A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 September to Sunday 19 September 2021.

 

Monday, 13 September 2021

Digital training for teachers in barbados & T&T

Barbados – Two hundred teachers from Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago are currently engaged in training to enhance their digital skills in education to better respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 environment and reach their charges… more

Dominican public encouraged to help bring seniors into digital age

Dominica – In a world that is rapidly being transformed by the accelerated advancement of digital technologies, the President of the Dominica Council On Ageing (DCOA) has sounded a call to the public to assist in empowering older people to make use of these technologies… more

BOJ not using blockchain for CBDC could have far-reaching implications

Jamaica – The Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) has cautioned the Jamaican authorities that not using blockchain technology in the planned Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) could have far-reaching implications… more

Digicel Business, Trend Media, Microsoft present #TransformCaribbean

Jamaica – Digicel Business and Trend Media are partnering with Microsoft Caribbean to deliver #TransformCaribbean: Disaster Preparedness with the Cloud in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago on September 22, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am EST… more

Flow expands fibre-fast network

Jamaica – Telecommunications firm FLOW said that it has connected more than 420 communities to its fibre-fast network since January 2020… more

Special needs students grappling with online modality

Jamaica – With the restart of virtual classes for the new academic year, students with special needs are among those who continue to grapple with learning challenges… more

 

Tuesday, 14 September 2021

EZPAY now available on Payce Digital Mobile App

Barbados – The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Smart Technology (MIST) is excited to partner with Payce Digital, formerly Cave Shepherd Card., to continue to drive innovation in the digital payments space in Barbados… more

Anglin is The UWI’s Data Protection Officer

Caribbean – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has appointed Dr Patrick Anglin as the University Data Protection Officer, with effect from August 1, 2021… more

Grenada PM to launch Caricom Digital Skills Task Force

Caribbean – Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, will on Wednesday launch the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Digital Skills Task Force during a virtual meeting, the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat has announced… more

WhatsApp will stop working on some phones this November

Caribbean – Starting in November, the popular messaging service WhatsApp will stop working on a number of Android and iOS devices due to an upcoming update in the app’s software requirements, Business Insider reports… more

‘Dem nah learn nothing’

Jamaica – Eighteen months after the COVID-19 pandemic threw the education sector into disarray after the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed on the island, some parents are concerned that their children remain at a disadvantage as their inability to access online classes means they are being left behind… more

Growth & Jobs | Remittances assist in purchase of devices for online learning

Jamaica – THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL period, late July to early September, is normally a busy one for Marsha Lewis. During that period, the 32-year-old entrepreneur uses the funds her mother sends from overseas to purchase school supplies for her two siblings… more

New Internet Service from Barbados-Based Company, Neptune Communications, Available in Jamaica soon

Jamaica – A new internet service company has launched its operations in Jamaica. The firm’s priority is reliable connectivity for cloud users, said Neptune Communications CEO Julian Jordan. Its portfolio of products will also include online security solutions… more

Preparing Jamaica for the 4th

Jamaica – THE fourth industrial revolution is fast approaching and Jamaica must be ready for the opportunities that will present themselves. Under this new world we will see an increase in automation and the use of more sophisticated technology that will need little to no human intervention… more

Senior citizens embrace digital education programmes

Jamaica – Scores of seniors are among the thousands of Jamaicans now engaged in the Flow Foundation’s Digital Education Programme. more

St Lucia will provide 4,000 laptops to students in need

Saint Lucia – St Lucia is all set to reopen schools virtually from today (Monday) due to the ongoing crisis of COVID-19 in the region. About 4,000 laptops will be provided to students in need, announced Education Minister Shawn Edwards… more

TATT to manage crippled Cumberland Hill

Trinidad and Tobago – THE Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago will control access to and maintenance of the upper part of Cumberland Hill, above Fort George, the site of most of this country’s major private and public electronic transmitters… more

 

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Building a future-proof workforce

Caribbean – Answers will vary based on the respondent’s perspective. Some will say that the past is simply that — the past — and that relishing bygone events in excess is a trap that only serves to keep us psychologically regressed… more

Elizabeth Morgan | Trade in services – Business Process Outsourcing

Caribbean – As countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been seeking to diversify and grow their economies, as previously indicated, the focus is on export of services. I have dealt with tourism and cultural and creative services in my last two articles… more

Caricom Secretary General urges governments and private sector to work together for digital inclusion

Jamaica – Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, has stressed the need for digital inclusion and proliferating digital skills across Caricom in a comprehensive, strategic manner… more

Great ideas: It’s all about execution

Jamaica  – The dawn of the one-person startups and the proliferation of technology incubators, accelerators and unicorns has created both opportunities and challenges for medium to large organisations seeking to use technology as a strategic advantage… more

High demand for tech solutions

Jamaica – “The take up in embracing technologies is high!” Those words were said by business systems analyst at MC Systems, Toussaint Stewart, who explained that adversity and disruption have become drivers for innovation and technology adoption. more

JAMPRO secures new outsourcing operator in Jamaica

Jamaica – The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has secured business process outsourcing (BPO) operator, Ventrica, to join the country’s growing Global Digital Services sector… more

Makings of a digital society — education

Jamaica – IN our introductory article, we outlined nine critical components of a digital society: Digital Etiquette, Digital Access, Digital Law, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Commerce, Digital Rights & Responsibilities, Digital Privacy & Security, Digital Health & Wellness. more

 

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Prime Minister and SMART defend Microsoft business to Chamber

Belize – Prime Minister John Briceno continues to deflect criticism that the government is diverting business away from Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) in favor of Smart… more

Digicel Taps Sandvine for Multimillion-Dollar Application and Network Intelligence Expansion to Accelerate Digital Services

Caribbean – Sandvine, a leading provider of cloud-based application and network intelligence solutions, announced that it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar order from Digicel, which last year relaunched as a fully Digital Operator providing personalized digital experiences with suites of applications for on-the-go sports, music, news, local radio, podcasts, and messaging… more

Execs share their vision for the future of tech in the Caribbean

Caribbean – From contactless payments to self-driving cars to the race to space, technology is advancing at a rapid pace… more

GuySuCo evaluating use of drone technology

Guyana – As part of its efforts at modernising the sugar industry with the use of e-smart agricultural initiatives, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has embarked on an evaluation of the use of drone technology while also aiming to attract youths to the industry… more

IGT coding and robotics camp give youth a tech boost

Trinidad and Tobago – The first staging of the IGT Coding and Robotics Rock! Camp engaged youth participants from the International Game Technology (IGT) After School Advantage (ASA) Centers in Trinidad and Tobago, who are now better equipped with introductory tech skills… more

 

Friday, 17 September 2021

CREDIT UNION DONATES TABLETS FOR 35 STUDENTS

Barbados – The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. is ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary technology to function in the new online teaching and learning environment… more

Scotiabank Cayman awarded “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021″

Cayman Islands – Scotiabank Cayman has been named the “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021” by Global Finance (New York), which regularly selects the top performers among banks and financial services and is a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community… more

Digicel Business and Microsoft Caribbean offer free disaster preparedness webinar

Caribbean – Digicel Business and Trend Media are partnering with Microsoft Caribbean to deliver #TransformCaribbean: Disaster Preparedness with the Cloud in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago on September 22nd, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am EST… more

Cuba building out IT ecosystem

Cuba – Cuba is building out its information technology (IT) ecosystem leveraging its world regarded model on knowledge and intellectual assets in its build out. more

Government Begins Onboarding Of Schools To Fibre Infrastructure

Jamaica – The Government has started the on-boarding of 360 schools that are in close proximity to its fibre infrastructure… more

IBEX reports record growth despite COVID challenge

Jamaica – IBEX Limited, a global provider in business process outsourcing (BPO) and end-to-end customer engagement technology solutions, on September 15 announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2021… more

Online recruitment and professional networking platform launched

Jamaica – An online platform where employers and thousands of job seekers in Jamaica can contact each other has been launched. more

Productive Business Solutions deepens talent pool with acquisition

Jamaica – hief executive officer (CEO) of Productive Business Solutions (PBS), Pedro Paris shared that the recent acquisition of PBS Technology Group (PBSTG) not only increased the footprint of the company in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also deepened its talent pool, which is a major driver of its growth… more

Proven Wealth to follow US clearing house into cryptocurrency trades

Jamaica – Brokerage firm Proven Wealth Limited says it is weighing the possibility of adding cryptocurrency trading for clients to its suite of products, signalling a major shift for the company and the wealth management industry in Jamaica… more

Tech firm banks on new data law, foreign market for revenue growth

Jamaica – Technology company tTech Limited is looking abroad and to coming regulation for revenue growth. CEO Chris Reckord says the company wants to increase revenue and boost profit through overseas relationships and industry needs that will arise from the Data Protection Act, now waiting for an effective date to become operation… more

Connecting world means connecting small islands too

Saint Kitts and Nevis – The last time I went on an official visit to a small island developing state (SIDS) was to St Kitts and Nevis to attend a Caribbean Telecommunications Union regional ministerial. It was pre-pandemic, and already then, I encouraged the participants to take advantage of the remote participation option – to join ITU meetings at little cost… more

The Cable imparts a lesson of corporate generosity to the Ministry of Education

Saint Kitts and Nevis – Teachers and students of Primary and Secondary schools in St. Kitts are returning to top-tier internet service at their respective schools, compliments The Cable… more

FLOW services fully restored in communities above the Dry River

Saint Vincent and Grenadines – Telecommunications provider Flow said it has completed restoration of its services in communities north of the Rabacca Dry River following the explosive eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano in April… more

NTRC launches iCode784 competition

Saint Vincent and Grenadines – The innovations of today’s world that allow for society to function virtually amidst a pandemic is proof that new ideas can and will continue to change how effectively tasks can be carried out… more

 

Saturday, 18 September 2021

Scotiabank Bahamas awarded “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021”

Bahamas – Scotiabank Bahamas has been named the “Best Consumer Digital Bank 2021” by Global Finance (New York), which regularly selects the top performers among banks and financial services and is a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community… more

Tech Depot – The best in mobile and accessories

Saint Lucia – Tech Depot is one of the first mobile accessories stores on the island. Founded many years ago, the company is dedicated to enhancing everyone’s technological experiences and providing excellent customer service as well as accurate and useful product advice to customers… more

Living in IT hell in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago – In this column, I recently wrote about the pointlessness of comparing Bajans and Trinis… more

 

Sunday, 19 September 2021

E-Networks is expanding its fiber optic network to Linden

Guyana – Networks Inc. – Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider – announced that it is currently building a fiber optic cable from Georgetown to Linden. This move is the latest in a series of milestones the company has achieved in massively expanding its network to bring better services to more people… more

A ‘Flow’ of problems

Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, My complaint is about the utter failure of Flow’s customer service. I do not think this is due to the COVID-19 crisis but is deep in the Flow business culture… more

FEE-FI-FO-FUM

Jamaica – Wireless broadband is like a roadway which carries radio signals. The connection of the signal from receiver point to receiver point constitutes the Internet… more

Ready for digital transformation?

Jamaica – I recently visited the US, and while checking in at the airport to return home, I observed several Jamaicans being denied boarding by the agent because of insufficient documentation... more

Living in IT hell in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago – In this column, I recently wrote about the pointlessness of comparing Bajans and Trinis… more

 

 

Image credits: Jon S (flickr); Facebook; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; E-Network