the public each day to carry out new installations and effect repairs… more

 

Saturday, 21 March 2020

Barbados: New delivery service launched to promote social distancing, help curb COVID-19 spread

Barbados – E-Commerce Entrepreneurs and Attorneys, Lily Dash and Sophie Bannister have launched WiFetch — a delivery service to support the call for social distancing in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19… more

Caricel Officials Charged

Jamaica – Officials of Symbiote Investments Limited, which trades as Caricel, were among several persons on Thursday charged with breaches of the Telecommunications Act following a ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions…. more

JN Waive Some Fees After Cyberattack

Jamaica – A sophisticated cyberattack was unleashed on the JN Bank this week sending the financial institution’s cybersecurity team into defence mode as they took swift action to contain the effects of the malware and to identify the source of the onslaught… more

 

Sunday, 22 March 2020

NCB customer makes $38 million online transaction error

Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I have been exhausted, battered and bruised by officers of two commercial banks that I have been communicating with about their poor customer service on-line-portal… more

 

Image credits: Free-Photos (Pixabay);  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia;  Guyana Chronicle;  Wikipedia 

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