A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 April to Sunday 2 May 2021.
Monday, 26 April 2021
BTC offering dedicated contact centre, e-commerce services to SME clients
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) announced a series of new initiatives to help small business customers ride out the pandemic and continue with their digital transformation. BTC said it has adapted its operations to respond to the growing demands of local SMEs, which now account for more than 85 percent of the company’s business clientele… more
Female representation in game development is here to SLAY
Guyana – Last Thursday, 87 countries – including Guyana and many of the CARICOM Member States – celebrated International Girls in ICT Day under the theme “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures”… more
Hold us to our five promises – Digicel CEO
Jamaica – In celebration of its 20th anniversary in the country, Digicel Jamaica has made five promises to customers which it says is a slate of expectations every customer should have when they interact with the company… more
Spectrum Management Authority rejects conflict of interest claim
Jamaica – The Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) has rejected claims of a conflict of interest when it entered into a commercial transaction with SynCon Technologies in 2017 to provide equipment to help with data security and reduced hardware costs… more
ECTEL Empowers Girls to Get Connected with ICT
Regional –The regulatory body for electronic communications in the Eastern Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) is calling on all girls to participate in an interactive virtual tech talk… more
Drones to the rescue …tapping in to life-saving technology
Trinidad and Tobago – Plumes of grey ash mixed with gas explode violently over the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent, spreading far across the sky… more
Tuesday, 27 April 2021
Govt expands digital services again
Bahamas – The government yesterday launched a new online solution for the registration and licensing of vessels through the Port Department… more
TECHNO-PAYOFF: Govt expecting “revenue bump” from digital platform rollout
Bahamas – While the government is anticipating a “revenue bump” due to the introduction of its digital payment platform, Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson noted yesterday that it has not set any particular targets in light of what he described as an “anomalous period”… more
Logic launches wireless broadband internet in the eastern districts
Cayman Islands – Logic has launched a fixed wireless home internet service in the eastern districts of Grand Cayman… more
2021 Guyana Innovation Prize winners announced
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana, and the Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT) a US and Guyana-based initiative that supports science and technology startups, wish to announce the 2021 winners of the Guyana Innovation Prize… more
TVET professional development goes online
Regional – CARICOM Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) Assessors, Verifiers, Instructors now have access to online training to enhance their capacity to ensure that artisans attain the occupational standards required for work within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)… more
Montraville Farms CleanRite Old Road United Jets Launch Free WiFi
Saint Kitts and Nevis – In celebration of their newly formed partnership with the Old Road United Jets Football Club, corporate partners Montraville Farms & CleanRite announced the installation of a free Wi-Fi hotspot on the main street between Hermitage Road and Wingfield Road… more
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Belize courts pioneer new electronic document filing system
Belize – Courts in Belize have made an historic switch to a new electronic filing system designed to do away with the expensive and time-consuming paper-based system of the past… more
OfReg invites young Cayman professionals to be IIC’s future leaders
Cayman Islands – The International Institute of Communication (IIC), a global policy debating platform for the converged communications industry, offering innovators and regulators a forum to explore, debate, and agree on the best policies and regulatory frameworks for the widest societal benefit, is promoting a Future Leaders’ Competition and OfReg is encouraging all young professionals from Cayman to participate in the forum to promote the rising stars of the sector… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Customers pleased with Flow’s enhanced Combo Plans
Dominica – Former Windward Islands cricketer Liam Sebastian is applauding telecoms provider Flow for the enhancements made to its ‘Always On’ prepaid mobile plan… more
Advertorial | Video games set in Jamaica
Jamaica – Many music enthusiasts claim that Jamaica is the origin of reggae music. The Antillean-Caribbean Sea surrounds Jamaica. It is popular for its wild beaches and clear water… more
Successful Girls in ICT Day
Jamaica – Youth Can Do IT (YCDI) marked Girls in ICT Day 2021 with the second staging of their two-day virtual event #iamWITy (I am woman in technology)… more
TECH PRODIGY, Dominic Darby
Jamaica – It’s easy to describe 11-year-old Dominic Darby as a technology prodigy… more
WiPay to provide 1,000 free websites to MSMEs
Jamaica – FINTECH company WiPay Jamaica will be providing 1,000 micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) each with a free e-commerce website and free hosting on May 16… more
A salute to Women in Tech
Regional – SiliconCaribe released their First Annual Caribbean Women in Tech Top 50 List to mark Girls in ICT Day. Twenty Jamaican women made the stellar list of 50 women from 14 countries operating in 24 tech industry sectors… more
Federal Minister of ICT first Woman to Chair the ECTEL Council of Ministers
Regional – Federal Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) et. al, the Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett, is the first woman to sit on the Council of Ministers for the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)… more
T&T Chess Tournament Makes History Going Online
Trinidad and Tobago – Every few years, chess returns to the attention of the mainstream population in the form of a movie or television show that reignites our passion for one of the most popular games in the world… more
Thursday, 29 April 2021
BTC reduces costs of prepaid plans in response to pandemic
Bahamas – BTC said yesterday that it has reduced the costs of its prepaid mobile plans with an emphasis on ‘supersizing’ the value to its subscribers… more
Local crypto firm improving its offering through strategic partnership
Bahamas – Deltec International Group’s Bahamas-domiciled financial digital asset service provider Delchain, announced yesterday that it has partnered with blockchain network Flare to offer cryptocurrency transactions… more
Gov’t negotiating telecoms companies’ licenses
British Virgin Islands – The government is reportedly in talks with local telecommunications providers to address issues surrounding service quality, reliability and cost… more
Cornerstone launches CyberSafe Yuhself programme
Jamaica – Cornerstone Jamaica recently launched its cybersecurity awareness programme, CyberSafe Yuhself, at Manning’s, Lennon High and Broughton Primary schools in Westmoreland… more
Nevis drone operators get opportunity to contribute to Federal draft regulations governing operations
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Drone operators on Nevis had the opportunity to contribute to regulations being drafted for the operation of drones by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at a briefing hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation recently… more
Huawei’s repositioning strategy
Trinidad and Tobago – A WEEK ago, Huawei hosted a virtual tour of its Galileo Exhibition Hall in Shenzhen, China… more
Friday, 30 April 2021
Covid-19 digital vaccination barcodes could be on the horizon
Antigua and Barbuda – Information Minister Honorable Melford Nicholas revealed that the Cabinet is giving consideration to providing fully vaccinated young people with a barcode sent to their smartphone… more
Bahamas ‘Left Behind’ If Fails To Compete Digitally
Bahamas – The Bahamas is “in danger of being left behind” unless it exploits the same digital tools that foreign competitors are using to sell goods and services here, a senior Aliv executive warned yesterday… more
App being developed for student attendance registration
Jamaica – A student attendance registration application is to be developed to collect information in real time about school attendance… more
C&W Business Jamaica rolls out enhanced work-from-home solution for BPO industry
Jamaica – ICT solutions provider, C&W Business Jamaica, has launched an enhanced work-from-home solution for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry… more
Flow Jamaica challenges COVID-19 with innovative solutions, upgraded technology
Jamaica – While many firms simply made cutbacks as Jamaica went into lockdown over a year ago due to the emerging COVID-19 threat, Flow Jamaica had to accelerate many of its plans and deploy several measures to manage the spike in demand for its services… more
Public CCTV camera program soon to be rolled out on Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is preparing to roll out its public CCTV surveillance program with the imminent outfitting of security cameras across Nevis… more
Universal Service Fund Encourages Responsible Use Of Public Wi-Fi Hot Spots
Jamaica – As the Universal Service Fund continues to roll-out free Wi-Fi across the country it is reminding users to connect with care. To date, the Agency has established 13 Public Wi-Fi hotspots in growth centres across the country… more
OECS Youth building digital businesses
Regional – On March 22, 2021, the USAID/OECS Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP) started the second phase of its Digital Jobs Initiative, with 141 youth including youth in conflict with the law, youth currently housed at custodial rehabilitation facilities, and unemployed young people… more
Saturday, 1 May 2021
BVI a model for implementing SMART Schools regionally
British Virgin Islands – The BVI is paving the way for more SMART School programmes to be developed in the region… more
Sunday, 2 May 2021
LANDMARK NTI-COURSERA PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED
Barbados – Yesterday, Saturday, May 1, the Government of Barbados officially announced a historic partnership that will put new and exciting career competencies within reach of Barbadians… more
Gender equity Flow
Jamaica – Telecoms giant Flow Jamaica, in asserting its commitment to gender diversity and inclusion throughout its operations, says the equal split of its senior leadership team is something which the organisation has benefited from and one of which it is particularly proud… more
New Huawei Jamaica CEO urges young people to focus on technology
Jamaica – NEIL Grant has a message for young people who are scratching their heads in trying to choose a career: Technology is the way to go… more
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