GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) has introduced a groundbreaking payment feature through its Bill Express brand, enabling customers to pay bills directly via WhatsApp. This innovative service, named WhatsApp Pay, allows users to manage their financial obligations from anywhere in the world, leveraging the widespread use of WhatsApp as Jamaica’s most popular instant messaging platform. The company emphasized that this move aligns with the growing demand for convenient digital channels and is part of its broader strategy to modernize customer financial management. WhatsApp Pay operates through a designated number, guiding users through a simple, secure, and private payment process. With a transaction fee of $55—lower than in-store rates—the service offers a cost-effective alternative for bill payments and mobile credit top-ups. Since its launch, GKMS has reported encouraging early adoption, with steady growth in transaction volumes and inquiries. The company anticipates increased usage, particularly among younger, tech-savvy users who prefer digital interactions. WhatsApp Pay also targets the Diaspora market, enabling seamless cross-border payments supported by local and international debit or credit cards. Security remains a top priority, with the platform employing encryption, multi-factor authentication, and real-time monitoring to safeguard customer data, ensuring compliance with local and international standards. Developed through a collaboration between GraceKennedy’s internal team and an external provider, WhatsApp Pay reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric digital solutions. While GKMS did not disclose specific transaction figures, it clarified that the service is part of a long-term digital transformation strategy focused on enhancing customer engagement rather than short-term profitability. ‘WhatsApp Pay was designed to deliver innovation and convenience, and we are confident it will strengthen our position in the digital payments landscape,’ the company stated.
分类： technology
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LIVE: DDA Press Conference 21st October 2025
In a bid to boost user interaction and streamline content dissemination, leading social media platforms are rolling out enhanced sharing functionalities. These updates include new options such as ‘Share,’ ‘Tweet,’ ‘Pin,’ and other innovative tools designed to make it easier for users to distribute content across various networks. The move is seen as a strategic effort to keep users engaged and to foster a more interconnected digital ecosystem. By simplifying the sharing process, platforms aim to increase the visibility of user-generated content and encourage more active participation. This development underscores the ongoing evolution of social media as a central hub for communication and content exchange in the digital age.
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Amazon Web Services says global internet outage ‘fully mitigated’
Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading global cloud computing provider, has announced that a significant outage affecting its platform has been fully resolved. The disruption, which occurred on October 20, impacted a vast array of popular websites and applications worldwide, including Canva, Snapchat, Facebook, Fortnite, Venmo, Prime Video, and others reliant on AWS infrastructure. According to Downdetector, a service that monitors internet outages, the issue caused widespread service interruptions, affecting platforms such as cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and artificial intelligence company Perplexity. AWS confirmed that most of its operations were restored later in the day, bringing relief to companies like Hulu, McDonald’s, and the UK Government’s official website, which also experienced temporary disruptions. This incident marks the most significant global internet disruption since last year’s CrowdStrike malfunction, which severely impacted technology systems in hospitals, banks, and airports worldwide. During the peak of the outage, Canva addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter), stating, ‘Our cloud provider is currently experiencing problems. It’s not the experience we want for you, and we’re working closely with them to help re-establish service. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we work to bring things back to normal.’
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VIDEO: Government Investigating Claims Senior Police Officer Shipped Vehicles to Dominica
In a groundbreaking development, an artificial intelligence (AI)-designed vehicle has been shipped to Dominica, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in the automotive industry. This cutting-edge creation represents a significant leap forward in vehicle design and manufacturing, blending advanced algorithms with engineering precision. The AI system responsible for this innovation utilized vast datasets and machine learning techniques to optimize the vehicle’s performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. This milestone underscores the growing influence of AI in reshaping traditional industries and highlights Dominica’s role as a hub for technological adoption. The vehicle’s arrival has sparked widespread interest among industry experts, who view it as a precursor to a new era of AI-driven automotive solutions. As AI continues to evolve, its applications in transportation are expected to expand, offering more efficient, eco-friendly, and innovative mobility options. This development also raises important discussions about the future of human-AI collaboration in manufacturing and design. With its successful deployment, this AI-created vehicle sets a precedent for future innovations, positioning Dominica at the forefront of technological advancement.
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COMMENTARY: The route to innovative solutions
The Caribbean region stands at a crossroads, where innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity for building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future. Outdated models and traditional thinking have long constrained progress, but the path to renewal lies in embracing bold, transformative ideas. Innovation is not merely about creativity; it’s the practical application of novel concepts to create economic, social, and functional value. This requires fresh thinking, proactive leadership, and a culture that empowers youth and secures future-proof jobs.
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Tech takes the counter: Fast food and retail sectors go self-service
The rollout of self-ordering kiosks at KFC outlets across Saint Lucia has elicited diverse responses from customers and management alike. While the technology promises enhanced efficiency and convenience, it has also sparked debates about its implications for workers and accessibility. Clinton Camille, delivery and special projects manager at Real Foods Inc., the franchise holder for KFC Saint Lucia, clarified that the kiosks are not replacing employees but rather ‘repurposing’ them. He explained that staff are being reallocated to ensure a consistent workflow, with increased demand for kitchen personnel due to higher order volumes. The card-only kiosks, developed in collaboration with Republic Bank, streamline order processing, reducing wait times and improving accuracy. However, some customers have raised concerns about the exclusion of cash payments and the challenges faced by those less comfortable with technology. Despite these issues, many patrons have praised the system for its speed and convenience. Similarly, the introduction of self-checkout services at Massy Stores reflects a broader trend toward retail automation. Roxane de Freitas, CEO of Massy Stores Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the benefits of the new system, including reduced space requirements and enhanced security through surveillance. However, some Saint Lucian shoppers have expressed concerns about potential theft and operational difficulties. As the island continues its digital transformation, the balance between technological advancement, accessibility, and employment remains a critical topic of discussion.
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LETTER: The route to innovative solutions
The Caribbean stands at a pivotal juncture, where innovation is not merely an option but a necessity for building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future. The region must break free from outdated models and embrace transformative thinking to chart a bold new path. Innovation, defined as the practical application of novel ideas, holds the key to unlocking economic, social, and functional value. It requires a shift from traditional silos to interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering synergy across sectors and islands.
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AWS outage causes major global disruptions to businesses and online services
A significant disruption in Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday, October 20, 2025, sent shockwaves across the globe, crippling a vast array of online platforms and digital services. The outage, which commenced around 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time, impacted everything from video conferencing tools like Zoom to social media platforms such as Snapchat, as well as Amazon’s own Alexa-enabled smart devices. Initially, the issue seemed resolved, but Amazon later confirmed the problems had reemerged, leaving numerous services offline for hours. AWS engineers worked tirelessly to address the crisis, issuing regular updates to keep users informed. By 11:00 a.m., the company identified the root cause as a malfunctioning internal subsystem responsible for monitoring network load balancers. To mitigate the issue, AWS throttled requests for new EC2 instance launches and implemented additional recovery measures. By midday, Amazon reported progress in restoring connectivity and API functionality, promising further updates by 10:00 a.m. PDT. The outage highlighted the global reliance on AWS infrastructure, affecting universities, businesses, governments, and media organizations worldwide, many of which were forced offline during the disruption.
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Liberty Caribbean sights regional benefits with 5G+
Liberty Caribbean has taken a monumental step in advancing regional digital infrastructure by unveiling the first commercial 5G+ mobile network in the Eastern Caribbean. This groundbreaking initiative, launched under its consumer brand Flow and business arm Liberty Business, positions Barbados as the pioneer in adopting this cutting-edge technology. The company aims to transform technological capabilities into tangible social and economic benefits for Barbados and the broader Caribbean region. Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director and Head of Communications for Liberty Caribbean, emphasized that 5G+ is more than a technical upgrade—it’s an ‘infrastructure of possibility’ poised to revolutionize how people live, learn, work, and access healthcare. The initial rollout connects 22 high-impact sites across Barbados, with plans to achieve 50% population coverage by year-end and full island-wide availability by 2026. Liberty Caribbean has pledged to prioritize security, inclusivity, affordability, and education in its deployment, ensuring that underserved communities benefit from this technological leap. The launch, held on October 15, follows Liberty Caribbean’s successful 5G introduction in the Cayman Islands last year and is part of a broader regional strategy to expand next-generation connectivity across the Caribbean. Senator Jonathan Reid, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, praised the initiative, highlighting 5G’s role as foundational infrastructure for national development. Liberty Caribbean reiterated its commitment to fostering public-private collaboration, community outreach, and education to maximize the network’s impact on sectors like education, healthcare, tourism, and government services. This milestone underscores the company’s century-long legacy of connecting Caribbean communities, empowering businesses, and driving innovation.
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GovTech Barbados launches test site to unify, simplify public services
Barbados has unveiled a groundbreaking digital platform, alpha.gov.bb, aimed at revolutionizing how citizens access and utilize government services. This initiative, spearheaded by GovTech Barbados, seeks to consolidate the government’s online presence into a unified, user-centric portal that will eventually replace the existing gov.bb site. The platform is designed to make services more intuitive, transparent, and accessible, marking a significant step in the nation’s digital transformation journey.
Mark Boyce, CEO of GovTech Barbados, emphasized the importance of agility and citizen feedback in this project. ‘We’re shifting away from lengthy development cycles that often result in services that are difficult to navigate. Instead, we’re focusing on delivering incremental improvements based on real-time user input,’ he explained. The alpha site features simplified ‘entry pages’ that clearly outline the purpose of each service, required documentation, processing times, and relevant contact points. This approach aims to eliminate the confusion and inefficiencies that currently plague government service access.
Boyce highlighted the broader vision behind the initiative: ‘Our goal is to create a seamless experience where citizens feel they’re interacting with a single, cohesive government rather than multiple disjointed entities.’ To achieve this, GovTech is standardizing the design and functionality of services across departments, ensuring consistency and ease of use. The team plans to roll out updates in rapid cycles, supported by citizen panels that will provide valuable insights into public needs and frustrations.
Barbadians are encouraged to explore alpha.gov.bb and contribute to its evolution by sharing their feedback. This collaborative approach underscores GovTech’s commitment to prioritizing usability and transparency over bureaucratic inefficiencies, setting a new standard for digital governance in the region.