In February 2025, the Government of Jamaica made publicly available the National Artificial Intelligence Policy Recommendations prepared by the National Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

We are joined by the Chairman of the Task Force, Christopher Reckord, to discuss the policy recommendations made, including:

  *  the unique, Jamaica-specific considerations that shaped the recommendations;

  *  the priority action items Chris hopes will be executed; and

  *  why other Caribbean countries should go through the trouble of creating a national AI policy.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  

Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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Without a doubt, Caribbean farming is fraught with a broad range of challenges. Chief among them is that most of the farms are smallholdings, often in difficult locations and with relatively poor soil, which can affect yield, quality, sustainability and profitability. 

In our conversation with Dr Yvane Agard-Abbot, the Founder of HydroFluidics, a Deep Tech/Agritech startup, she discusses, among other things:

  *  how Microfluidic Technology can address some of the problems in the Caribbean region’s agriculture sector;

  *  the problem HydroFluidics is trying to solve; and

  *  the next steps in bringing her solution to farmers.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  

Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In our February 2025 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Kira Mohammed, an e-Commerce Strategist based in Trinidad and Tobago, and Mark Codling, a PhD Candidate in GeoInformatics from Jamaica, the panel discusses the following three topics:

  *  ways AI is transforming e-commerce; 

  *  AI and real-time weather; and

  *  cashless fraud.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  

Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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The Caribbean region ranks lowest in statistical performance compared to other regions, and studies have estimated the value of Open Data alone could contribute between 1% and 2% to the national GDP of Caribbean countries.

The ‘Data Queen’ herself, Raquel Seville, is back to discuss her new start-up, Dataffluent, which is offering financial and investment insights on underserved markets, including those in the Caribbean region.

During our conversation, she discusses, among other things, 

  *  the problem Dataffluent is trying to solve;

  *  what it is like to be a woman in tech AND a woman in finance;

  *  the challenges of training AI models for us in developing countries; and

  *  the advice she would give to other young tech start-ups.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  

Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In response to the goal of doubling the ICT sector’s contribution to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP, the Developers Hub, more commonly known as D’Hub, offers training, access to tools, as well as income and networking opportunities to local developers and citizens interested in ICT.

With Devindra Ramnarine, a Digital Transformation Adviser at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Trinidad and Tobago, and one of the main architects of D’Hub, we discuss this innovative platform, including,

  *  the problem D’Hub is trying to solve;

  *  the specific government or societal challenges that are being addressed via D’Hub;

  *  how D’Hub can be made sustainable; and

  *  whether the model can be replicated in other Caribbean or developing countries.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  

Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In our January 2025 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Esmeralda Levens-Wijngaarde of Blyce in Curaçao, and Niko Kluyver also of Curaçao and CyberVade, the panel discusses:

  *  the impact of social media on mental health in the Caribbean;

  *  data residency in the Caribbean; and

  *  big tech and developing countries: can there be some rebalancing of power?

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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The Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF) is just around the corner worldwide, and it is among the first Internet Governance events of the year.

With Jaqueline Morris, a longstanding player in the global Internet Governance space and the current Chair of the Trinidad and Tobago Multistakeholder Advisory Group Board, which is the organiser of TTIGF, she discusses, among other things,

  *  how TTIGF came about,

  *  how the internet has been evolving and emerging trends, and

  *  the biggest internet or Internet Governance issues to which we should be paying particular attention.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez

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In our first episode for 2025, we are starting a new series in which we showcase Caribbean tech entrepreneurs and startups that are doing incredible things in or for the region. Our first guest is Jarryon Paul, the Founder of Sunshine, a stablecoin exchange based in Trinidad and Tobago.

In this conversation, we learn more about Jarryon and his entrepreneurial journey to date, which started when he was 10! Further, we discuss Sunshine, the problem it is trying to solve, and why stablecoins may be more important (and even valuable) than fiat currency. Jarryon also shares his thoughts on some of the regional payment options that are under consideration and being piloted, along with where he hopes to see Sunshine in the not-too-distant future. 

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

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In this our final Community Chat and final episode for 2024, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Financial and Impact Innovator, Digital Economist and Digital Transformation Expert, Telly Valerie Onu, and International Consultant, Carlton Samuels, the panel discusses the ICT/technology trends and developments that were evident across the Caribbean region in 2024, and what might be in store in 2025.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

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Also, Sponsorship Opportunities!

The ICT Pulse Podcast is accepting sponsors!

Would you like to partner with us to produce an episode of the podcast, or highlight a product or service to our audience? Do get in touch at [email protected] with “Podcast Sponsorship” as the subject, or via social media @ictpulse, for more details.

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Innovation continues to be a big buzzword in the digital age, with organisations, and even countries, aspiring to be ‘more innovative’. But what does that mean, and what can Caribbean countries and organisations do to better nurture and, ultimately, leverage innovation?

We circle back to one of our earliest interviews and the interview that launched our innovation series in 2019!  

Based on his illustrious career in Engineering and Education, Professor Patrick Hosein shared his thoughts on, among other things:

  *  what Caribbean countries might be doing wrong with regard to fostering innovation;

  *  who exactly should be driving innovation; and

  *  important elements that are still missing in the Caribbean to foster innovation.

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:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ICTPulse/  Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/ictpulse/  Twitter –  https://twitter.com/ICTPulse  LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/company/3745954/admin/  Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/qnUtj 

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

----------------

Also, Sponsorship Opportunities!

The ICT Pulse Podcast is accepting sponsors!

Would you like to partner with us to produce an episode of the podcast, or highlight a product or service to our audience? Do get in touch at [email protected] with “Podcast Sponsorship” as the subject, or via social media @ictpulse, for more details.

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