A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 10 May to Sunday 16 May 2021.
Monday, 10 May 2021
Improving the Services of the Ministry of Youth, Sports & E-Governance
Belize – Minister of Youth, Sports and E-Governance begins an official tour, starting with San Pedro. His objective to ensure that services are offered to enhance the development of youth and sports while pushing the concept of digitizing government services through e-governance… more
CTU signs MOU to make Internet access more affordable in the Caribbean
Caribbean – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), to coordinate efforts and promote joint activities with the goal of expanding meaningful and affordable Internet access through policy and regulatory reform… more
Cyber security: an unavoidable priority
Caribbean – If the pandemic has demonstrated anything it is that much improved internet connectivity, reliability and security have become unavoidable priorities for the Caribbean… more
2,000 students to learn coding via Amber Group, MOE partnership
Jamaica – The Amber Group is partnering with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) to introduce coding in schools via the Pilot Coding in Schools Programme to promote and develop the teaching and learning of coding in public schools across Jamaica… more
Digital gift card platform to transform local industry
Jamaica – SET to offically launch in the country later this month, BlinkSky Jamaica, a new digital platform, believes that through the use of technology it will revolutionise the local e-gift card industry… more
Pilot Coding in Schools programme launched, 20 institutions to benefit
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education has officially launched the pilot Coding in Schools programme… more
Propelled into the digital era by
Trinidad and Tobago – While the global population is held captive by Covid-19, it has killed hundreds and infected thousands locally… more
Vandals strike at TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – Vandals are to blame for the disruption the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) landline and broadband internet services in Morvant and environs, yesterday… more
Tuesday, 11 May 2021
All Hands On Deck’ As Visa Site Overwhelmed
Bahamas – A Cabinet minister yesterday revealed it is “all hands on deck” to prevent “a surge” in visitor demand from “overwhelming” the Bahamas’ health travel visa website and deterring potential tourists… more
Govt digitization strategy continues with aim to increase productivity
Bahamas – A top Ministry of Finance official said yesterday as the government moves forward with its digitization strategy, it is looking internally to see how workers within the public service may be redeployed for greater productivity… more
Govt Targets 40 Online Services By Year’s End
Bahamas – The government is aiming to make 40 public services available online by year-end through adding an additional one to its portal every six-eight weeks, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday… more
‘More Efficient’ E-Cabinet Set To Launch Today
Bahamas – The Minnis government will today use its “e-Cabinet” system for the first time in a bid to make the top decision-making body “more efficient and effective” a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday… more
MyGateway launched
Bahamas – Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson yesterday touted the launch of the government’s MyGateway platform, a rebranding of the online government service portal, which went live earlier this year, as a major milestone in supporting the economic development of The Bahamas… more
APP LAUNCHED TO REPORT BULLYING, BAD BEHAVIOUR
Barbados – Bullying and other negative behaviours can now be reported by students from eight secondary schools through the touch of a button… more
BARBADIANS URGED TO LEARN NEW SKILLS
Barbados – Barbadians are being encouraged to use this time to learn new skills… more
Call to speed up switch to smart grid power network
Barbados – Carlton Cummins, Barbadian co-founder of United Kingdom-based clean technology company, Aceleron, says Barbados needs to hasten its transition to a smart grid power network… more
TEACHING OF CODING, ROBOTICS WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT DEVELOPMENT
Barbados – Coding and robotics will play a significant role in changing the face of education on this island… more
Free ICT course for women meets growing demand
Cayman Islands – The Gender Affairs Unit (GAU) has cut a cheque for CI$2,500 to fund another Women.Code (Cayman) programme, which will be its fifth free course for all women on Grand Cayman to learn about computer science and software development… more
GTT needs customers’ permission before advertising businesses on our SMS
Guyana – Dear Editor, GTT needs to ask customers permission before advertising promotions for businesses on our SMS… more
Cybersecurity expert says millions of data at risk
Jamaica – Cybersecurity expert Dr Moniphia Hewling is advising companies and individuals to closely monitor their online activity in order to reduce exposure to cybercrimes and cyberattacks… more
Ibex eyes more business through its ‘high-calibre’ Jamaican staff
Jamaica – Business process outsourcing (BPO) company Ibex is preparing for more business from its Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) services segment, through what the company described as its “team of high-calibre” staff across its locations in Jamaica… more
tTech launches virtual staging of TechCon 2021
Jamaica – tTech Limited has announced the virtual staging of TechCon 2021, which is scheduled for May 18 to 19, 2021… more
Update | Samuda warns that no government database impenetrable
Jamaica – As the nation awaits the findings of an investigation into the exposure of thousands of files on the JamCOVID web portal, Jamaicans have been cautioned that no government database is impenetrable… more
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
BTC Revenues Off 9% Despite Mobile Revival
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) suffered a near-nine percent year-over-year revenue decline for the 2021 first quarter despite driving a 2,400 post-paid mobile subscriber rise… more
INTO THE FUTURE: Bahamas Cabinet goes digital
Bahamas – The Cabinet of The Bahamas has now transitioned to a digital platform designed to improve the processes and operating procedures in the Cabinet Office, according to State Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson… more
Spotlight Initiative Hands Over ICT Equipment
Belize – The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the work of community-based leaders, advocates and influencers who connect with the marginalised, vulnerable and the indigenous communities across the country of Belize… more
Microsoft: Companies must tighten up on cybersecurity
Caribbean – In an announcement on Wednesday, Microsoft introduced the wide availability of new certifications for cybersecurity professionals across a range of capabilities… more
Tech Beach launches corporate accelerator
Caribbean – REGISTRATION is open for the latest project from Tech Beach Retreat (TBR) aimed at reimagining learning and development for corporate innovators. The programme, which will run from June 7 to July 2, is being mounted in collaboration with the DMZ from Ryerson University… more
WOMEN IN TECH – Home-based and Diaspora
Caribbean – SILICON Caribe announced a list of 20 Jamaican women in tech in its 2021 salute. The list includes home- and Diaspora-based women from the field of technology who have done us proud… more
Ayanna Samuels — OUT OF THIS WORLD
Jamaica – AYANNA Samuels has a lot on her plate. She is an aerospace engineer, technology policy specialist, gender advocate and international development professional. She has also run a consultancy practice for over 17 years… more
Oshane Dunstan To Benefit from Skills for the Future Programme
Jamaica – Oshane Dunstan, the 23-year-old aspiring car maker hailing from Rocky River, Clarendon, is set to benefit from the Flow Foundation’s Skills for the Future Programme… more
T&T worried about social media posts aimed at destabilising country
Trinidad and Tobago – Police Commissioner Gary Griffith says several unidentified posts on social media in recent times are “clearly designed and geared toward instability, panic, and efforts to de-stabilise our democracy”… more
Thursday, 13 May 2021
Bahamas Must ‘Step Up Game’ On Cyber Security
Bahamas – Bahamian companies and the nation-at-large need to “step up their game” to protect critical IT (information technology) infrastructure against “advanced attacks” and hacks growing in sophistication… more
Scotiabank Bahamas urges vigilance amid increase in fake apps and websites
Bahamas – As The Bahamas continues to transition to being a more digital society, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotiabank (Bahamas) is urging customers to pay keen attention to online safety and to be vigilant when navigating websites… more
Customised FinTech course being launched in BVI
British Virgin Islands – A customised Financial Technology (FinTech) course is being launched in the British Virgin Islands… more
Huawei calls for global collaboration on cybersecurity
Caribbean – At a virtual press briefing on Monday, Marcelo Motta, chief cybersecurity officer, Latin America and the Caribbean for Huawei Technologies called for more global collaboration on cybersecurity issues… more
Flow pursuing full fibre coverage in Cayman Islands by end-2021
Cayman Islands – Flow Cayman Islands is aiming to extend its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network across Grand Cayman and the majority of the Sister Islands by the end of 2021… more
DPSU undertakes training project to boost members’ knowledge of ICT
Dominica – The Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) is embarking on a physical training project to enhance the institution’s knowledge on Information and Communication Technology (ICT)… more
NTRC and Flow may soon head to court over illegal tying of service
Dominica – The National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) and telecommunication company Flow Dominica, may soon be heading to court over the illegal tying of services… more
Grenada announces participation in WiShops Project 1000
Grenada – This week, Grenada’s Minister of Trade Oliver Joseph announced that the country would participate, along with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, in the WiPay project, Project 1000… more
Public libraries balancing virtual, physical services
Jamaica – With users falling to under 500,000 in the past year as a direct result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) is making a determined effort to increase its virtual service across the country… more
WiPay goes for a Guinness record with WiShops
Jamaica – It wouldn’t be enough for WiPay’s colourful leader, Aldwyn Wayne to announce the company’s portal for ecommerce websites, WiShops… more
Friday, 14 May 2021
Electronic payment fraud up in The Bahamas
Bahamas – ELECTRONIC fraud is on the rise in The Bahamas based on a new survey carried out by Central Bank of The Bahamas… more
#BTColumn – ‘App-arent’ failure by Ms Bradshaw
Barbados – Sometimes you read something and you are not sure if it is a joke… more
Suriname sweeps top 2 spots in Caribbean Girls Hackathon
Caribbean – After months of challenging over 700 girls around the region to develop tech solutions to pressing regional issues, the Caribbean Girls Hack TechnoCreativity Hackathon 2021, came to a nail biting close with its final Caribbean Girls Virtual 3D Hackathon finals last Saturday, May 8… more
Sagicor launches eLife platform for Cayman customers
Cayman Islands – Sagicor Life Insurance in the Cayman Islands this week introduced its electronic online eLife insurance platform to better serve customers in that country… more
Haiti’s regulator returns to SIM card registration scheme
Haiti – Haiti’s economic and social indicators remain far lower than the average for Latin America and the Caribbean… more
ADVERTORIAL | MSMEs urged to embrace AI and data analytics to grow their businesses
Jamaica – Members of the micro, small and medium enterprises are being urged to embrace technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and automation to improve customer service and take their businesses to the next level… more
Flow Jamaica — supports team members in working from home
Jamaica – MANY organisations that have moved to a remote working strategy in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic have turned to new ways of supporting their employees’ well-being… more
GraceKennedy taps tTech talent for digital business growth
Jamaica – GraceKennedy Limited began stepping up its programme to digitally transform the group from last year, having poured US$25 million into its tech infrastructure in the past five, and now it’s gone further to bring an expert on board… more
MOCA wants expanded cybercrime laws
Jamaica – The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) is seeking an expansion of the activities covered under the five-year-old Cybercrimes Act which are being reviewed… more
Digicel Suriname restructures debt
Suriname – Suriname is the smallest nation on the South American continent, with about 580,000 inhabitants. The only Dutch-speaking nation in South America, it has close affinities with the Caribbean, and is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)… more
Flow Business offers exciting solutions for SMBs
Trinidad and Tobago – Last October, Flow Business launched a product that empowered Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) to go digital with new solutions, dedicated support and convenient digital channels… more
Flow closes PoS retail store after COVID-19 scare
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow has closed its Port-of-Spain retail store for sanitisation today after an employee presented with symptoms of COVID-19 within the past two days… more
Saturday, 15 May 2021
SENIORS TO GET HELP NAVIGATING DIGITAL WORLD
Barbados – Persons 65 and over confounded by the ‘click’, ‘scroll down’ and ‘open new tab’ requests of the online world are now getting much needed aid… more
Sunday, 16 May 2021
David Jessop | Connectivity and the future of Caricom
Caribbean – The appointment of Dr Carla Barnett as the next secretary general of Caricom should be an inflection point, a moment when the institution, and more importantly its member states rise to the challenge of delivering the post-pandemic decisions that could propel the regional integration process into the 21st century… more
Health + Tech | Electronic patient scheduling saves time, money
Caribbean – The long wait for non-emergency healthcare, both privately and publicly, can be frustrating… more
Flow bolsters contact agents to handle excessive call volumes
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as Flow Jamaica, is routing excess customer calls to Teleperformance, a French company that it previously hired as a back-up service to customer contact centre partner Advantage Communications months before the pandemic hit… more
FLOW: USF falling short in bridging digital divide
Jamaica – The Internet connectivity issues bedevilling rural and underserved communities could have been lessened if the Universal Service Fund (USF) had stuck more closely to its mandate of building out information and communication technologies (ICT)… more
More spectrum, new telecoms player on horizon
Jamaica – Local telecoms providers could soon know if they will be getting the additional spectrum they seek as the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) will make its recommendation to Technology Minister Daryl Vaz in a matter of weeks… more
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