In our November 2025 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, ICT Consultant Natalie Maharaj of Trinidad and Tobago, and Dr Lyndell St. Ville of Saint Lucia and the tech firm Datashore, the panel discusses:

* the imperative of implementing digital ID systems in the Caribbean region;

* the current state of AI governance; and

* cloud versus local or on-premises facilities and services in the Caribbean.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Jamaica in October 2025, the current focus is on disaster recovery. In telecoms and ICT, much of the infrastructure was adversely affected, hence the priority is remediation and restoration.

Learning from the experience of the region, we are joined by Craig Nesty, the telecoms regulator in Dominica, and Sylvester Cadette, of the International Telecommunications Union Area Office for the Caribbean. We discuss, among other things,

* Dominica's experience following Hurricane Maria in 2017;

* why having a well-functioning National Emergency Telecommunications Plan is critical;

* innovative projects that have been implemented; and

* strategies that countries could consider implementing prior to or following a disaster to expedite recovery.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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The internet was once envisioned as a borderless, open, and unified network connecting people, information, and innovation across the globe. However, in recent years, that vision has been increasingly threatened by what experts call "internet fragmentation".

William J Drake, one of the leading experts on the subject, joins us to discuss, among other things:

* how and why internet fragmentation came to the fore on the international agenda;

* how he would define 'internet fragmentation';

* whether there are any circumstances in which internet fragmentation can be a good thing; and

* why Caribbean countries and other developing regions should be concerned about internet fragmentation.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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At almost every stage, Caribbean countries have had to justify whether their markets can support advanced digital technologies. Co-Founder and CEO of Paradise Mobile, Sam Tabbara, joins us in this episode to share his thoughts on issues including:

* the claims by major regional telcos that there was no business case for 5G in the region;

* whether it is possible and plausible for less populous or lower-income Caribbean countries to sustain advanced digital technologies;

* the role of the regulator in the emerging construct; and

* what is next for Paradise Mobile in the Caribbean region.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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Unlike other Caribbean countries that have been aggressive in developing their fintech space, Trinidad and Tobago adopted a more measured posture in which it emphasised strengthening key enablers that could eventually facilitate accelerated development.

However, in recent weeks, it appeared the country took a giant step backwards by proposing a blanket ban on all virtual asset service provider activities, though successful businesses had already been established.

With Alexander Gafoor, the President of the FinTech Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FinTechTT), we discuss, among other things:

* the proposed ban and the challenges that are likely to eventuate;

* the feedback and recommendations made to the Government by FinTechTT;

* the broader state of innovation in Trinidad and Tobago; and

* what the country needs to do to become the fintech powerhouse it was always meant to be.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In our October 2025 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Founder and Lead Consultant of ProTradeConsult, Lisa Callender of Jamaica, and Chartered Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Information Privacy Professional, Allison James of Barbados, the panel discusses:

* the relevance of harmonised technology regulation in growing our economies through the free movement of people and integrated payment platforms;

* can blockchain technologies be a new development partner for the Caribbean?, and

* investing in AI: What should be the region's priorities?

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In the fourth instalment in our Expert Insights series on cyber threats and security for 2025, we are joined once again by Edward Millington, of CariSec Global, which is headquartered in Barbados.

In this conversation, Edward discusses, among other things:

* current trends in cybersecurity;

* whether there are well-defined paths to pursue specific cybersecurity-related disciplines or specialities;

* availability of suitable talent in the security job market; and

* tactics Caribbean countries should be employing to be more prepared and resilient to cyber threats.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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Globally, countries are grappling with a broad range of internet-related issues: from ensuring digital inclusion and improved network resilience to AI governance to digital sovereignty. One of the leading organisations for internet governance policy development is ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

In this episode, we are joined by ICANN CEO and President Kurt Erik "Kurtis" Lindqvist, who was a featured speaker during the Caribbean Telecommunications Union's ICT Week, which was held in Jamaica during the week of 29 September. During our conversation, Kurtis shared his thoughts on, among other things:

* the multi-stakeholder model, which has come under increasing criticism over the years;

* our progress globally towards achieving the WSIS framework's objectives and the action lines;

* why a multilingual Internet is important; and

* specific goals he would like to accomplish before his tenure as CEO ends.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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Without a doubt, the user experience (UX) component in software development is critical in driving user satisfaction, retention, and adoption. In this podcast episode, we are joined once again by Janice Alexander and Brittney Samuels to discuss the findings of their latest UX in the Caribbean study.

During our conversation, the duo shared, among other things:

* important findings from the current research;

* the "talent paradox" the survey revealed;

* the certification versus formal qualifications conundrum that exists; and

* the supply versus demand dynamic in today's job market.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In our September 2025 Community Chat, and with youth members of the Caribbean tech community, Data Scientist and Researcher, Julie Koon Koon of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Co-CEO of Orbtronics and Rifbid, Keeghan Patrick, of Saint Lucia, the panel discusses:

* whether the use of AI for digital transformation and innovation is evident in the Caribbean region;

* women's empowerment in ICTs; and

* the changing job market due to AI and the implications for new and imminent graduates.

The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)

Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!

Also, connect with us on:

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Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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