ICT Pulse Podcast

In this our November 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Elise Grace Jones and Steven Jemmott, the panel discusses the Caribbean region as a great interrupter in the data economy, and the impact of mobile app development in the workplace.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ D...

Due to the range of challenges that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face, SIDS advocate and ICT and digital economy expert, Tracy Hackshaw, gives us an update on the progress that has been made on the SIDS agenda, and on the digital economy and Internet Governance in the Caribbean region. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at   www.ict-pulse....

Generally, innovation does not  occur in a vacuum. It is at its best when there is the enabling environment to support it, such as a collaboration space. In this episode, Eldon Marks discusses the importance of collaboration to realise innovation, through his observations and experiences with Nexus Hub, a non-profit tech collaboration space he founded in Guyana.   Show notes and links to some of t...

The French Overseas Territory of Martinique is a thriving island in the Eastern Caribbean, and is the focus of this instalment of our 'Know Your Neighbours' series. Matthew Cowan of dgtalfutures has been based in Martinique for several years, and so discusses the ICT and tech landscape, tech trends, along with matters related doing business there and the opportunities available to entrepreneurs.  ...

In this our October 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Simone Pasmore and Trevor Forrest, the panel discusses user experience studies and testing: the missing ingredient in generating conversions (sales), and how blockchain technology can help Caribbean countries reduce corruption and increase global competitiveness.   Show notes and links to some of the things m...

Chatbots are all the rage these days. Kern Elliott, Senior Professional Applications Support, at the National ICT Company Limited, also known as iGovTT, helps us understand the basics of chatbots, along with key considerations when deploying them, and what might be the future of chatbots.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at   www.ict-pulse.com/...

Kirk-Anthony Hamilton is the Founder of Tech Beach, one of the leading business tech conferences in the Caribbean that is seeking to foster creativity and innovation by expanding our minds as to what is possible. Kirk discusses Tech Beach and what it aims to achieve, and also shares his own personal journey, especially the change in mindset he had to conquer, in order to challenge all of us to str...

Continuing with our 'Know Your Neighbours' series, Ervin Williams, Director of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Saint Kitts and Nevis, provides some insight into the ICT and telecoms space in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and why it has been able to punch above its weight when compared with other Caribbean countries.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during th...

Online payment platform, WiPay, continues to roll out its operations across the Caribbean region. Founder and CEO, Aldwyn Wayne, discusses the expansion to date; new services that are coming on stream, and how he balances the demands of being the CEO of a growing, regional business.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at   www.ict-pulse.com/catego...

In this our September 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Allison James and Craig Nesty, the panel discusses the need for disaster policies as it relates to the provision of telecommunications services, and people, data and trust – the pillars of the new economy.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at   www.ict-pu...

As work continues in realising the Caribbean Single ICT Space, we are joined, once again, by Jennifer Britton, of the CARICOM Secretariat, to give us an update of the work to date, upcoming milestones, and important areas of focus moving forward.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at   www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us...

Whenever Haiti is in the news, typically, some unfortunate event has occurred. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Americas, and has experienced considerable adversity, due to political corruption, instability and natural disasters, to name a few. However, in the midst of such difficulties, the impact ICT is having on the country should not be overlooked. Max Larson Henry, of the ICT As...

Over the past several months, 'digital transformation' has become the buzzwords of many policymakers across the Caribbean region, but it is not always clear whether the term is understood, and more importantly, whether there is a cogent and coherent strategy to achieve it. Dr Justin Ram, of the Caribbean Development Bank, discusses the states of digital transformation in the region, and key elemen...

In this our August 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Kimberly Adams, of Novelty Curve Inc., and Stephen Lee, of ArkiTechs Inc. , the panel discusses the lack of opportunities for the Caribbean tech business community, and the challenges facing the Caribbean region's telecoms and ICT networks as they continue to evolve.   Show notes and links to some of the thing...

Without a doubt, one of the purposes of ICT/tech innovation is to solve real-life, practical problems. However, our problem solving capability in the Caribbean region can be greatly enhanced if we have people who possess the requisite skills and are suitably equipped. Professor Patrick Hosein, the Director of TTLAB, a research laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago, explains how TTLAB is developing pra...

It was inevitable. No conversation on ICT and tech today would be complete without a discussion on social media. Experienced media strategist, Knolly Moses, who is the CEO of Panmedia in Jamaica, shares some insights on how social media has evolved over the years, current trends, plus useful tips on how organisations can leverage social media to improve consumer reach, engagement, and hopefully co...

Over the past several years, Barbados consistently ranks among the top Caribbean countries with respect to telecom and ICT. David Smith, President, of the Barbados Chapter of the Internet Society, helps us to understand the factors that made Barbados a telecoms and ICT powerhouse in the region; some of the challenges country is currently experiencing; along with trends and opportunities that are b...

By no stretch of the imagination is the banking and financial services industry considered a hotbed of ICT/tech innovation and disruption; however, the National Commercial Bank Jamaica has been recognised as one of the most innovative banks in Latin America and the Caribbean. Nadeen Matthews Blair, the Bank's Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, discusses ways in which NCB Jamaica fosters innovati...

To a considerable degree, and across almost every aspect of our lives, technology has been a driver of change. In this our July 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Liselle Yorke and Shannon Clarke, the panel discusses on the uneasy tension between technology and preserving the local cultural heritage of Caribbean countries, and implementing Tech4Good projects to d...

Although the term "digital transformation" has become quite popular, many of us really don't know what it truly means. To help us get a better sense of what digital transformation by organisations entails, Julio Lima and Carlyle Assue of the Caribbean Development Bank discuss the digital transformation process that is currently being implemented by the Bank, and share some important takeaways that...

For many countries in the Americas, and particularly those in the Caribbean region, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is a crucial resource for loans, grant funding and technical assistance. Therese Turner-Jones, the General Manager of the Country Department Caribbean Group of the IDB, helps us to better understand, among other things, scope of the IDB's work, the Bank's posture on ICT in...

The Dutch-speaking country of Suriname is a full member of many regional organisations in the Caribbean, but generally, very little is known about it. In this the second instalment of our Know your neighbours series, Vincentius Kenswil and Anuskha Sonai, of the Digital Talents Academy In Suriname, help us to have a better understanding of Suriname generally, and of course, from an ICT perspective....

Developing the human capital is a crucial element for countries to better leverage ICT. In this our June 2019 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Claire Craig and Clifford Browne, the panel discusses ICT for job creation and economic development in the Caribbean region, and helping girls navigate the digital landscape and fostering greater ICT participation.   Show no...

When you say the word 'Samsung', we tend to think of smartphones. Samsung is a global leader in the smartphone market, and is the most popular brand in the Caribbean. In speaking with Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager for Samsung Electronics, who focuses in the Caribbean region, we learn about consumer and tech trends that are influencing how Samsung smartphones are evolving, and what Samsung has in...

Being able to develop software applications can be considered only half of the ICT innovation formula. Being able to design and/or properly configure the hardware to suit the requirements is equally, or even perhaps more, important. In our conversation with Dr Cathy-Ann Radix, of the University of the West Indies, we discuss the need for the Caribbean region to focus of ICT product testing, the mi...