ICT Pulse Podcast

During the peak of the 2020 pandemic, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) experienced a global surge, promising to revolutionise remote work, education, and tourism. Yet years later, adoption across the Caribbean remains surprisingly slow. In this re-released episode, we revisit our conversation with 4thDymension, a visionary tech collective from Montserrat. They tackled these exact challenges by building the Plymouth Recreation Project, digitally reconstructing Montserrat's buried capital using 3D modelling and VR. We also discussed, among other things:   *  how immersive tech can safeguard Caribbean cultural heritage;   *  practical applications for regional tourism and education; and   *  building sustainable XR ventures from micro-states.   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   ---------------

Four years ago, we hosted a vital conversation on whether the Caribbean was ready for a regional stablecoin. Fast forward to today, CBDC adoption remains slow, central bank-led integration tools such as CAPSS face protracted timelines, and local businesses continue to struggle with high friction and fees when moving money across Caribbean borders. In this throwback re-release of our conversation with Dr Jan Schröder (architect of CaribCoin) and Rodney Taylor (Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union). We explore why a privately backed, asset-referenced regional stablecoin could be the missing financial infrastructure CARICOM needs, along with:    *  what Carib$ stablecoin is, and what it hopes to achieve;   *  how they would assess the state of fintech in the Caribbean region;   *  key challenges that have been identified that could be affecting fintech innovation and development in the region; and   *  what they think are the opportunities for crypto and/or digital cash 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!       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   ---------------  

If the Caribbean and other developing countries want to build sustainable economic resilience, innovation can no longer be just a buzzword. It has to be developed and nurtured in an ecosystem where talent meets opportunity, capital, and global vision. On this week's episode, we are joined by Shergaun Roserie and Keeghan Patrick, the Co-Founders of Orbtronics, a tech and innovation firm based in Saint Lucia, to discuss innovation. During our conversation, we also explore:   *  whether innovation is resource-driven or mindset-driven;   *  the catalyst for launching the Orbtronics Innovation Summit;   *  how established Caribbean institutions start taking calculated risks and fostering innovation; and    *  their message to Caribbean youths who are tinkering with code, robotics, or an idea.   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   ---------------

In our October 2026 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Aaleyah S. Evans, a Bahamian cybersecurity professional and educator, and Shanelle McPherson, a Jamaican technology professional, educator, and community advocate, the panel discusses:   *  Social media bans for children and youth: Are they a good thing?   *  Why is digital literacy lacking among digital natives?   *  Is it possible to balance technology use and social development among children and youth?   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   ---------------

Physical borders are no longer the only line of defence for Caribbean countries. Our digital borders matter just as much. In our latest podcast episode, we welcome back Giovanni King, CEO of Blue NAP Americas and Chairman of the Caribbean Datacenter Association, to dive into a game-changing and recently published document to improve regional digital resilience: the Curaçao Data Embassy Reference Framework. In addition to discussing the framework and what a data embassy is, Giovanni shares his thoughts on, among other things:    *  the change in conversation that has been occurring across the region as it relates to digital assets;   *  why each Caribbean country does not have to establish its own independent infrastructure ecosystems to protect its digital assets;   *  why data classification is a critical and often overlooked step in the data resilience process; and   *  the single most important action Caribbean leaders should take regarding data embassy frameworks.   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   ---------------

In the fourth instalment of our Expert Insights series on cyber threats and security for 2026, and to commemorate Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, we are joined once again by Cybersecurity Consultant David Gittens after a three-year break. During this conversation, David shares his thoughts on, among other things:   *  where Caribbean organisations stand in terms of actual posture versus perceived readiness;   *  how resource-constrained security teams can use AI to level the playing field;   *  the biggest friction points governments face when translating policy into operational defence; and   *  some high-impact security measures Caribbean MSMEs should prioritise today.   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   ---------------

In our September 2026 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Certified Information Systems Auditor, a Certified Information Privacy Professional and a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant, Allison James of Barbados, and Simone Pasmore, the Chief Executive Officer of Webstylze, also in Barbados, the panel discusses: (i) Are your core business systems really secure?  How using AI can build your company's freedom and true security; (ii) building digital trust and accountability; keeping Caribbean communities safe in a connected, AI-enabled world; and (iii) the state of the Internet of Things (IoT) 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!       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   ---------------    

How is the Caribbean positioning itself for global digital leadership? In our latest episode of the ICT Pulse Podcast, we sit down with Rodney Taylor, the Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), to preview the upcoming CTU ICT Week 2026 in French Guiana. During our conversation, the Secretary General breaks down:   *  the importance of CTU ICT Week;   *  the role satellite networks and space tech can play in non-disaster situations;   *  the need for the Caribbean to speak with a unifying voice ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in November 2026; and   *  the single biggest takeaway he wants attendees of CTU ICT Week 2026 to leave with.   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   ---------------  

For freelancers and small businesses, getting paid globally is often harder than the work itself. All too often, high transfer fees and payout delays undermine businesses and adversely affect their sustainability. With Monique Powell, the Founder and CEO of Sendana, we discuss how this start-up is replacing slow legacy rails and redefining banking for borderless professionals. More specifically, and among other things, we discuss:   *  the problem that Sendana is trying to solve;   *  how much of the challenge of underdeveloped digital payments is technology versus regulation and legacy banking systems;   *  what it means that Sendana is a stablecoin-powered global banking platform; and   *  Monique's vision for Sendana in the next three to five years.    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   ---------------

The global outsourcing landscape is undergoing a massive transformation—from AI-driven automation to shifting corporate spend. What does this mean for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean? On the latest episode, we are joined by Yoni Epstein, the Founder and CEO of itel and the Chairman of the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ). Yoni gives us an unfiltered, executive view of:   *  the real story behind recent industry contractions in Jamaica;   *  how AI is changing the sector, not just replacing jobs;   *  the strategic shift required toward higher-value services; and   *  what would demonstrate signs of strong recovery of the sector in Jamaica.    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   ---------------