A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 January to Sunday 23 January 2022.
Monday, 17 January 2022
CASHLESS TREND CONTINUES: LPIA parking and ground transport latest to say no to cash transactions
Bahamas – The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) has announced that this month, it will begin transitioning all parking and ground transportation (PGT) operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to a cashless environment… more
Online system now limited to new work permits
British Virgin Islands – The much-touted online work permit system has gone partially offline again after launching less than six months ago, acting Labour Commissioner Michelle McLean said last month… more
Cable & Wireless bids farewell to Garry Sinclair
Caribbean – The end of an era and continuation of a legacy is how Garry Sinclair’s retirement from Cable and Wireless Communications is being dubbed. Garry is known across the region for his expertise, experience and passion for customers… more
Digicel launches Graduate Programme
Caribbean – Digicel Group has opened applications for its first cohort of the Digicel Graduate Programme and is looking for the brightest and the best… more
Understanding the digital wallet
Jamaica – AS digital currencies become more popular, consumers are being bombarded with new applications and features which can be used to optimise their digital experience… more
A matter of survival: TSTT to meet unions on way forward
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications company TSTT says it urgently needs to “restructure” to remain competitive… more
Digicel gives fibre-broadband customers free speed upgrade
Trinidad and Tobago – Over 100,000 Digicel+ customers are now enjoying faster internet speeds, as Digicel has given customers a free speed upgrade of up to 100Mbps until February 1, 2022… more
New tech, big benefits
Trinidad and Tobago – THE two billion frontline workers worldwide represent 80 per cent of the global workforce, with 88 per cent of organisations employing people in frontline roles… more
‘TSTT requires urgent restructuring’
Trinidad and Tobago – FACED with declining revenues from both fixed voice and mobile voice calls, majority State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT) yesterday invited employee representative unions to consultations on a proposed restructuring of the organisation and refined operating model… more
Tuesday, 18 January 2022
BVI beefing up crime fighting with nearly 200 CCTV cameras
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands will be keeping a closer eye on potential problem spots as it installs nearly 200 closed-circuit cameras… more
Even virtual court hearings being impacted by COVID
British Virgin Islands – Even with the decision to temporarily move court cases online because of the territory’s current COVID-19 outbreak, the virus has still managed to affect the Magistrate’s Court ability to host virtual hearings… more
ECSC moving further into digital operations
Caribbean – Digitally driven courts will be critical to the continued administration of justice during the pandemic and beyond… more
i2c Selected by Leading Payments Innovators Across Latin America, Caribbean
Caribbean – i2c Inc., a leading provider of digital payment and banking technology, today announced that the company has been selected to power payment programs across nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and is set to partner with some of the most innovative financial services providers throughout the region… more
OECS governments urged to enact legislation to facilitate e-transcripts
Caribbean – The Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), Dame Janice Pereira, in an address during the opening of the law year this week, highlighted the delay of production of transcripts causing adjournments… more
Police, cybercrime and the reputation of citizens
Guyana – It is revealing how governance operates in this country. It is also repelling. I read of the developments involving Member of Parliament, Sherrod Duncan, and I am struck by the swiftness and efficiency of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as its members went after him with energy and spirit… more
Strong CBDC take-up expected
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness predicts widespread take-up of the Bank of Jamaica’s (BOJ’s) central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is expected to be rolled out by the end of the first quarter of 2022… more
Supporting online learning and changing lives
Jamaica – As the pandemic rages on, the Montego Bay Community Home for Girls continues to give thanks for the tablet donation from C&W Business Jamaica… more
USF to commission 10 new community internet access points
Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) is to commission 10 new community Internet service access points across Jamaica by the end of next month… more
A matter of survival: TSTT to meet unions on way forward
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications company TSTT says it urgently needs to “restructure” to remain competitive… more
Microsoft introduces Cloud for Retail to region, TT from Feb 01
Trinidad and Tobago – With the rise of blended consumer shopping behaviors, persistent supply chain constraints, and a serious labor shortage, a new reality has emerged… more
Workers on the line as TSTT calls in unions on restructuring
Trinidad and Tobago – Citing, among other things, a $453 million decrease in revenue in the last fiscal year, TSTT has called in trade unions representing its workers for talks on restructuring. This was revealed in a media release on Monday… more
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Digital Payments Player Sees Off Sebas Seizure
Bahamas – A Bahamian digital payments provider has successfully fought off a bid to seize control of its operations by fully repaying the debt owed to Sebas Bastian’s investment house… more
COMMENTARY: The age of COVID and a more digitally-driven era
British Virgin Islands – Much of humanity has not woken up to the reality of a more complex, much more interconnected, and digitally-driven era… more
IT Priorities for 2022
Caribbean – In 2021, organisations looked for new ways of doing business. For most organisations the ability to rapidly implement security platforms that allow their workforce to work safely from anywhere was neither easy nor feasible… more
Another digital payment gateway for local businesses
Jamaica – A new digital payment gateway, the GoDigital website, has been created for Jamaican businesses, particularly those in the micro and small enterprises (MSEs), to receive payments digitally… more
BATV reviewing pandemic pause
Jamaica – Dawkins Brown, executive chairman of Dawgen Global and Crowe Horwath Jamaica, says Business Access Television (BATV) which was purchased by his group in July 2019 will now be examining for roll-out programmes which were previously delayed by the pandemic, although the pandemic situation is still under review… more
Shortage of BPO workers getting worse
Jamaica – THE chronic shortage of workers in Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is getting worse and threatening the future growth of the sector, particularly with new players setting up operations locally… more
Trends worth watching
Jamaica – THE 2022 tech trends list is not limited to IT fanatics and tech leaders. Some trends seem far outside the scope of our region’s happening. However, as we chart our path for 2022, it provides an excellent opportunity to see which trends are likely to generate quantum shifts and are most relevant to the Caribbean region… more
Thursday, 20 January 2022
A New Crypto Conference Is Coming to The Bahamas
Bahamas – FTX, the global cryptocurrency exchange that recently moved its headquarters to The Bahamas, has announced plans for a new crypto conference in Nassau… more
CEO: Bahamasair OK for now on US 5G rollout
Bahamas – As airlines grounded certain flights this week, as a result of the rollout of 5G systems, Bahamasair Chief Executive Officer Tracy Cooper said yesterday the national air carrier is “OK for now” regarding any disruptions in flying… more
REV media VP honored with international award
Bahamas – REV Media Vice President David Burrows has been honored with an international award, making a splash as one of the Top 100 cable communications executives of 2021… more
Digi remains dominant in Belize
Belize – One of the smaller countries in Central America, Belize in many respects has closer affinities with English speaking countries of the Caribbean than with its immediate neighbours… more
Huawei reports on 2021 regional, international initiatives
Caribbean – HUAWEI’s commitment to the Caribbean Basin continued this year with several projects to deepen economic and technological development in the region… more
Interview: Usain Bolt on gaming and Virgin Media hyper-fast Gig1 broadband “To see myself in 4k as a hologram was mind blowing”
Caribbean – As Virgin Media O2 celebrates its superfast Gig1 broadband going into its 15 millionth UK home, it showed us just how speedy it is with high-quality PORTL hologram technology… more
The price of progress in technology
Caribbean – Speaking about innate immune system ability to prevent and fight natural, created by nature, health hazards… the body’s own defence mechanism… more
Transitioning to a digital currency
Jamaica – In recent years central banks across the globe have been researching and following a new trend. This is due to the reduction of physical cash payments and the rise of digital wallets and payment services, such as Alipay and PayPal from China and the US, respectively… more
Friday, 21 January 2022
Major crypto conference set for The Bahamas as FTX teams up with SALT
Bahamas – The Bahamas is set to play host to a major new crypto conference to be held in April… more
CTU to host Caribbean forum on ICT in education
Caribbean – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) says it will host a two-day forum to discuss the serious ramifications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the education system… more
ECTEL Launches Campaign to Promote Electronic Communications Bill in Member States
Caribbean – The Telecommunications Acts in the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority’s (ECTEL) five (5) Member States have been in force for over 20 years, as such ECTEL is thrilled to launch its Electronic Communications Bill (EC Bill) Education and Public Awareness Campaign… more
Jamaica positioning as Caribbean innovation hub, says PM Holness
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says the government is taking deliberate steps to position Jamaica as the technology and innovation hub of the Caribbean… more
No labour shortage in BPO sector
Jamaica – President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) Gloria Henry is refuting claims that there is a shortage in the labour supply to the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector… more
Digital Crowd-Sourced Mapping to Kick-off in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia is to become the first island in the Caribbean to benefit from a unique global partnership between the Humanitarian Open Street Map team (HOT)… more
Mas in the metaverse?
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has put forth bold intentions of hosting a carnival in the metaverse, which would make it the first nation to do so in the digital world… more
A transparent and accessible ocean through data, info and tech
Trinidad and Tobago – There is something about the start of a new year that can bring a whiff of green optimism and a breath of fresh ocean air… more
T&T gets another telemarketing job
Trinidad and Tobago – INVESTT, in its role as the national investment promotion agency, has facilitated the formation of a partnership between Customer Acquisition Group (CAG) and locally owned contact centre DirecOne for the establishment of a 30-seat pilot project in the outsourcing industry… more
Saturday, 22 January 2022
GTT Fibre now in Mahaica
Guyana – GTT in a release said that it is continuing to fulfill its promise to reliably connect customers as it is set to roll out its GTT Fibre to the community of Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara… more
Digital birth certificate roll-out in coming months
Jamaica – The roll-out of digital birth certificates is the next on the agenda as the Government gears up towards implementing the National Identification System (NIDS) that will see bedside birth registrations done electronically, and millions of records stored at the Registrar’s General Department (RGD) digitised in coming months… more
Sunday, 23 January 2022
WiPay enters the metaverse
Caribbean – Regional payment portal provider WiPay Caribbean, which has been ramping up its business in Jamaica in recent times, hopes to later this year offer its clients in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean, the opportunity to use its payment platform to buy the controversial unbacked digital cryptocurrencies that continue to draw divergent sentiments in the investing and financial communities… more
Infrastructure, ICT among sectors for major investments in budget, Jagdeo says
Guyana – The government’s 2022 national budget, which is set to be presented to the nation on Wednesday, focuses heavily on investments for the future that will enrich the lives of Guyanese, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who signalled major projects in the public infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and oil and gas sectors aimed at propelling development… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Marketing Magazine; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia; Facebook; CTU; Guyana Chronicle
