Carib Scope

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  • BPO guru touts intelligence-based outsourcing

    BPO guru touts intelligence-based outsourcing

    MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is strategically positioning itself at the intersection of human expertise and artificial intelligence to drive future growth and global competitiveness. According to Gloria Henry, Vice-President for BPO and Logistics at the Port Authority of Jamaica, the industry is transitioning toward “intelligence-based outsourcing” that synergizes technological capabilities with human talent.

    Speaking at the Montego Bay Free Zone Employment Creation Awards ceremony, Henry emphasized that AI should be viewed as an enhancer rather than a replacement for human workers. “AI by itself cannot deliver the results. Humans provide the direction, support, and data guidance necessary to achieve desired outcomes,” she stated, addressing concerns about automation displacing jobs.

    The integration of AI, Henry explained, enables workers to significantly boost productivity and efficiency. “They can work faster and produce more with the kind of support that AI can offer,” she noted, highlighting the transformative potential of human-machine collaboration in contact centers and BPO operations.

    Critical to this evolution is a national commitment to upskilling and training initiatives. Henry pointed to collaborative efforts with educational institutions like HEART/NSTA Trust through the Ministry of Education and Youth, though she acknowledged that deeper investment in training programs is still needed. Recent budgetary allocations signal governmental support for the sector’s continued expansion.

    Henry urged stakeholders to adopt a forward-looking perspective: “We shouldn’t be daunted by the integration of AI. We should embrace it to make our industry more productive, resilient, and globally competitive.”

    The awards ceremony celebrated companies driving employment growth within the free zone, with Unique Vacations receiving top honors for its exceptional performance during challenging periods. Company representative Leezo Wallace highlighted their achievement of maintaining the sector’s lowest retention rate (under 3%) while continuing hiring even during hurricane disruptions.

    The event also recognized the growing influence of women in BPO leadership, with Henry paying tribute to veteran leader Valarie Ives’ 41 years of service while noting the significant increase in female leadership since the 1990s.

  • 10 tax terms every woman-led business owner should know

    10 tax terms every woman-led business owner should know

    Jamaica’s entrepreneurial landscape is powerfully shaped by women, who operate over 165,000 businesses across the nation. Yet for these multi-tasking leaders—managing operations, staff, and family—tax season often presents a formidable challenge. Sasha Lee Miller, Senior Manager at First Global Bank, emphasizes that knowledge transforms this annual burden into an opportunity for confidence and compliance.

    Understanding key tax terminology is critical for business owners. The Tax Registration Number (TRN) serves as a foundational identifier, essential for filings and transactions. The tax year—or year of assessment—dictates reporting deadlines, which vary by business structure. Miller advises meticulous bookkeeping aligned with this period.

    Two core concepts define tax filings: the final return, documenting annual earnings and expenses, and the estimated return, projecting future liabilities. For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), transitioning to quarterly installments requires disciplined financial planning. Self-assessment places responsibility on the taxpayer to calculate and pay accurately, underscoring the necessity of organized records.

    Allowable expenses—such as rent, utilities, and marketing—reduce taxable profit when properly documented. Capital allowances further enable businesses to depreciate major assets over time. Withholding tax obligations arise when engaging contractors, necessitating early consultation with accountants.

    General Consumption Tax (GCT) requires registered businesses to collect and remit government taxes, distinguishing between output and input taxes. For employers, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) encompasses employee income deductions, alongside National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and National Housing Trust (NHT) contributions. Cash flow constraints often make payroll compliance particularly challenging.

    The Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) emerges as a vital credential, affirming good standing and unlocking opportunities for loans, government contracts, and corporate partnerships. Ultimately, tax literacy empowers female entrepreneurs to transition from informal operations to structured growth, avoiding penalties while securing financial advantages.

  • Infinity IMC triples CARIMAC awards as company celebrates 7th year

    Infinity IMC triples CARIMAC awards as company celebrates 7th year

    MARKING ITS SEVENTH anniversary with a significant philanthropic expansion, Infinity Integrated Marketing Communications and Events Limited (Infinity IMC) has elevated its commitment to academic excellence by tripling its annual awards for students at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), University of the West Indies, Mona. Previously sponsoring a single award, the company now champions three distinct scholarships targeting various communication disciplines.

    The 2025 awardees, honored at a recent university faculty ceremony, are Fallon Naomi Miller (Animation), Zantaye Annaleise Thomas (Integrated Marketing Communication), and Kelesha Williams (Communication for Social and Behaviour Change – Graduate Studies). Each recipient demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, resilience, and a shared vision to leverage communication as a catalyst for societal transformation.

    Shanoy Harris Coombs, CEO of Infinity IMC, articulated that this strategic expansion aligns with the company’s core values and anniversary celebrations. “Social impact remains at the heart of our operations. By increasing our scholarship offerings, we aim to acknowledge more exceptional talents and facilitate their entry into the media and communications landscape,” Coombs stated.

    The awardees’ journeys underscore profound dedication and personal conviction. Kelesha Williams, a journalist from Television Jamaica, credited her humble origins in rural Green Town, Trelawny, as the driving force behind her academic pursuit. “Education represented the only viable pathway to disrupt cycles of marginalization and amplify underrepresented voices,” Williams explained.

    Zantaye Annaleise Thomas, who balanced rigorous academics with leadership roles and internships, emerged as the class valedictorian for the 2025 graduating cohort. Despite moments of exhaustion, Thomas emphasized the importance of a robust support system and structured discipline. Her ambition is to redefine global narratives surrounding Caribbean excellence and strategically enhance Brand Jamaica’s international presence.

    Both scholars perceive the Infinity IMC recognition as not merely an academic accolade but a vital endorsement from the industry, affirming the significance of nurturing emerging professionals. Meanwhile, the introduction of an Animation award category signals the company’s awareness of evolving communication mediums, particularly within digital storytelling and visual engagement.

    Harris Coombs praised the awardees, noting, “These young women exemplify the future of our industry—their creativity, commitment, and discipline are truly inspiring.”

  • The relentless innovator

    The relentless innovator

    In Jamaica’s rapidly evolving media landscape—shaped by viral content, pandemic disruptions, and digital proliferation—54-year-old Kingston native O’neil ‘iShac’ Harris has emerged as an unlikely pioneer in interactive gaming. With no formal higher education, Harris leveraged self-taught expertise in electronics, video production, and coding to create innovative phygital games that blend physical movement with cognitive challenges.

    Harris’s journey began through practical experience: maintaining taxi radios, working in telecommunications, and learning video production at JBC (now TVJ) through sheer immersion. His electronics repair shop serviced musical instruments for prominent bands like Fab Five, while his video editing work with Stage Video honed his technical skills. This diverse background proved foundational when he automated exhibits for the Bob Marley Museum in 2014—an early foray into phygital experiences.

    The COVID-19 pandemic became an unexpected catalyst. When Jamaica’s film industry collapsed, Harris secured a cultural project with Red Stripe to develop interactive museum exhibits. Though shelved, the project ignited his passion for creating engaging physical-digital hybrids. Scouring YouTube tutorials and international forums, he taught himself coding and prototype development using scrap materials.

    Driven by concern over screen-dominated interactions (‘people having their heads down on the phone all the time’), Harris developed five signature games: MemorySprint (pattern replication under time pressure), LightStriker (reflex-testing light tennis), SmackDat (precision whack-a-mole variant), Catch&Stack, and electronic Tic Tac Toe. These installations have become fixtures at local venues like Jangas Soundbar and Grill, where weekly game nights draw hundreds of participants. Viral TikTok exposure has amplified their reach dramatically.

    Beyond entertainment, Harris envisions interactive public parks across Jamaica where communities can connect, compete, and learn together. His creations serve as tools for community-building and skill development, though financial constraints challenge scalability. Harris seeks partners who share his vision for affordable, durable public installations.

    Reflecting on his unconventional path, Harris acknowledges underestimating business considerations early on but expresses no regret about his creative focus. His mission remains centered on inspiring next-generation innovators and creating spaces ‘where people have something else to do’ beyond screens. Harris’s story exemplifies how resourcefulness, practical learning, and responsiveness to community needs can drive meaningful technological innovation in evolving digital societies.

  • Faith, focus, and the future

    Faith, focus, and the future

    The formidable financial barriers obstructing higher education for countless aspiring students have been dramatically overcome in the inspiring account of Joshua Gazader, a recent Caribbean Maritime University alumnus. His academic pursuit, once shadowed by monetary constraints, evolved into a profound narrative of perseverance and transformative support, courtesy of the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF).

    Selected as a beneficiary of SVF’s prestigious 20th-anniversary scholarship in 2021, Gazader emerged from a highly competitive pool of thousands of applicants to become one of only twenty recipients. This critical intervention fundamentally altered his educational trajectory, which he had anticipated would be dominated by student debt and exhaustive work-travel commitments necessary to finance his logistics and supply chain studies.

    The scholarship’s impact extended far beyond the elimination of his four-year tuition burden, estimated at over $2 million. It created a comprehensive support system that enabled Gazader to concentrate exclusively on his rigorous academic demands without the distraction of financial pressures. The foundation supplemented financial assistance with professional development initiatives, including mentorship sessions featuring accomplished Jamaican leaders, practical career-building workshops, essential technological resources, and vital support for basic necessities.

    The transition to university education presented significant academic challenges that tested Gazader’s resilience, particularly during his first year when he considered abandoning his studies after failing to meet the required GPA standards. The foundation demonstrated exceptional belief in his potential by granting him a second chance—an act of confidence that propelled him to redouble his efforts through spiritual faith and collaborative study sessions with peers.

    Gazader’s perseverance culminated in his triumphant graduation ceremony this January, attended by foundation representatives who celebrated his achievement. Now established in the inventory management sector, he is actively working toward his five-year goals of vehicle acquisition and home ownership while aspiring to become an industry leader and inspirational figure for disadvantaged youth.

    Reflecting on his journey, Gazader emphasizes the importance of purpose identification, spiritual foundation, and relentless perseverance through obstacles. His story stands as powerful testimony to how targeted educational investment can unleash human potential and create leaders who transform their communities.

  • Lamar Uffar trained for stronger service delivery

    Lamar Uffar trained for stronger service delivery

    Liberty Caribbean and its subsidiary FLOW are revolutionizing customer service excellence through their innovative Technician Pathways Programme, a comprehensive workforce development initiative launched in 2025. This strategic program provides telecommunications technicians with structured training, mentorship, and support systems while they pursue internationally recognized credentials alongside practical field experience.

    The program’s impact is demonstrated through the achievement of Lamar Uffar, a FLOW field services technician who recently earned the prestigious Broadband Premises Installer certification from the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). This globally recognized credential establishes technical standards across the telecommunications industry worldwide. Uffar’s accomplishment positions him among the first technicians in the Caribbean region to achieve certification through this pioneering program.

    According to Darron Turnquest, Director of People and Communications at FLOW, this investment in technical education directly enhances service capabilities. “By equipping our technicians with advanced technical knowledge and globally recognized certifications, we’re significantly strengthening our capacity to diagnose network issues more efficiently, improve installation quality, and deliver faster, more reliable support for both households and businesses,” Turnquest stated. “Celebrating achievements like Lamar’s underscores our commitment to investing in our team’s professional growth and development.”

    The initiative has gained substantial traction, with 583 technicians across Liberty Caribbean’s markets currently enrolled and actively working toward SCTE certifications. This development is particularly significant given that technicians typically serve as the primary interface between the company and its customer base.

    For Uffar, the certification represents both personal accomplishment and advancement for Jamaica’s technical workforce. “This certification stands as a proud milestone that reflects the dedication and training required to deliver optimal service to our customers,” Uffar commented. “The Technician Pathways Programme has enabled me to deepen my technical expertise and enhance my understanding of daily operational systems. This translates to faster issue diagnosis and more reliable connections for customers during field installations and troubleshooting procedures.”

    The program forms part of a broader corporate strategy to professionalize field roles while developing a pipeline of highly skilled technical professionals throughout the region. Beyond improving service quality, the initiative creates substantial career advancement opportunities for technical staff. Certified technicians gain access to advanced organizational roles, mentorship positions, and opportunities to contribute to complex regional projects across Liberty Caribbean’s network infrastructure.

  • JCI Antigua Hosts 5th Annual Recycle and Create Competition in Observance of National Recycling Day

    JCI Antigua Hosts 5th Annual Recycle and Create Competition in Observance of National Recycling Day

    Antigua’s Multipurpose Cultural Centre became a hub of youthful environmental innovation on March 24th as JCI Antigua hosted its fifth annual Recycle and Create Competition in honor of National Recycling Day. The event showcased exceptional creativity from over 28 participants representing multiple schools across the island, who transformed discarded materials into purposeful artworks and functional creations.

    JCI Antigua President Collet Gordon addressed the gathering with enthusiastic praise for the competitors, noting their demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices. ‘The visionary concepts and executed projects displayed here today confirm that our younger generation recognizes their environmental responsibility and possesses the willingness to champion meaningful change,’ Gordon stated. ‘By converting waste materials into valuable creations, these students are fundamentally reshaping perspectives on consumption patterns, conservation ethics, and community engagement.’

    The competition has established itself as a significant platform for promoting environmental consciousness among youth while encouraging creative problem-solving. This year’s award recipients included: Shemarie Williams from Pares Primary School (1st Place), Tareas Joseph representing Liberta Primary School (2nd Place), and K’Nizia Thomas of Old Road Primary School (3rd Place).

    JCI Antigua extended gratitude to the Ministry of Education, sponsoring organizations, collaborative partners, supporting entities, participating educational institutions, and all contributors who facilitated the event’s success. Through initiatives like the Recycle and Create Competition, the organization reaffirms its dedication to empowering Antigua and Barbuda’s youth, cultivating innovation, and advancing environmental stewardship throughout the community.

  • Boy seriously injured in road collision in Cooks area

    Boy seriously injured in road collision in Cooks area

    A severe traffic incident involving a young pedestrian and a motor vehicle has sparked urgent safety concerns within the Cooks community. Emergency services responded to a roadway collision on Saturday after a truck struck a juvenile male, resulting in critical lower body injuries, particularly to one leg. While official medical reports remain pending, preliminary assessments indicate the child sustained serious trauma requiring immediate hospitalization.

    Local authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the accident circumstances, examining factors including road conditions, visibility, and compliance with traffic regulations. The collision has reignited longstanding community apprehensions regarding pedestrian safety infrastructure in residential areas.

    Residents have mobilized following the incident, organizing community meetings and drafting petitions demanding immediate safety enhancements. Proposed measures include improved crosswalk visibility, reduced speed limits near residential zones, and installation of traffic calming devices. Community representatives emphasize this incident represents an escalation of previously documented safety concerns rather than an isolated occurrence.

    The municipal transportation department has acknowledged receiving formal safety improvement requests and confirmed planned review of area traffic patterns. Psychological support services have been offered to witnesses and affected community members as the neighborhood processes the traumatic event. Further developments are anticipated as investigators complete evidence collection and analysis.

  • INSIDE TRANSPORT: Bus drivers warn of rising piracy, weak enforcement on key route

    INSIDE TRANSPORT: Bus drivers warn of rising piracy, weak enforcement on key route

    Bus operators along Saint Lucia’s critical 2H Castries-Vieux Fort transit corridor are confronting escalating operational challenges as government-promised modernization reforms remain stagnant. Despite years of advocacy, systemic issues including infrastructure deficiencies, unfulfilled policy amendments, and most critically, rampant route piracy continue to undermine driver livelihoods and passenger safety.

    Kurt Celestine, veteran driver and Public Relations Officer of the Southern Minibus Association (2H), describes the deteriorating working conditions: “Our work has become a hassle. We face daily competition from unauthorized operators, and piracy has plagued us for years.” The nation’s transport sector operates through privately-owned buses government-regulated via route-specific permits, yet enforcement against illegal operations remains conspicuously absent.

    The piracy phenomenon involves both unregistered vehicles and—more alarmingly—alleged police officers operating illegal transit services. Marcellinus Faisal, President of the Southern Minibus Association, identifies two specific officers using private vehicles (bearing ‘P’ plates instead of required ‘M’ or ‘H’ designations) to illegally transport passengers along their route daily. “Every single day it’s happening,” Faisal states, “and they’re saying nobody can stop them.”

    Drivers express profound frustration with authorities’ inadequate response despite repeated appeals to law enforcement and transport ministries. Errol Francis, a 2H route driver for over thirty years, highlights the laminated permit explicitly authorizing only Castries/Vieux Fort operations, noting authorities possess revocation powers for violations that remain unused.

    Transport Minister Stephenson King recently acknowledged systemic violations during pre-cabinet briefings, admitting some operators have “broken off from the system” while discussing potential three-tier modernization plans. However, drivers note that promised disciplinary committees—first proposed four years ago—have yet to materialize, leaving them without procedural recourse.

    Beyond immediate piracy concerns, operators emphasize broader needs including laybys, improved Vieux Fort terminal facilities, and southern road rehabilitation. Yet with fundamental enforcement mechanisms failing, confidence in larger modernization efforts remains low. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s Department of Road Safety and Traffic Investigations has commenced examining the allegations, though drivers await tangible action after years of operational hardship.

  • LISTEN: MP’s Lewis, Walker, Bowen pay respectful tributes to Veteran Parliamentarian Sir Molwyn Joseph

    LISTEN: MP’s Lewis, Walker, Bowen pay respectful tributes to Veteran Parliamentarian Sir Molwyn Joseph

    The Lower House of Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament witnessed heartfelt tributes to Sir Molwyn Joseph, the retiring Member of Parliament for St. Mary’s North, as colleagues honored his distinguished career spanning over three decades. Lawmakers Richard Lewis, Sherfield Bowen, and Trevor Walker delivered commemorative addresses recognizing his extensive contributions to national development.

    Richard Lewis initiated the proceedings by acknowledging Sir Molwyn’s remarkable longevity in public service, emphasizing his significant impact across multiple ministerial portfolios. Lewis highlighted that Joseph’s dedicated service to Antigua and Barbuda ‘over a very long period’ warranted special recognition, noting his substantial influence on contemporaries throughout his political journey.

    Sherfield Bowen followed with reflections on Joseph’s extraordinary electoral consistency, interpreting his repeated re-election as clear evidence of constituent confidence. Bowen candidly addressed their vigorous political exchanges, characterizing their parliamentary debates as featuring the classic ‘cut and thrust’ of democratic discourse while extending sincere retirement wishes.

    Trevor Walker provided additional perspective, recalling Joseph’s ministerial tenure particularly as Tourism Minister and his substantive engagements with Barbuda on critical matters. Walker acknowledged the often intense nature of parliamentary debate while praising Joseph as one of the chamber’s most formidable debaters, asserting that his continued electoral success demonstrated the enduring trust of St. Mary’s North constituents.

    The ceremonial addresses collectively painted a portrait of a dedicated public servant transitioning from active politics after more than thirty years of legislative service, marking the conclusion of a significant chapter in the nation’s political history.