A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 November to Sunday 14 November 2021.
Monday, 8 November 2021
Derek Smith: IT Governance Vital In Data-Driven World
Bahamas – Changing economic conditions, access to global markets, evolution of information technology and an increased demand for enhanced corporate governance are all contributing factors to the growth of the Board’s role in governance… more
Payment Provider Eyes 20-25% Profit Increase
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider is forecasting a 20-25 percent profits increase in 2022 based on the financial transactions it handles being “no less than double” this year’s $100m… more
Youth and technology can spur economic development
Barbados – The Caribbean has the potential to become a leading global technological and creative hub, by utilising its key resource, the youth… more
Facebook’s Meta play
Caribbean – FACEBOOK’S renaming of its holding company to Meta is cynical, almost childish and, most appallingly, likely to work… more
Digital Cayman elects executive committee
Cayman Islands – Digital Cayman, the industry body representing Cayman’s tech sector, has elected the organisation’s first full executive committee at its annual general meeting on 28 Oct… more
Green Gibraltar jumped the gun in announcing telecoms licence granted says Prime Minister’s Office
Guyana – Following an announcement by the Prime Minister’s Office that telecoms sector entrant Green Gibraltar has not been granted a licence to operate or for spectrum use, the company yesterday said there was a possible “misunderstanding” when it last week announced it had been granted one… more
Future cybersecurity specialist receives inaugural Dr Rickert Allen Scholarship
Jamaica – It was the best news Nadian Whyte had in September. She was chosen as the first recipient of the Dr Rickert Allen Scholarship from the NCB Foundation… more
GSS Project & HEART/NSTA Trust launch cybersecurity programme
Jamaica – IN collaboration with the Global Services Sector (GSS) Project, HEART/NSTA Trust has launched the Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Training Programme to train 500 individuals… more
JTDA launches Caribbean tech alliance fund
Jamaica – The Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance (JTDA) has partnered with RealDecoy, a global digital commerce company, to develop a crowdfunding platform for local and Caribbean tech projects and fund-raisers… more
NCB introduces online appointment scheduling for branches
Jamaica – NATIONAL Commercial Bank (NCB) Jamaica Limited is set to roll out the pilot phase of its online appointment scheduling system in select branches by November 22, 2021… more
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
BTC ‘Shut Down’ Warning On Mandatory Vaccination
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) line staff union yesterday warned it will “shut the company down” if its parent continues to push a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy… more
‘Editor’ for online outlet detained for posting video of murdered doctor, staff
Guyana – The Guyana Police Force has confirmed that the ‘Editor’ of an online outlet has been detained for questioning in relation to videos posted on Facebook showing the late Dr. Colin Roach and his staff in a private gathering while he was alive… more
Minister hoping for improvements in the telecommunications sector
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – THIS COUNTRY’S telecommunications minister, Camillo Gonsalves, is hoping that new legislation and the introduction of competition within the sector will result in improvement of service for customers nationwide… more
Wednesday, 10 November 2021
BTC’s parent company defends position on mandatory vaccination of employees
Bahamas – Following backlash from some employees and members of the public, the parent company of BTC doubled down on its decision to implement mandatory vaccination as of January 1, 2022… more
GTT begins work to reduce backlog of landline applications in Bartica
Guyana – GTT recently connected over 20 schools and residents with landline services at Bartica… more
GTT installed internet service without permission of owner of property
Guyana – Dear Editor, GTT installed internet service on my premises at the request of a tenant… more
Rice board gets equipment to improve data collection
Guyana – The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) yesterday received several pieces of equipment and operational manuals from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that will be used to improve its data collection and extension capabilities… more
$1 billion could help
Jamaica – We’ve seen the global trend of stimulus packages offered by governments to help with stabilising and rebuilding the economy during this novel coronavirus pandemic. In particular, the Ministry of Finance has strategically focused on the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector, intending to accelerate growth through digitisation. This effort is valiant and comes with the backative of $1 billion in approved funding from the Government… more
BizTech unleashing the power
Jamaica – It’s that time of year when tech conferences around the globe are going live — most of them offered virtually — and for some brave enough to take it on, face-to-face. The Caribbean region is no exception. We’ve seen conferences of different sizes and flavours in the past, but only one or two are dedicated solely to technology. BizTech is one such conference… more
Digicel pushing for 99% LTE coverage
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica says it’s well on the way to expanding its long-term evolution (LTE) coverage across the island to foster what the company calls “a digital lifestyle” among Jamaican… more
Flow Jamaica’s earnings outperform pre-pandemic levels
Jamaica – Telecoms provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as Flow, earned US$100.6 million in revenue over three months ending September, outperforming its pre-pandemic levels… more
GIS technology agreement to boost productivity in gov’t entities
Jamaica – The productivity and efficiency of more than 260 government entities are expected to improve greatly with the use of newly acquired geographic information System (GIS) technology… more
Itel BPO raises J$3.1 billion
Jamaica – Business Process Outsourcing company Itel has raised $3.1 billion… more
Jamaica-based BPOs creating waves
Jamaica – Jamaica is creating waves being credited with superior customer experience (CX) in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector… more
No internet service since October 20
Trinidad and Tobago – THE EDITOR: What is going on with TSTT/bmobile? … more
Thursday, 11 November 2021
Cabinet approves National Digital Agenda aiming for a ‘Digital Belize’
Belize – This week, Cabinet approved the National Digital Agenda for the period 2022 to 2025 called “Towards a Digital Belize… more
Don’t lose your (school) work! Putting a UPS to work in your home office
Caribbean – It’s possible that you don’t have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in your mix of computing equipment and devices at your home office or remote school space… more
How to Scale Up BPO Operations in the Nearshore
Caribbean – As a medium-sized BPO, Collective Solution has approached its strategy to scaling up in and across geographies in the Nearshore by focusing on its existing footprint and moving into new countries where demand exists. It has operations in Honduras and Jamaica and is now moving into Mexico… more
UCCI moves to remote learning
Cayman Islands – University College Cayman Islands has moved to remote teaching and learning for the remainder of its fall semester, it has confirmed… more
Strategy Approved To Protect Children Online
Jamaica – The proposed establishment of a National Child Online Protection Committee has been approved by Cabinet as per the proposed terms of reference… more
10 reasons to shop local online
Trinidad and Tobago – Online shopping is here to stay — and for good reason. The convenience of tech-enabled shopping has become an essential mainstay in the age of covid19… more
Friday, 12 November 2021
AG Congratulates Industrial Tribunal On Tech Advancements
Bahamas – ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder yesterday congratulated the Industrial Tribunal on the technological advancements it made over the last year to improve court services during a ceremony to mark the opening of its legal year… more
Cable And Gov’t Hit By $41m Aliv Losses
Bahamas – Aliv’s near-$41m loss for the year to end-June 2021 continues to drag on both its BISX-listed parent and the Government, just-released financial statements reveal… more
BTC ‘Committed To Working With Government’ On Marco’s Alert System
Bahamas – AFTER National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said BTC “dropped the ball” for the Marco’s Alert system, the company released a statement saying it is committed to working with the government to deliver on its objectives as outlined in its ten-point plan… more
NYCD donates 10 tablets to 5 Schools in support of online learning efforts
Dominica – For the last couple of weeks, many students island wide have had to focus their efforts into adapting to online learning due to the impact which the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on our country and more specifically, our education system… more
Epstein issues $3b bond for Chalmers BPO centres, regional growth projects
Jamaica – Outsourcing Management, a business process outsourcing company which trades as itel, has raised $3.1 billion in fresh capital on the bond market, four-fifths of which will fund new projects… more
PACE Canada delivers 1,000 learning devices for kindergarten students
Jamaica – PACE Canada has disclosed that 1,000 one tab educational devices have been delivered to Jamaica for distribution to over 200 early-childhood institutions that are sponsored by that organisation in all the parishes… more
The NTRC Turns 20
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – It was established as the Telecommunications Regulator in November 2001 to enhance the operation of telecommunication services in the country, and came into being following the passing of the Telecommunications Act (CAP 418) of the Revised Laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines of 2009… more
Metaverse, way forward for Caribbean start-ups
Trinidad and Tobago – Technology is evolving every day and there are Caribbean people paying attention and taking advantage of these advancements and reaping the rewards. The question is becoming less of, “Does the Caribbean want to be left behind?” but rather – “Are you willing to be left behind?” … more
Saturday, 13 November 2021
Jamaica to establish National Child Online Protection Committee
Jamaica – The Jamaica government has approved the strategy for the establishment of a National Child Online Protection Committee… more
Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate Before Year End!
Saint Lucia – The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs informs the public that it is in receipt of proposals from private organizations seeking permission to verify COVID-19 Digital Vaccination Certificates in Saint Lucia… more
Sunday, 14 November 2021
A senior’s guide to online and mobile gaming
Caribbean – YOU may have read the title of this article and thought “Mobile and online gaming for seniors, really?” However, gaming is no longer just for kids or young adults and millions of seniors across the globe and now enjoying the benefits of gaming… more
Francis Wade | Becoming a data-focused company
Jamaica – In the past few years, what opportunities has the shift to online business created for local companies? Your firm may be automating its processes, but is it also converting the data being collected into competitive advantage… more
Huawei Seeds for the Future Programme reaps success
Jamaica – Since kicking off on October 22, the annual Seeds for the Future programme has seen over 25 Jamaicans registered and participating in the educational and cultural-exchange programme with Huawei… more
PNP social media post raises questions in Senate
Jamaica – A statement from Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson brought a surprisingly abrupt end to the issue of whether Opposition member Floyd Morris’s plea for a postponement of the debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) (RTA) Bill last Friday was justified… more
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