ICT Pulse Podcast

Although Caribbean governments have been engaging in e-government initiatives for at least a decade, most of them would have received a failing grade due to their ability to engage their clients and to facilitate transactions efficiently and effectively when work from home (WFH) arrangements that had been instituted to reduce the rate of infection of COVID-19. Eamonn Sheehy is the Director, Public...

In this our May 2020 Community Chat, and with two members of the Caribbean tech community, Akua Walters of Hacker Hostel, and Kerrie-Ann Vassall-Richards, of Business Growth Rocket, we discuss: the importance of being a regional entrepreneur in the context of COVID-19; and getting online learning right. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ic...

Montserrat is a Caribbean country many people really don't think about. However, it has been quietly plodding away developing its telecoms and ICT environment; and according to our guest, Dr. the Honourable Samuel Joseph, the Deputy Premier and is the Minister for Communications, Works, Energy and Labour in Montserrat, the country will soon become a leading nation in the Caribbean region. Show not...

In the face of COVID-19, digital transformation is being held up as to key to organisations' survival; but, many are still unclear about what it is and have best to achieve it. Digital transformation specialist, Matthew Cowen, shares first-hand insights and recommendations that businesses and organisations was immediately adopt, in order to successfully embark upon, and more importantly complete,...

Brenda Cuthbert is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Employers' Federation. She shares her views and observations of the future of work, today's workplace, how it is changing due to ICT, and the extent to which the Jamaican employer is ready for the workplace of the future Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/p...

In this Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Alice Bain and Naphtale Nunes, the panel discusses: the deficiencies of our broadband Infrastructure and other technology related issues in the region; and thereafter, to what extent should Caribbean businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, continue to embrace or promote working from home post COVID-19? Show note...

Although off the shelf, generic digital products can help a business solve a problem, frequently, they can only help to a point. In this conversation with Joshua Kissoon, we discuss eBusiness, the suite of business solutions that his firm, Techlify, has created. We also discuss Joshua's entrepreneurial journey to date, how Techlify has evolved over the years, and what might be in store for the com...

Also known as the Spice Isle and world famous tourist destination, Grenada has one of the most well developed telecoms and ICT sectors in the Caribbean region, and more so the Eastern Caribbean.  In this the latest instalment of our Know Your Neighbours series, ISP and Network Infrastructure professional, Brent McIntosh, sheds some light on: the telecoms and ICT space is like in Grenada; how the c...

For the 100th episode of the ICT Pulse Podcast, the tables are turned on the host, Michele Marius! Michele is interviewed by Nerissa Golden, of Goldenmedia, on her journey to create ICT Pulse , and eventually, the Podcast, along with some of her observations of the Caribbean ICT/tech space over the past decade, and her experiences in leading the Podcast to this milestone.   Show notes and links to...

It is only a matter of time before an organisation experiences some kind of cyber incident. In this conversation with IT and cyber security expert, Niel Harper, we discuss, among other things, how the threat landscape is changing, what should be included in a good Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan, whether cyber insurance is a good idea, and what is the top cybersecurity concern businesses face...

In this Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Allison James and Amit Uttamchandani, the panel discusses ICT and COVID-19 (the coronavirus): some of the challenges that are being experienced, ways it can be better leveraged, and emerging opportunities. We also discuss: Whether there would (or should) be a difference between how a business approaches what might be perceiv...

Blockchain technology has much wider application than just Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. In this conversation with Trevor Forrest, of 876 Solutions, we continue a conversation we began in October 2019, on how blockchain technology can help Caribbean countries reduce corruption and increase global competitiveness, by now examining how Caribbean countries can leverage blockchain technology, and whet...

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Wayne Wesley, discusses the role of the organisation as we embark upon the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and with regard to the future work. He also explains why although syllabi and testing modalities need to be carefully considered, teaching and the overall curricula must also be re-examined, in order to ensure...

This is the first update of 2020 in our longstanding Expert Insight on cyber/IT threats and security series, with Sean Slattery, the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Caribbean Solutions Lab. Sean updates is on: the changes occurring in the threat landscape the security of the cloud, and emerging threats  security concerns and recommendations for smart devices, the smart home and the Interne...

In this Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Eric Nurse, from Grenada, and Claire Craig, from Trinidad and Tobago, the panel discusses: the need for a digital ID that can be used seamlessly across the Caribbean region; and the importance of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to the Caribbean region.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode...

Although a full member of the Caribbean Community, the rest of English-speaking Caribbean knows relatively little about Belize, generally, and from an ICT perspective. In this the latest instalment of our Know Your Neighbours series, Kimano Barrow, of the Public Utilities Commission, discusses, among other things: the telecoms and ICT space is like in Belize; how the country is leveraging telecoms...

The global outsourcing sector continue to grow, and is area that is likely to continue to be source of support to a wide cross-section of industries. However, thanks to technologies and similar to all other sectors, it is also evolving. In our follow-up conversation with Rejo Sam, of management consulting firm Avasant, he updates us on current trends and developments in the Caribbean and global ou...

Location intelligence is becoming increasingly important as we continue to rely more on ICTs to optimise our businesses and improve our decision making. In speaking with Valrie Grant, Founder and Managing Director of GeotechVision Enterprises, she shares her entrepreneurship journey, key trends occurring in the geospatial industry and its scope for growth, and skills that are in demand in order to...

In this Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Dmitri Dawkins and Nerissa Golden, the panel discusses: tech enablement and what it means to run a tech-enabled business; and the importance of telling our story in preparation for growing a business and attracting investors.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-p...

Curaçao is one of the leading telecoms and ICT infrastructure hubs in the Caribbean, which tends to be overlooked by its Caribbean neighbours. Giovanni King of the Bureau Telecommunications and Post in Curaçao, discusses the current state of telecoms in Curaçao, how it has been able to develop its infrastructure to attract global players, and how the country plans to become a smart nation.   Show...

To a considerable degree, Caribbean businesses still have not been able to fully leverage e-commerce and online payment services. In our conversation with Christopher Burns, CEO of the payment gateway, First Atlantic Commerce, we discuss the company and the solutions it offers, including those that might be suitable for MSMEs, along with trends in the online payments and wider fintech space, gener...

Without a doubt, the labour market has been undergoing a dramatic transformation, and according to the OECD, over half of today's adults do not have the right skills for emerging jobs. Essentially, we are ill-prepared for the future of work. In this our first episode for 2020, are launching a new series to discuss the future of work. To kick off the conversation, management consultant and advisor,...

In this our final Community Chat and final episode for 2019, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Telojo (Telly) Valerie Onu and Carlton Samuels, the panel discussed the ICT/technology trends and developments that were evident across the Caribbean region in 2019, and what might be in store for 2020. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found a...

Whether we fully appreciate it or not, the Caribbean region – its citizens and societies – continue to be vulnerable to a broad range of information security threats and breaches. Continuing with our Expert insight series, we discuss with David Gittens of the Barbados Chapter of the  Information Systems Security Association, the current threat landscape, tips to improve information security in org...

Continuing with our ' Know your neighbours' series, and with Dr Lyndell St Ville, the President of the ICT Association of Saint Lucia, we are exploring the ICT/technology and tech entrepreneurship space in Saint Lucia, along with its strengths, challenges and opportunities. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ D...