A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 2 April to Sunday 8 April 2018.
Monday, 2 April 2018
Antigua and Barbuda to establish their own cryptocurrency exchange
Antigua and Barbuda – The government of Antigua and Barbuda has finalized its decision of launching their cryptocurrency exchange… more
Tuesday, 3 April 2018
Cayman ‘Uber’-like app morphs into high-tech dispatch service
Cayman Islands – Originally envisaged as “Uber in Cayman,” a new tech business is preparing for a pilot launch as a potential solution to concerns about taxi rates and reliability on the island… more
‘Futile’ to enforce public access TV
Cayman Islands – Television regulators consider it “futile” to attempt to enforce a licensing requirement for cable companies to provide a “free-to-air” public channel… more
Yello Media hosts digital marketing conference
Cayman Islands – Yello Media Group is hosting a digital marketing conference, “Digital Marketing Innovation: Ready for Tomorrow!,” on April 16 at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort… more
Network Administrator to help improve health information system
Guyana – The need to improve Guyana’s health information system has been gaining keen attention. In this regard, the Ministry of Public Health has been receiving support from one of its technical partners, the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO], to recruit a Network Administrator… more
NOTICE : «Haiti Start» Program, open registration
Haiti – BANJ informs you of the launch of the “Haiti Start” program in partnership with Google Launchpad! … more
Landline call rates decline
Jamaica – Call rates to landlines have declined between $9.39 and $10.04 per minute… more
Flow CARIFTA Games Go Mobile!
Regional – The 2018 Flow CARIFTA Games have gone mobile, paving the way for all Flow customers to view unprecedented live coverage of the world’s best junior track and field meet via the Flow Sports Mobile App… more
Internet Orgs Team Up To Curb Climate Impact On Caribbean Networks
Regional – A new initiative to make Caribbean Internet infrastructure less vulnerable to the impact of climate change and natural disasters is gaining momentum across the region. Several Internet organisations recently held talks in Puerto Rico to flesh out a more collaborative approach to boosting Caribbean communications network resilience… more
St Joseph man fined $15,000 for selling TSTT batteries
Trinidad and Tobago – A 21-year-old man will now have to pay $15,000 within three months or serve two years hard labour for selling TSTT’s cell site batteries… more
Conflict over software contract
Trinidad and Tobago – MAJORITY State-owned telecommunications provider, TSTT, is disputing the conclusion that its “procurement process failures” cost the company $30 million in a deal to acquire Oracle software that turned sour… more
TSTT sets sights on Flow, Digicel customers
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT’s chief commercial officer Miguel Garcia says the majority State-owned company plans to take customers from Flow and Digicel as it ramps up its plan to transition the population from a copper to a fibre-optic network… more
Wednesday, 4 April 2018
Anguilla represented at Data Dissemination Workshop
Anguilla– The OECS in collaboration with the World Bank convened a one-week regional workshop on data dissemination, from 19th – 23rd March, 2018, at the Radisson Hotel in Grenada. Anguilla was among fifteen (15) countries in the region represented at the workshop… more
GOB To Apply GST To Internet – Cable Operators Say No!
Belize – The Prime Minister of Belize on his latest budget speech stated that the Government of Belize plant to charge 12.5% GST on internet, something that would affect everyone in the country except for schools… more
Internet now costs more, GST applied on data services
Belize – Despite outcry from cable and Internet providers about the potential negative impact on applying General Sales Tax (GST) on Data and Internet services, that tax is now effective and Internet rates, which had been trending down in recent years, is now effective, making Internet 12.5% more expensive for consumers all across Belize… more
Complaint file against GTT for vindictive seizure of phone lines
Guyana – The UK based publishers of the Guyana Guardian, has filed a formal complaint yesterday with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in Guyana, and the International Press Institute (IPI) in Vienna, Austria, against local telephone company, GTT, in which the telecommunications entity is accused of stifling press freedom… more
Pay finally your taxes online
Haiti – Monday, Ronald Décembre, the Secretary of State for Finance and Miradin Morlan the Director General of Taxes, accompanied by DGI Technology Director Serge Rosenthal Jr. presented the system of online declaration (e-declaration) and payment online (e-payment) now in operation… more
C&W Business hikes rates
Jamaica – Customers of C&W Business are facing increased rates… more
Harry Smith appointed chairman of Digicel Jamaica
Jamaica– Harry Smith has been appointed chairman of the Digicel Jamaica board, according to a news release yesterday from the company… more
Bitt signs MOU to conduct fintech pilot on blockchain in ECCB countries
Regional– Barbados-based fintech firm Bitt Inc., a portfolio company of Medici Ventures, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Overstock.com focused on the blockchain, and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to conduct a fintech pilot on distributed ledger technology in the ECCB member countries, according to a press release CoinReport received… more
Ways to employ video in your business
Regional– The saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”. It would only follow that for video — a moving picture — it should be worth even more. In fact, Forrester research suggests that “a minute of video is worth 1.8 million words… more
Social media and teens
Trinidad and Tobago – Recently, I was asked to speak at a high school on the topic of social media and as usual, the parents were surprised (thank God, pleasantly) that more of the talk was about the impact of social media on them versus their teens… more
TATT to service providers: Stop sending unwanted calls and messages
Trinidad and Tobago – Everybody has, at some point, received a text message from their mobile service provider advertising some new promotion or deal being offered… more
Thursday, 5 April 2018
BTL holds off on GST implementation
Belize– BTL, which is Government owned and controlled on behalf of the people of Belize, will be absorbing the new GST cost for all their internet related services… more
Broadcasting Commission wins global awards
Jamaica – The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) has received two gold Muse awards in the International Muse Creative Awards Competition for 2018… more
Bitt and CTO sign MOU
Regional – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region’s tourism development agency, has entered into an agreement with blockchain technology company, Bitt Inc., aimed at facilitating the implementation of more efficient payment processes for tourism-related products and services… more
Friday, 6 April 2018
Several radio operations face imminent shutdown …as Broadcasting Authority gets tough for non-compliance
Guyana – Even the longest rope has an end. That idiom is a stark reminder of the position taken by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) which has decided to publish a list of all non-compliant broadcasters who as a result of their errant ways will no longer be allowed to operate… more
Flow Jamaica Loses Another Battle Over Cuts In Termination Rates
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as Flow, is reviewing the decision of the Telecommunications Appeal Tribunal after its efforts to challenge the schedule of cuts to fixed-line termination rates were rejected… more
FLOW offers more data, voice in new plan
Jamaica – THE mobile data war between the island’s telecommunications companies is getting hotter, with FLOW Jamaica yesterday introducing a new package for its clients and prospective ones… more
Jamaicans Top UN Hackathon In Switzerland
Jamaica– The United Nation’s World Summit on Information Technology this year saw more than 30 nationalities, 14 teams and a wide range of experienced individuals participating in the ‘Hack Against Hunger’ Hackathon, which was held in Geneva, Switzerland… more
Smith named chairman of Digicel Jamaica
Jamaica – The Digicel Group has announced the appointment of Harry Smith as chairman of Digicel Jamaica, the first Jamaican to hold the post. Smith has been tasked with ensuring that Digicel maintains, nurtures and cultivates a local flavour and that market insights are translated into benefits for Jamaican customers… more
Internet Registry To Host Caribbean Forum In Miami
Regional – An upcoming gathering of Internet experts could change the conversation around cyber security, network autonomy and network resilience in the Caribbean…more
Proggress being made on recovery from Cyber Attack.
Sint Maarten – The Ministry of General Affairs hereby informs the public that the recovery process of the Government of Sint Maarten ICT Network is progressing steadily and will continue throughout the upcoming weekend following the cyber-attack on Monday, April 2nd… more
TelCell carrying out maintenance work on 2G network Sunday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group mobile voice and data provider, TelCell, will be carrying out maintenance work on its 2G network Sunday, April 8, 2018, and today advised customers on how best to remain connected during these works… more
TelEm Group Technicians working on Simpson Bay primary cable cabinet Saturday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians will be carrying out maintenance work on a primary cable cabinet in the Simpson Bay area Saturday and interruptions in telecommunication services in the following area and streets are expected from 8:00 am in the morning until approximately 4:00 pm in the late afternoon… more
PM: Parliament to debate Cambridge Analytica scandal
Trinidad and Tobago – The Cambridge Analytica scandal will soon be debated in Parliament —and a Parliament committee which will also probe the matter will be summoning foreign and local witnesses to speak about the company’s alleged work here… more
Samsung introduces S9 devices in TT
Trinidad and Tobago – AT a launch event at Trincity Mall yesterday, Terry Weech, Mobile Innovations Manager, Samsung Electronics, Latin America and the Caribbean announced the availability from today of the company’s new S9 and S9+ in TT… more
Saturday, 7 April 2018
EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Barbados – Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce & Small Business Development believes, “the international business sector continues and will continue to be a viable contributor to the sustainable growth of the Barbadian economy… more
BEFORE ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE AT BTL
Belize– In his address at the close of the debate on the 2017-2018 budget at the House of Representatives in Belmopan, PM Barrow declared that the business, BTL, is protected by the Constitution of Belize, meaning that members of the next government, be they UDP or PUP, will have a stiff wind in their faces if they want to privatize it again. We’ll really have to sleep with our own eyes on this one, to make sure that it is really so… more
Social media, email, and telephone history may soon be required for US visa applications
Belize – Thousands of Belizeans may soon be affected by a new visa application policy proposed by the United States of America (US)… more
Caribbean Travel Embraces Cryptocurrencies
Regional– Cryptocurrency’s adaptability to clandestine and sometimes criminal transactions has cast a layer of suspicion over Internet-driven digital currencies transactions. Some analysts describe the technology behind Internet-based currencies as “immature.” … more
Commission on Caribbean Communications Resilience meets with FCC to strengthen regional networks
Regional – Members of the Commission on Caribbean Communications Resilience (CCCR) met with United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) representatives on April 5 to discuss new ways to increase the resilience of regional communications infrastructure to extreme natural events… more
Saint Lucia Endorses Regional Agreement On Access To Information
Saint Lucia – SAINT LUCIA has joined its Caribbean and Latin American counterparts in endorsing the first-ever legally-binding Regional Agreement that will address … more
Sunday, 8 April 2018
Poor internet service among bumps in the road for mobile taxi apps
Guyana– Taxi operations iRide and eCab.gy are currently on hiatus and their principals say they are working to address challenges, including the poor quality of mobile internet services, to ensure their mobile apps can effectively function in the Guyanese landscape… more
Cable & Wireless To Exit Stock Market After Nearly 30 Years
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica, a local telecoms with a checkered reputation from its past days as a powerful telephone monopoly, would have celebrated 30 years as a listed company this year… more
StartupRobot Woos Tech Talent With Tours – Subsidiary Hacker Hostel ‘Pays’ Software Developers With The Island Experience
Jamaica – StartupRobot, a software development firm that made its name locally by helping new companies and individuals ease the pain of completing business registrations, is spreading its talents to others in the Caribbean in need of tech support… more
Image credits: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Marketing Magazine
