Posts Tagged ‘#caribbeanbusinessnews’

St Kitts and Nevis upgrades its citizenship by investment programme to boost its hospitality industry

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Dec. 07, 2022: Saint Kitts and Nevis is boosting its local hospitality and tourism sector with investments received through its citizenship by investment programme.

This is according to the recently elected Prime Minister of the twin-island federation who concluded a four-day visit to Dubai, from 29 November to 3 December 2022.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew was in the state to engage with important stakeholders including high-level government officials, international investors, government-approved agents and promoters, who play a vital role in promoting and supporting the country’s recently upgraded citizenship by investment programme.

With the country’s citizenship by investment programme undergoing a facelift, Prime Minister Drew said the changes to the programme were not just superficial but would ensure that the programme achieved what it was designed for – strengthening St Kitts and Nevis’ economy.

Traditionally, the economy of the two-island state has depended on the growing and processing of sugar cane, but the impact of decreasing world prices on this commodity over the last few decades has moved the government’s attention to tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking.

Tourism is the mainstay of St Kitts and Nevis’ economy, with the United States, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago being some of its trop trade partners. The travel and tourism sector accounted for one-tenth of the gross domestic product (GPD) in St Kitts and Nevis in 2021 and it is estimated that roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009.

With a revamped citizenship by investment programme that will be underpinned by better legislative and administrative oversight, Prime Minister Drew said he was confident that the programme would have even more impact on the country’s tourism sector.

The new cabinet aims to ensure that the destination continues to make strides towards the full resumption of tourism activity, including the return of airlift and cruise ship arrivals, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of the people of the Federation.

St Kitts and Nevis is committed to enhancing its tourism presence and strengthening the economic impact of the tourism sector.

Recently during November this year, Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, made its inaugural call to Port Zante in St Kitts and Nevis.  The ship from the Royal Caribbean Group brought along nearly 6,500 guests and over 2,000 crew members.  This cruise call has also been the fifth inaugural cruise call to St Kitts and Nevis since October 2022.

This year, on November 26, a superyacht named Evrima made its inaugural visit to the island sporting the finest amenities and affluent guests. Evrima accommodates 298 guests and is the first of the yachts to be introduced for the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection line. This event maintained St Kitts and Nevis’ reputation as an exclusive destination.

According to the CIA World Factbook, tourists, mainly Americans, come to the island via cruise ships via Port Zante in Basseterre, air travel via Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, and the private airport and private dock for private yachts. St Kitts and Nevis is also home to Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The country’s citizenship by investment programme has been instrumental in bringing globally renowned brands such as the Park Hyatt Hotel that has recently been launched in Christophe Harbour in Banana Bay. The country will be looking to use its revamped citizenship by investment programme to develop its hospitality sector further which is a major drawcard not just for tourists, but investors looking for legitimate offshore real estate products to buy into.

Part of the change process has seen consultations with various stakeholders in the St Kitts and Nevis CBI unit who will closely now monitor and ensure that real estate projects funded by the CBI programme are completed.  To this end, the government is also seeking out reliable and trustworthy developers who are ready to put capital behind creative and strong projects that will further enhance St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment offering.

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme stands as the oldest and one of the most trusted programmes of its kind. Since 1984, it has allowed investors and their families to legally obtain citizenship of one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic locations.

St Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment programme has been pivotal in developing other important sectors such as healthcare, business, and education in the nation. With the help of the tourism industry and the citizenship by investment programme, the country has witnessed socio-economic development at a significant pace. Funds generated by the citizenship by investment programme will continue to aid the country in paving the path of development efficiently. Spending on infrastructure has made the country unrecognisable from only 20 years ago – for example there is a thriving cruise ship port complex, and new roads have been built to take pressure off traffic in Basseterre.

Prime Minister Drew was accompanied by a delegation including Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism, Attorney-General, Garth Wilkin; Cabinet Secretary Dr Marcus Natta; Sylvester Anthony and Veira Galloway.

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St Kitts and Nevis and Canada continue to implement initiatives that solidify the bilateral relationship

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Mon. Nov. 21, 2022: The twin federation of St Kitts and Nevis has had a long and fruitful relationship with Canada and the two nations continue to develop initiatives that strengthen relations.

From 5 to 7 December 2022 the government of Canada will provide biometric processing of visa applications in St Kitts and Nevis. This comes as positive news as nationals of St Kitts and Nevis are normally required to travel abroad to centers in Barbados, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, or even Trinidad and Tobago, to have their biometric information collected for Canadian visa applications.

The processing will be conducted by Canadian officials and this special arrangement is aimed at visa applicants that fall within one of the following categories:

  1. St Kitts and Nevis nationals who anticipate travel to Canada;
  2. Persons who have already applied online or by mail for a visa, work or study permit or for
    permanent residence for Canada and have received their Biometric Instruction Letter; and
  3. Nationals of other countries residing in St Kitts and Nevis are also required to provide their biometric information for planned travel to Canada.

When applying for a Canadian visa, whether for visitation, work, study, or for residence purposes, nationals of St Kitts and Nevis, as well as nationals from other countries, must provide biometric information such as fingerprints and an identity photograph.

Visa applicants are encouraged to complete an online visa application as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of this December opportunity. This could be of benefit to applicants planning to travel for educational purposes, business, tourism, family reunifications, and more.

Monday, November 28, 2022, is the last day to schedule an appointment for the available period in December. Appointment requests that are received after this date will not be accommodated unless appointments that have already been made are cancelled and a booking space becomes available.

Visa applicants must have a scheduled appointment and must bring along the required Biometrics Instruction Letter to their appointment. Officials will not collect applications or biometric information from applicants who have not received this letter.

The schedule for the collection of biometric information collection will take place from 08:30 to 17:30 on Monday to Wednesday, 5 to 7 December 2022, at the St Kitts Marriott Resort. Directions to the precise location within the hotel will be provided upon arrival.

In order to book an appointment for biometrics collection, please write to [email protected].

The governments of Canada and St Kitts and Nevis partner on a number of important issues, with an emphasis on matters of economic resilience and climate. St Kitts and Nevis has a High Commission in Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto, while Canada is represented in St Kitts and Nevis by the High Commission of Canada in Barbados, all of which help to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

According to the government of Canada, Canada’s merchandise exports to St Kitts and Nevis totaled CA$5.2 million and merchandise imports from St Kitts and Nevis totaled CA$2.9 million in 2021. During this period, Canada’s main exports to St Kitts and Nevis included live animals and animal products, food products, and metals.

Even before the recent COP27, Canada announced the CA$100 million pledge for Caribbean Reconstruction and Economic and Climate Resilience to support St Kitts and Nevis and the region in reconstruction and climate resilience, following the disastrous 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean. According to the Canadian government, this included strengthening natural disaster planning and response through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

At the CARICOM Intersessional Meeting in February 2020, Canada announced an additional CA$61.5 million in new commitments for resilience, technical assistance, and education exchanges for the Caribbean. This includes, for example, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism, which provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including St Kitts and Nevis, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate-resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities.

Canada is the largest contributor to the International Monetary Fund’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre, which has provided technical assistance to St Kitts and Nevis in internal audit, and tax and customs administration.

St Kitts and Nevis also works closely with Canada in multilateral domains such as the Commonwealth, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organization of American States (OAS), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

St Kitts and Nevis also benefits from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, and Canada’s partnership with non-governmental organizations and regional institutions, such as St Kitts and Nevis-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank. Canada represents St Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean nations on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Many investors from Canada and other wealthy nations have participated in citizenship by investment programme offered by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. This programme is the oldest and one of the most trusted programmes of its kind in the world. Since 1984, it has allowed investors and their families to legally obtain citizenship in one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic places. Through this programme, foreign investors to St Kitts and Nevis can obtain citizenship for life, with the right to live and work in the island country, the ability to share citizenship with future generations, and taking advantage of having more global mobility. St Kitts and Nevis also offers investors a fair tax regime, with no worldwide income, inheritance, or gift tax for tax residents.

There are two main ways in which an applicant can apply for citizenship under St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme: by donating to the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund or by investing in pre-approved real estate.

The country’s CBI programme is also undergoing an upgrade under the leadership of the new St Kitts and Nevis prime minister, Dr. Terrance Drew. The new changes will ensure strengthened legislative and administrative oversight of the programme to ensure that it meets the needs of a changing investor whilst also being beneficial to the local citizens. Prime Minister Drew is determined to retain the country’s CBI status – which is one of the best in the world.

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2022 China-Central and North America and Caribbean International Trade Digital Expo Invitation Letter

BEIJING, Nov. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/– In order to further enhance the friendly exchanges between Chinese enterprises and countries in Central and North America and the Caribbean, and promote economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between enterprises, CCPIT- China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will hold the China-Central and North America and Caribbean International Trade Digital Expo online from November 9 to 18, 2022. China International Chamber of Commerce and ZhongZhan Information Cooperation Data Service Company will be responsible for organizing the exhibition. Details of the exhibition and registration methods are as follows.

2022 China—Central and North America and Caribbean International Trade Digital Expo

Basic information of the exhibition

Exhibition Name: China—Central and North America and Caribbean International Trade Digital Expo
Exhibition date: November 9-18, 2022
Exhibition venue: CCPIT Cloud Exhibition Platform
Website: https:// cna2022.ccpit-expo.com
Sponsor: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
Organizer: China International Chamber of Commerce
Beijing ZhongZhan Information Cooperation Data Service Company

Exhibition content:

Textile clothing, automobiles and accessories, hardware and building materials, Riyo consumer goods, household appliances, consumer electronics, etc.

Exhibition supporting activities:

Registered enterprises can use live broadcast to promote products or display the company’s production lines on the special docking platform of the trade week to carry out business negotiations. The specific arrangements are as follows:

Industry

Date

Time (Beijing time)

Textile and Clothing and Cotton Products

2022.11.9

10:00-11:30

Autoparts

2022.11.10

10:00-11:30

Building Materials and Hardware

2022.11.11

10:00-11:30

Consumer Goods

2022.11.14

10:00-11:30

Home Appliances & Home Furniture

2022.11.15

10:00-11:30

Consumer Electronics

2022.11.16

10:00-11:30

Registration method:

This exhibition is an online digital exhibition, and you can register to participate / watch the exhibition free of charge. Exhibitors and professional buyers who are interested in participating in the exhibition are invited to log in to the official website of the exhibition for online registration. After successful registration, you can participate in online exhibitions, carry out interactions, and participate in special docking activities of the trade week.

Platform website is https:// cna2022.ccpit-expo.com

We warmly invite Chinese exhibitors and friends from all walks of life in Central and North America and the Caribbean to participate in the exhibition, negotiate trade and carry out various forms of economic and trade cooperation.

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Owner of the longest standing CBI programme, St Kitts and Nevis, takes top spot at this year’s annual CBI Index

CARIBPR WIRE, Basseterre, Aug. 24, 2022: The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis tops this year’s CBI Index rankings for offering one of the best citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis was rated against 12 other countries with operational CBI programmes, which, in 2022, include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

The CBI Index, published by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners, is a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes across a diverse range of indicators and its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for appraising programmes in order to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them, and to bring value to the CBI industry

The primary methodological objective of the CBI Index is to isolate pillars that measure CBI programme features and jurisdictional desirability. The nine pillars that constitute this year’s CBI Index include: Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and, Certainty of Product.

The country received full marks – 10 out of 10 in the Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product pillars.

The Mandatory Travel or Residence pillar examines the travel or residence conditions imposed on applicants both before and after the granting of citizenship.

St Kitts and Nevis, along with the rest of the Caribbean countries, does not have any travel or residency requirements for CBI applicants. This makes it easy for busy entrepreneurs to continue running their businesses and still be eligible to get their second citizenship while not having to fulfil any minimum stay requirements.

St Kitts and Nevis scored top marks for the Citizenship Timeline pillar – which looks at the average time taken for citizenship to be secured by the applicant – due to the Accelerated Application Process where for an additional fee, an applicant can obtain their citizenship within a maximum of 60 days instead of the standard processing time of approximately three months.

Ease of Processing measures the end-to-end complexity of the CBI application process. St Kitts and Nevis makes the process of obtaining citizenship easy and straightforward, the country has an official government website and a dedicated CBI unit. It has also done away with burdensome application requirements such as interviews, language, culture or history tests, proof of minimum business experience and evidence of the purchase of tangible or intangible assets.

The overall effortlessness of the application process is a particularly important component, and the promise of a smooth, hassle-free process can generate readiness to engage with a programme.

One of the areas where Caribbean nations really differentiate their programmes, is the area of due diligence. St Kitts and Nevis’ due diligence process is multi-faceted and is undertaken by the country’s CBI unit, law enforcement and external third-party due-diligence agencies from the UK and USA. This ensures that the process is stringent and comprehensive, applicants are required to provide either fingerprints or a biometric passport, police certificates from both an applicant’s country of residence as well as their country of citizenship and comprehensive supporting information in respect of an applicant’s source of funds.

The CBI Index recognises that the rise of increasingly complex family relationships is driving investors to seek programmes that allow for a more diverse range of family members to be included under a primary application. St Kitts and Nevis retains a perfect score for their family friendliness as, in addition to a main applicant, they allow the applicant’s spouse, children under 18 and over 18 in certain circumstances, siblings, parents and grandparents of both the main applicant or their spouse to be included in an application.

St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme is one of the oldest in the industry, having been established in 1984, it assures investors of a certainty of product. The CBI Index measures certainty across five different dimensions: longevity, popularity and renown, stability, reputation, and adaptability – aspects which St Kitts and Nevis’ programme can tick off confidently.

In the 2022 CBI Index, the Freedom of Movement pillar measures the relative strength of each country’s citizenship based on three equally weighted factors: the number of destinations to which a country’s passport allows travel without restriction, the number of prime business hubs to which it provides access, and the degree to which a given citizenship provides settlement rights in other nations. St Kitts and Nevis scored a seven out of 10 in this area as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries.

The Minimum Investment Outlay pillar measures one of the most practical and foremost considerations of CBI: how much capital is required for the investor to become an eligible applicant for the programme of their choosing.

St Kitts and Nevis offers one of the most affordable routes to alternative citizenship, and even though it ended its limited time offer of US$150,000 for a family of four at the end of December 2021, it did not impact its score, five out of 10, as the scores are based on minimum investments for a single applicant.

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is a family-friendly route for those looking for a reputable and trusted programme that prioritises both applicants and its citizens – the stringent due diligence process upon application ensures that only honest hard-working families are approved. The citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, giving investors who want to leave a legacy, peace of mind.

Download the full CBI Index here, to get further insights into the CBI industry and a full evaluation of the CBI programmes of the 12 other jurisdictions in the rankings.

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Dominica tops the CBI Index for sixth consecutive time, scores full marks in six out of nine pillars

CARIBPR WIRE, Roseau, Aug. 23, 2022: The Commonwealth of Dominica came out tops in the annual CBI Index, a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes across a diverse range of indicators.

The CBI Index is intended as a practical tool to compare CBI programmes as a whole and specific aspects of each programme. These aspects are reflected by the CBI Index’s nine pillars which Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product.

Number one for six consecutive years, Dominica beat 11 other nations with active citizenship by investment programmes and scored full marks in the areas of Minimum Outlay, Mandatory travel or residence, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product.

These nations include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

“For the last 29 years we have ensured that our CBI programme really meets the needs of an ever-changing global investor. We’re proud to yet again be ranked as one of the best CBI offering in the world and look to increase our scores across all nine pillars next year,” commented Dominica’s Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit.

Dominica continues to be on a concerted drive to offer investors – through its Economic Diversification Fund and government-approve real estate options – a reliable safe haven amidst the constant global upheavals. Accompanied by a robust due diligence process, Dominica uses a multi-layered process in partnership with third-party due diligence firms from the USA and the UK, investors can be confident that they are buying a product that will enhance their portfolio.

Dominica’s scoring in the nine pillars:

Freedom of Movement: Dominica scored seven out of 10 as the country offers visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 14 countries across the world, including the globe’s most sought-after business hubs.

Freedom of movement within and between countries is paramount to global investors seeking second citizenship and this year, the Index placed emphasis on the total number of countries and territories that can be visited without applying for a visa.

Standard of Living: Dominica scored five in this area due to its low average expected years of schooling, but it must be noted that the country has the highest life expectancy at 78.2 and a perfect freedom score when compared to Egypt, Jordan, St Kitts and Nevis and Vanuatu – who also shared the same score.

Minimum Investment Outlay: Dominica received a perfect score of 10 here as the minimum investment outlay for their CBI programme is only US$100,000 per applicant, one of the lowest citizenship investment outlays in the industry.

Mandatory Travel or Residence: As last year, Dominica kept its score of 10 out of 10 as the country does not require mandatory travel or residence in the country for processing its citizenship application.

Citizenship Timeline: Dominica scored a nine in the citizenship timeline pillar. The pillar accesses the duration to get the application processed.

Ease of Processing: The citizenship by investment unit of Dominica continues to make the application process straightforward and more robust, helping the country secure a score full marks in this area.

Due Diligence: Dominica is recognized for its stringent and comprehensive due diligence checks on applicants seeking second citizenship and once again retained the score of 10 for due diligence processing. The country requires the provision of either fingerprints or a biometric passport and has robust external due diligence procedures that are undertaken by internationally renowned third-party due diligence firms.

Family: As Dominica allows main applicants to add additional dependents under a single application, once again making it easy to bring in additional family members, the country scored 10 under this pillar.

Certainty of Product: Dominica, along with St Kitts and Nevis, attained a perfect score for Certainty of Product Pillar thanks to the programme’s longevity, popularity, renown, stability, and adaptability. The CBI Index also lauded Dominica for its transparent two-track investment routes.

Regarded as an industry voice and reputable benchmark for CBI programmes across the globe, this year’s CBI Index offers readers a glimpse of the possibility that could in the CBI industry should all relevant parties cooperate.

The current turmoil has certainly brought a negative spotlight to the investment migration industry and overlooked the fundamentals of CBI – offering honest, hardworking families and entrepreneurs to explore and participate in meaningful global opportunities, especially where they have been let down by their own home countries.

Findings in the CBI Index state that in 2023, it is predicted over 125,000 millionaires will look to relocate to more secure and attractive destinations around the world and this trend is expected to continue and increase to 2030. Political fragmentation, instability, social polarisation are some of the reasons why investors look for second citizenship options.

It is for this reason that countries like the Commonwealth of Dominica are a popular investment choice, offering political and economic stability, a currency pegged against the US-dollar and, even more appealing is an eco-conscious government working its way to be carbon-neutral and sustainable.

“People who invest in our programme can be 100% sure that they are also investing in a country that cares about the planet and one that is taking tangible, measurable steps to protect the planet,” continues Prime Minister Skerrit.

The CBI Index is the world’s most definitive guide on citizenship by investment and is published today by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners.

Download and read the full report here.

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Powertranz and Bluefin add support for MultiLink J.E.T.S. debit card in Jamaica

Bluefin and Powertranz, who already provide the first and only integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and PCI-validated P2PE in the Caribbean, can now support J.E.T.S. debit card

CaribPR Wire, Hamilton, Bermuda and Atlanta, GA, Thurs, June 9, 2022: Bluefin, the leading provider of data and payment security technologies including PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, and Powertranz, the local leader in Card Present gateway/payment processing for the Caribbean, announced support of local Jamaican debit card, J.E.T.S., together with the first secure, self-integrated contactless kiosks with validated P2PE for the market.

The companies introduced the first self-integrated contactless kiosk solution for the Caribbean last year that includes Bluefin as the validated P2PE provider, PowerTranz as the Card Present gateway/payment processor, and NRT kiosks that utilize Advanced Mobile Payments’ 6500 unattended devices.

Bluefin, Powertranz and NRT teamed with acquirer Scotiabank to develop a solution for C&W Communications, the leading telecommunications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, which included developing the payment application, integrating the device in the kiosk software, and certifying the device with Fiserv for Mastercard, VISA, Discover and AMEX.  C&W Communications operates over 100 NRT-Opal bill payment kiosks in 14 countries in the Caribbean.

Now the solution supports the J.E.T.S. MultiLink debit card in Jamaica, a critical part of the financial landscape. J.E.T.S. Limited is an electronic banking service company operating Jamaica’s national debit card network whose registered service brand is “MultiLink”.  All J.E.T.S. member institutions, as Issuers, offer their customers access to cash from their own accounts through the MultiLink Network whether at Automated Banking Machines or at Point of Sale terminals.  MultiLink supports over 1 million users who use it to draw more than $85 Billion per year.

“We are thrilled to support the Jamaican MultiLink debit card,” said Chris Burns, CEO of Powertranz. “This is a popular card in Jamaica and it was especially important for C&W to have a chip and pin solution to accept all card payments including the J.E.T.S. multilink debit card at the kiosks.”

C&W and its partners are deploying 50 self-service kiosks across Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and will continue to deploy additional self-service kiosks across their respective Caribbean markets.

The solution will also support Trinidad and Tobago LINX debit cards later this month.  InfoLink Services, the LINX debit card switch operator, is a joint venture between the four major financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago, and was created to provide a local debit card switching infrastructure. The LINX debit chip card is a co-branded LINX/Visa debit card.

Sherie Forden, Senior Manager, C&W B2C OMNI Channels Eco-Systems said: “We are excited about this partnership with Bluefin and Powertranz. Customers love the ease and convenience of paying via debit card and this initiative will enhance the self-serve experience for FLOW customers who use our kiosks for their Bill Payments and to Top Up their mobile phones.”

“The complexity of a multi-country adoption of a uniform payment solution which supports a transnational utility service provider, an international financial institution, a local-centric payment gateway & processor, and a global Payment Council Industry certified data security provider offers a best of breed partnership to bring integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and validated P2PE to the Caribbean market,” said Eldred F. Garcia, VP of Security Solutions, Bluefin. “We are very excited to bring the much-needed installation of self-serve kiosks backed by validated PCI-validated P2PE with the inclusion of local debit to this market.”

About Powertranz

Powertranz is a sophisticated Card Present payment platform provider that processes integrated Point of Sale transactions, including EMV and PCI Validated Point to Point Encryption (P2PE), in Bermuda and the Caribbean marketplace. Powertranz is the first provider of PCI Validated P2PE in the Caribbean via its partnership with Bluefin. The company is based in Bermuda, along with its sister company, First Atlantic Commerce. For more information, please visit https://firstatlanticcommerce.com/powertranz/.

About Bluefin

Bluefin is the recognized integrated payments leader in encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data. The company’s product suite includes solutions for contactless, face-to-face, call center, mobile, Ecommerce and unattended payments and data in the healthcare, higher education, government, and nonprofit industries. The company’s 200 global partners serve 20,000 enterprise and software clients operating in 47 countries. For more information, visit https://www.bluefin.com/.

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Channel Capital Cayman granted ‘Companies Management License’ by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Channel Capital Cayman, an offshore governance services business based in the Cayman Islands is pleased to announce that it has been issued with a Companies Management License by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) and it is now offering its investment fund fiduciary services to investment vehicles domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Mark Cook, Executive Director, Channel Capital Cayman

Located in the Cayman Islands and UK, each member of Channel Capital Cayman acts as a fund director and is regulated by CIMA. The team of directors initially includes Mark Cook, Carl Brenton and Katherine Youhanna, and offers decades of professional governance experience to select fund boards.

The Cayman Islands is a world leader in the establishment of offshore investment funds due to its tax-neutrality, stable economy, sophisticated banking sector, and professional financial services industry. Approximately 70% of non-US domiciled alternative investment funds managed by US SEC-registered advisors are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Executive Director at Channel Capital Cayman, Mark Cook, said: “The Cayman Islands remains by far the most popular jurisdiction for global hedge, private equity and infrastructure funds. The Cayman Islands Government and CIMA have developed a strong regulatory framework for the investment funds industry, and we are confident that the Cayman Islands will continue to be a leading funds jurisdiction.”

“Having been involved in the industry since 2008, we know first-hand the vast range of compliance and governance issues boards have to navigate. The independent director services we provide allows for a flexible and tailored approach to fund governance through each stage of an investment fund’s life cycle. Our platform ensures necessary compliance with regulation is satisfied but with an emphasis on reducing the administrative burden faced by those in the fund governance space and we look forward to expanding our team of likeminded fund directors,” said Mr Cook.

About Channel Capital

Established in 2013, Channel has 47 employees across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Grand Cayman, and currently partners with eight investment management firms. Channel provides incubation, distribution, operational and responsible entity services to a select group of investment management firms and their clients across the institutional, family office, high net worth and advisor-led investor space. Channel’s subsidiary entity, CIML, provides responsible entity services to a limited set of funds. https://www.channel.capital

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Wärtsilä power plant coupled to LNG terminal in Antigua could become model for other Caribbean utilities

CARIBPR WIRE, HELSINKI, Finland, April 26, 2022:  The technology group Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract to supply and install a 46 MW dual-fuel power plant to the Caribbean Island of Antigua. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) order was placed by Antigua Power Company Limited (APCL), an independent power producer. The order was entered into Wärtsilä’s order book in January 2022. The plant will operate primarily on regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The project combines a power plant and an LNG gas terminal, storage and regasification facility. APCL won the bid for this project on an international tender held by the tender board of Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). The LNG gas terminal project is being developed by U.S.-based Eagle LNG in equal partnership with APCL, with APUA as the gas purchaser. The project involves installation of a small-scale LNG storage and regasification terminal which will supply the fuel for the new power plant.

The island of Antigua and Barbuda has taken the lead in utilising environmentally sustainable fuel for power generation, and this will be the first project of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean region where an LNG terminal will be coupled to a Wärtsilä power plant. This integrative plant concept is expected to become a model for other island utilities in the Caribbean as the acceptance of LNG fuel increases in line with efforts to reduce emission levels. Wärtsilä has an installed base of power plants in the region with a combined capacity of more than 3300 MW.

“There is a need to provide additional generating capacity along with the island’s growth in demand for electricity. At the same time, some of the existing power production facilities would soon need to be replaced due to age and the increased focus on more environmentally sustainable systems. Having had good experience with Wärtsilä in the past, we see their dual-fuel power plant solution as the best answer to the island’s green energy plan and its current and future energy requirements,” explained Mr Aziz Hadeed, head of the Hadeed Group of Companies, the parent company of APCL.

Jon Rodriguez, Director, Power Plants, North America, Wärtsilä Energy, responded by saying: “The integration of this new power plant with an LNG terminal is a clear demonstration of Wärtsilä bringing its technological know-how and experience to assist its customers in making use of more environmentally sustainable fuels. We have earlier carried out four successful projects with APCL and we are delighted to have again been selected for this important project. I believe it comes as an endorsement of both the Wärtsilä technology and the sales support capabilities we have throughout the Caribbean.”

The plant will operate with five Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines capable of operating with both gas and light fuel oil. This flexibility is combined with high efficiency across the entire load range. The fast-starting capability means that the engines can reach full power within five minutes, enabling them to provide efficient grid balancing capacity as the adoption of renewable energy from wind and solar increases. Notably, these engines could be an ideal platform for future decarbonisation strategies by making use of carbon free fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia.

The plant is expected to become operational in Q3, 2023. It will supply electricity to APUA for distribution to the national grid. The decision to use regasified LNG, the cleanest of all fossil fuels, will result in about 40% less carbon production and is in step with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and APUA’s plan to reduce its environmental footprint.

Learn more about Wärtsilä engine power plants.

All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

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Central de energía de Wärtsilä acoplada a terminal de GNL en Antigua podría convertirse en modelo para otras empresas de servicios públicos del Caribe

Firma de APCL
Sr. Francis Hadeed, director de APCL (derecha) y Rodney George, vicepresidente para la región del Caribe, Wärtsilä Energy, firmaron un acuerdo de EPC para la entrega de una central de energía de 46 MW para Antigua en noviembre de 2021.
Motores Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä suministrará e instalará una central de energía de combustible dual de 46 MW en la isla caribeña de Antigua. La central operará con cinco motores Wärtsilä 34DF.

CARIBPR WIRE, HELSINKI, Finlandia, April 27, 2022:  — El grupo tecnológico Wärtsilä fue adjudicado el contrato de suministro e instalación de una central de energía de combustible dual de 46 MW en la isla caribeña de Antigua. El pedido de ingeniería, adquisición y construcción (EPC) fue realizado por Antigua Power Company Limited (APCL), un productor de energía independiente. El pedido fue ingresado en el libro de pedidos de Wärtsilä en enero de 2022. La central operará principalmente con gas natural licuado regasificado (GNL).

El proyecto combina una central de energía y una terminal de GNL, almacenamiento y regasificación. APCL ganó la licitación para este proyecto en una licitación internacional realizada por la junta de licitación de Antigua y Barbuda en representación de la Autoridad de Servicios Públicos de Antigua (APUA). El proyecto de la terminal de gas GNL está siendo desarrollado por Eagle LNG con sede en Estados Unidos en igual asociación con APCL, con APUA como comprador de gas. El proyecto incluye la instalación de una terminal de almacenamiento y regasificación de GNL a pequeña escala que suministrará el combustible para la nueva central de energía.

La isla de Antigua y Barbuda tomó la iniciativa en la utilización de combustible ambientalmente sostenible para la generación de energía, y este será el primer proyecto de este tipo en la región del Caribe Oriental, donde una terminal de GNL se acoplará a una central de energía de Wärtsilä. Se espera que este concepto de central integradora se convierta en un modelo para otras empresas de servicios públicos de la isla en el Caribe, puesto que la aceptación del GNL aumenta de acuerdo con los esfuerzos para reducir los niveles de emisión. Wärtsilä tiene una base instalada de centrales de energía en la región con una capacidad combinada de más de 3300 MW.

“Hay una necesidad de proporcionar capacidad de generación adicional junto con el crecimiento de la demanda de electricidad en la isla. Al mismo tiempo, algunas de las instalaciones de producción de energía existentes tendrían que ser reemplazadas pronto debido a la antigüedad y al creciente enfoque en sistemas ambientalmente más sostenibles. Habiendo tenido una buena experiencia con Wärtsilä en el pasado, vemos su solución de central de energía de doble combustible como la mejor respuesta al plan de energía verde de la isla y sus requisitos energéticos actuales y futuros”, explicó el Sr. Aziz Hadeed, jefe del Grupo de Empresas Hadeed, la compañía matriz de APCL.

Jon Rodríguez, director de centrales de energía, América del Norte, Wärtsilä Energy, respondió: “La integración de esta nueva central de energía con una terminal de GNL es una clara demostración de que Wärtsilä aporta su conocimiento tecnológico y experiencia para ayudar a sus clientes a hacer uso de combustibles ambientalmente más sostenibles. Anteriormente hemos llevado a cabo cuatro proyectos exitosos con la APCL y estamos muy contentos de haber sido seleccionados nuevamente para este importante proyecto. Creo que viene como un respaldo de la tecnología de Wärtsilä, así como de las capacidades de soporte de ventas que tenemos en todo el Caribe”.

La central operará con cinco motores de combustible dual Wärtsilä 34DF capaces de operar tanto con gas como con fuelóleo liviano. Esta flexibilidad se combina con alta eficacia en todo el rango de carga. La capacidad de arranque rápido significa que los motores pueden alcanzar máxima potencia en cinco minutos, lo que les permite proporcionar una capacidad de equilibrio de red eficaz a medida que aumenta la adopción de energía renovable eólica y solar. En especial, estos motores podrían ser una plataforma ideal para futuras estrategias de descarbonización utilizando combustibles libres de carbono, como el hidrógeno y el amoníaco.

Se espera que la central entre en funcionamiento en el tercer trimestre de 2023. La central suministrará electricidad a APUA para su distribución a la red nacional. La decisión de utilizar GNL regasificado, el más limpio de todos los combustibles fósiles, resultará en alrededor de un 40% menos de producción de carbono y está alineada con el plan del gobierno de Antigua y Barbuda y APUA para reducir su huella ambiental.

Para más información acerca de las centrales de energía de motores de Wärtsilä.

Todos los comunicados de prensa de Wärtsilä están disponibles en https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases y en http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation, donde también se pueden descargar las imágenes.

Wärtsilä Energy en resumen
Wärtsilä Energy lidera la transición hacia un futuro con energía 100% renovable. Ayudamos a nuestros clientes en la descarbonización con el desarrollo de tecnologías líderes en el mercado. Estas cubren centrales de energía de balance habilitadas para operar con los combustibles del futuro, soluciones híbridas, tecnología de almacenamiento y optimización de energía, incluida la plataforma de gestión de energía GEMS. Los servicios de ciclo de vida de Wärtsilä Energy están diseñados para incrementar la eficacia, promover la fiabilidad y garantizar el rendimiento operativo. Nuestra trayectoria incluye 76 GW de capacidad de central de energía y 110 sistemas de almacenamiento de energía distribuidos a 180 países de todo el mundo.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä en resumen
Wärtsilä es un líder mundial en tecnologías innovadoras y soluciones de ciclo de vida para los mercados marino y energético. Enfatizamos la innovación en tecnología y servicios sostenibles para ayudar a nuestros clientes a mejorar continuamente su rendimiento ambiental y económico. Nuestro equipo dedicado y apasionado de 17.000 profesionales en más de 200 ubicaciones en 68 países da forma a la transformación de la descarbonización de nuestras industrias en todo el mundo. En 2021, las ventas netas de Wärtsilä alcanzaron un total de 4.8 mil millones de euros. Wärtsilä cotiza en el Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

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Chuck E. Cheese Signs New Development Agreements In Qatar, Suriname And Guyana

Three new countries will soon experience the world’s number one family entertainment restaurant brand, Chuck E. Cheese, adding to an already rapid expansion story for Chuck E. Cheese internationally

DALLAS, Dec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Chuck E. Cheese, the global family entertainment brand, continues to drive international expansion and has successfully signed development agreements in three new countries across South America and in the Middle East. This adds to the rapid ongoing international expansion of the brand already announced in new regions like Egypt, Morocco, Romania and Kuwait, and sets Chuck E. Cheese on track to have over 100 international locations by 2022.

Chuck E. Cheese

“Investors and entrepreneurs continue to recognize Chuck E. Cheese as a high ROI opportunity within their local markets,” says Arun Barnes, COO & SVP of international development for CEC Entertainment. “With a unique business model that is unmatched in the Family Entertainment Center (FEC) landscape, we are the brand that can have an immediate impact in almost any country around the globe, while providing a reliable cash flow for franchise partners who have a passion for family entertainment.”

One of the most effective avenues of growth is through existing franchisees who see success in their own regions, such as franchise partner Joanna Rostant of Yay! Entertainment in Trinidad & Tobago who has signed to expand the brand through sub franchising into Guyana and Suriname. The first site at Suriname is under construction and scheduled to open in the first half of 2022.

Joanna Rostant stated, “We are thrilled to partner through a sub franchise arrangement with Sasja Lie Pauw Sam and his team at Blue Falcon N.V. to bring the joy of Chuck E. Cheese to families in Suriname. We note with confidence Suriname’s recent discovery of substantial volumes of hydrocarbons, and in keeping with the recent IMF forecasts, believe that Suriname will experience strong positive economic growth in the next couple of years. For these and other socio-economic reasons, we believe that the world’s leading family entertainment brand will be thoroughly enjoyed by children and families in Suriname.”

“It makes sense for Caribbean markets, and we are thrilled that Joanna’s strong operating model has positioned her company well to achieve and lead this exciting expansion. We look forward to her success in Suriname, and later in Guyana,” added Arun Barnes.

In addition to the Caribbean, Chuck E. Cheese has also partnered with new franchise partners, Benchmark Hospitality Services, to expand new locations across Qatar throughout the next few years.

“Working with the CEC International team is a pleasure,” said Yanni Jouaneh, franchise owner and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality Services. “They have great systems and processes to support international franchising, and our business feasibility survey of the brand showcased a unique opportunity to bring in a highly profitable brand into Qatar’s exciting market landscape. There is no other brand that offers a great mix of games, food, entertainment and birthday parties. Qatari families with kids will soon experience the joy of Chuck E. Cheese nearer to their home.”

For franchising interests or to learn more about how to bring the joy and profits of Chuck E. Cheese to your market, please visit the all-new international franchising website where you can discover all of the latest news and exciting expansion plans.

About CEC Entertainment, Inc.

CEC Entertainment is the nationally recognized leader in family entertainment and dining with its Chuck E. Cheese, Peter Piper Pizza and, delivery only, Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings brands. As the place where a million happy birthdays are celebrated every year, Chuck E. Cheese’s goal is to create positive, lifelong memories for families through entertainment, food and play. Committed to providing a fun, safe environment, Chuck E. Cheese helps protect families through industry-leading programs such as Kid Check®. As a strong advocate for its local communities, Chuck E. Cheese has donated more than $19 million to schools through its fundraising programs. The Company and its franchisees operate a system of nearly 600 Chuck E. Cheese and 120 Peter Piper Pizza venues, with locations in 47 states and 17 foreign countries and territories. For more information, visit our website or connect with us on social media.

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Caribbean Employment: Jamaican Government Aims to Generate 70,000 Digital Services Jobs by 2025

MINISTER SHAW UNDERSCORES “CRITICAL GOAL” OF SHIFTING THE MAKEUP OF THE WORKFORCE TOWARDS HIGHER-SKILLED JOBS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – The government of Jamaica is undertaking ambitious development of its digital services sector, according to Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Audley Shaw, with a view to generate some 70,000 Digital service jobs within the next five years.

Speaking the recent Caribbean Future Summit 2021, Shaw acknowledged that Jamaica has a vastly successful outsourcing sector, but he explained that the nation is seeking to shift some of that success over into its burgeoning digital services sector.

“The outsourcing sector, that is the business process outsourcing sector, directly employs over 44,000 agents and generates revenue estimated at over US$700 million annually,” the minister noted.

“Jamaica’s competitiveness is solidified on the basis that it is the most scalable location in the Caribbean, with a relatively large available labour force and established ecosystem supported by the government and private sector groups.

“We have a multisectoral approach to improving our technological infrastructure. In 2021, the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce outlined the framework for a national five-year global digital services strategy to expand the industry. The strategy is expected to have a significant impact on employment, providing 70,000 jobs by 2025.”

Shaw added, “Investment in the global digital services sector continues to grow with over 70 operators in the market at this time.”

WORKFORCE SHIFT

Minister Shaw noted that the current ratio between business process outsourcing jobs and knowledge process outsourcing jobs is approximately 80/20.

However, he said the government wants to improve that ratio to 60/40, thereby “expanding and making further inroads into higher-technology-oriented jobs in the digital services sector”.

Several training programmes are also in the works, Shaw said, “with a vision to facilitate promotion of the sector and to enable training of thousands of Jamaican in new digital skills of a higher-value skill set”.

“A critical goal is to shift the makeup of the sector towards higher-skilled jobs,” Shaw emphasized.

He added, “This global services digital services sector project, being driven by JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation) as the executing agency, is the main driver to upskill Jamaicans in the high-value technical and professional skills needed in digital services.

“…In this way, the government, along with operators and stakeholders in the private sector, are facilitating steps to offer services beyond business processing by building the skills and capabilities of the talent pool and companies who offer services under the global sector services program.”

Browse job opportunities in technology and other areas not only in Jamaica but also throughout the Caribbean at Caribbeanemployment.com

For more news, updates and tips on employment in the region, visit CaribbeanEmployment.com and follow us on social media.

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PaySett Corporation expands its regional payments partnership with Republic Financial Holdings Limited.

PaySett’s market proven PayBank® and PayCorp® payment solutions will provide key infrastructure to support the bank’s Caribbean expansion.

ATLANTA and PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Aug. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – PaySett Corporation a global provider of ePayment solutions and Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) announced today an expansion of their partnership to include RFHL’s subsidiaries in the Eastern Caribbean and Sint Maarten. The partnership is expected to continue to increase electronic payments adoption in the region.

Nigel M. Baptiste, President of Republic Financial Holdings Limited.

PaySett’s CEO Benny Cooley commented, “Global and Regional financial institutions like RFHL are leading the way in financial services by standardizing payment software processing across multiple regions.  PaySett provides software products PayBank® and PayCorp® to standardize electronic payment processing for regional banks utilizing the bank’s own internal cloud infrastructure environment. This allows a financial institution to better manage operational costs and to streamline the movement of money throughout its organization for their clients.”  PayBank® and PayCorp® are part of a suite of products from PaySett that allows for the processing of consumer, corporate, and government payments in a real time or batch environments. According to Mr. Cooley, “We have been collaborating with RFHL for over a decade bringing innovation to the payments space and we are very excited about further collaboration in the Caribbean region.”

Nigel M. Baptiste, President of Republic Financial Holdings Limited stated that “PaySett’s suite of products will provide the wider RFHL Group with a world class, secure, payment processing infrastructure which will enhance the speed and efficiency of our service to our many clients, including those in the Eastern Caribbean and Sint Maarten.”

About PaySett Corporation

Atlanta, Georgia based PaySett Corporation is a global provider of payment software solutions in twenty countries. PaySett provides products/services to assist global financial entities to effectively manage the way money moves throughout their organizations and for their customers. PaySett’s two decades of experience moving payments through national and international payment networks has allowed for the development of advanced payment software for assisting global banks with the capability to enhance their regional and global payment network processing capabilities.  Twelve of the top twenty global banks process payments through PaySett software.

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ibex Takes Firm Hold of BPO Industry Leadership in Jamaica – Opens its Fifth Site in Five Years

Company Leverages Jamaica to Accelerate Technology-Driven Job Growth and Strengthen its Base of Digitally-Enabled Blue Chip and New Economy Clients

New ibex Jamaica Customer Experience Delivery Center
ibex opens its Campus delivery center, its fifth location in Jamaica in five years.

CARIBPR WIRE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 02, 2021: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a global leader in business process outsourcing (BPO) and end-to-end customer engagement technology solutions, today announced the opening of its new Campus location in the Sunshine City area of Portmore, Jamaica. The new facility will create 1,300 digitally-enabled jobs, bringing the company’s total employment on the island to more than 6,500 people.

“The tremendous growth being fueled by increased client demand, technology innovation and new wins with Blue Chip and New Economy customers has helped us create more than 1,500 jobs in Jamaica this year alone and placed the island at the center of the BPO 2.0 revolution,” said Jaime Vergara, senior vice president and Jamaica country manager, ibex.

“Not only has our growth accelerated economic development across Jamaica, but we are further positioning the country as a global shared services hub that is digitally transforming our clients’ customer experiences,” Vergara added.

Since opening its first site in 2016, ibex has invested more than $50M USD capital in Jamaica, increased employment from 200 jobs to more than 6,500, and enhanced the overall health and quality of life for its employees by investing more than $40M USD in annual salaries. With the opening of Campus, ibex now has a total of more than 5,000 seats in Jamaica across its five facilities in Ocho Rios, Portmore, and Kingston.   More than 500 of these positions will be utilized to support ibex’s rapid growth in the company’s insurance sector.

ibex is currently hiring both on-site and work-at-home positions with plans for additional growth by the end of 2021, this includes new job creation to address the company’s staff augmentation efforts for IT outsourcing (ITO) services.

The company will leverage its Wave X technology suite to quickly ramp agent proficiency and accelerate its speed-to-green delivery operations. This includes deploying ibex Training Simulator, a virtual solution designed to accelerate agent learning and enhance customer engagement across digital and traditional communication channels. The company will also leverage the ibex Work@Home technology suite to drive cost savings, accelerate productivity and enhance the customer experience (CX) for clients, while providing agents the ability to work at maximum efficiency regardless of location.

About ibex
ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage, and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global contact center of scale consisting of 31 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next-generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 24,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including its Wave X technology platform, to manage over 100 million critical customer interactions and driving a truly differentiated customer experience.  To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedInFacebook and Twitter.

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ibex toma control del liderazgo del sector de externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) en Jamaica - Abre su quinto sitio en cinco años

La empresa aprovecha su presencia en Jamaica para acelerar el aumento de empleos orientados a la tecnología y fortalecer su base de clientes digitalmente habilitados de Blue Chip y New Economy

CARIBPR WIRE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 02, 2021: – IBEX (NASDAQ: IBEX), un líder mundial en externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) y soluciones de tecnología de participación del cliente de punto a punto, anunció hoy la apertura de su nuevo campus localizado en el área de Sunshine City de Portmore, Jamaica. La nueva instalación creará 1.300 empleos habilitados digitalmente, sumando el total de empleos de la empresa en la isla a más de 6.500 personas.

“El enorme crecimiento impulsado por el aumento de la demanda de los clientes, innovación tecnológica y nuevos éxitos con los clientes de Blue Chip y New Economy nos ayuda a crear más de 1.500 empleos en Jamaica solo este año y posicionó a la ista en el centro de la revolución de BPO 2.0″, dijo Jaime Vergara, vicepresidente senior y gerente de país de Jamaica, IBEX.

“Nuestro crecimiento además de acelerar el desarrollo económico en toda Jamaica, también posiciona aún más al país como un centro global de servicios compartidos que transforma de forma digital las experiencias de consumo de nuestros clientes”, agregó Vergara.

Desde la apertura de su primer sitio en 2016, ibex invirtió más de $ 50 millones en capital en Jamaica, aumentó el empleo de 200 a más de 6.500 puestos, y mejoró la salud y calidad de vida en general de sus empleados con una inversión de más de $ 40 millones en salarios anuales. Con la apertura del Campus, el IBEX hoy cuenta con un total de más de 5,000 puestos en Jamaica en sus cinco instalaciones en Ocho Ríos, Portmore y Kingston.   Más de 500 de estas posiciones se utilizarán para apoyar el rápido crecimiento de IBEX en el sector de seguros de la empresa.

iBEX actualmente está contratando para posiciones tanto en las instalaciones como para trabajar en el hogar con planes de crecimiento adicional para finales de 2021, esto incluye la creación de nuevos empleos para abordar los esfuerzos de aumento de personal de la empresa para servicios de externalización de TI (ITO).

La empresa aprovechará su conjunto de tecnología Wave X para aumentar rápidamente la capacidad del agente y acelerar sus operaciones de entrega de velocidad verde. Esto incluye la implementación de ibex Training Simulator (simulador de capacitación), una solución virtual diseñada para acelerar el aprendizaje de los agentes y optimizar la participación del cliente a través de canales de comunicación digitales y tradicionales. La empresa además aprovechará el conjunto de tecnología ibex Work@Home para impulsar ahorro de costos, acelerar la productividad y optimizar la experiencia del consumidor (CX) para los clientes, mientras que ofrece a los agentes la capacidad de trabajar con máxima eficacia independientemente de la localización.

Acerca de Ibex
IBEX ofrece externalización de procesos de negocios (BPO) innovadores, marketing digital inteligente, tecnología de adquisición en línea y soluciones de participación del cliente de extremo a extremo para ayudar a las empresas en la adquisición, participación y retención de clientes valiosos. Hoy, ibex opera un centro de contacto global de escala que consiste de 31 instalaciones de operaciones en todo el mundo, al mismo tiempo que implementa tecnología de última generación para impulsar experiencias de clientes superiores para muchas de las empresas líderes mundiales en los sectores minorista, comercio electrónico, atención médica, tecnología financiera (fintech), servicios públicos y logística.

ibex aprovecha su diverso equipo global de más de 24.000 empleados junto con tecnología líder en el sector, incluida su plataforma tecnológica Wave X, para la gestión de más de 100 millones de interacciones decisivas con los clientes e impulsar una experiencia de cliente verdaderamente diferenciada.  Para más información, visite nuestro sitio web ibex.co y conéctese con nosotros en LinkedInFacebookTwitter.

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Carson Wen Appealed to Privy Council in UK on Employment Dispute with Chad C. Holm

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Carson Wen, Chairman of Sancus Group (”Sancus”), today provides a further update on the ongoing employment dispute with a former employee of Financial Holdings (BVI) Limited (”FHL”), a Special Purpose Vehicle (”SPV”) that was established by Sancus in 2015.

Mr. Wen obtained Final Leave from Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal on 16 September 2020 to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (often referred to as the Privy Council) in the United Kingdom on the dispute with Chad C. Holm regarding a shareholding matter.

Mr. Wen has already filed the Notice of Appeal with the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for the British Virgin Islands and other Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions on 10 November 2020.

Meanwhile, in October 2016 FHL filed proceedings against Chad Holm and two co-Defendants for breach of contract, breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duties in the Hong Kong High Court. These legal proceedings are continuing. Mr. Wen was the CEO of Financial Holdings (BVI) Limited, which employed Chad Holm as Deputy CEO in October 2015.

Previous Statement from Mr. Wen on above dispute can be found at: Update from Carson Wen Ka-Shuen on Employment Dispute with Chad C. Holm.

Notes to editors

Carson Wen is the Founder of Bank of Asia (BVI) Limited and BOA Financial Group Limited. He is also the Chairman of the Sancus Group of companies, which has investments in policy driven sectors such as new energy, logistics, finance and technology. He has practiced law for over 30 years at his own Hong Kong partnership and subsequently at leading global law firms. Mr. Wen has been named as a leading adviser on Chinese law, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets work in Who’s Who of the Law, Asia Pacific Legal 500, AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers, Chambers Asia and China’s Top 200. He is also named in the International Who’s Who and Who’s Who of the World.

Mr. Wen is a Justice of the Peace of Hong Kong and held various public service appointments in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

Mr. Wen is a member of the Executive Committee of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) and former Chairman of its Task Force on Green Business. He is also a Director of the Pacific Basin Economic Council. He is also, inter alia, a Founding Director of the China M&A Association.

Mr. Wen was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for his contribution to economic ties between Hong Kong, Mainland China and the rest of the world.

Mr. Wen obtained his B.A. from Columbia University, where he majored in economics, and B.A. and M.A. from Balliol College, Oxford University, where he studied law and was Younger Prizeman in Law for 1976.

Sancus Group

Sancus Group, a private investment vehicle based in Hong Kong, was established in 2007. It has diverse business interests including new energy, logistics, finance and technology. The firm works closely with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, private equity and other professional bodies to grasp global business opportunities. Leveraging its strong relationships in China and across the Asia Pacific, the firm see its role as catering to the needs of the developing world through focusing on necessities such as new energy, financial services and food.

Sancus Group is an indirect shareholder in Bank of Asia via Sancus Financial Holdings Limited. Bank of Asia (www.bankasia.com) is a fully digitalised global bank headquartered in the BVI.

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The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. Announces Quarterly Distribution and Results of 2020 Annual Stockholders Meeting

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 08, 2020: The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced its quarterly distribution pursuant to the Fund’s managed distribution policy (the “MDP”) and reported the results of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Quarterly Distribution:

The Fund today declared the following distribution pursuant to the MDP:

Declaration Date Ex-Date Record Date Payment Date Per Share
12/08/2020 12/17/2020 12/18/2020 12/31/2020 $0.15525

The primary purpose of the MDP is to provide stockholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each quarter (currently set at the annual rate of 15% of the Fund’s net asset value as determined on March 31, 2020 and payable in quarterly installments). The Fund cannot predict what effect, if any, the MDP will have on the market price of its shares or whether such market price will reflect a greater or lesser discount to net asset value as compared to prior to the adoption of the MDP. The quarterly distribution for the Fund’s second fiscal quarter constitutes the fifth consecutive quarterly distribution under the MDP.

The $0.15525 per share amount announced today reflects a distribution of 3.36% based upon the market price per share of the Fund and 2.64% based upon the net asset value per share of the Fund, each as of November 30, 2020. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

Results of 2020 Annual Meeting:

In addition, the Fund held its annual stockholder meeting on November 12, 2020 (“Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Fund’s stockholders re-elected Mr. Thomas J. Herzfeld as Class III Director of the Fund, for a term of three years. Mr. Herzfeld is Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and President and Chairman of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (“THJA”), and a Portfolio Manager of the Fund.

Details regarding the Managed Distribution Policy:

Under the MDP, the Fund will distribute all available investment income to its stockholders, consistent with its investment objective and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. If sufficient investment income is not available on a quarterly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its stockholders in order to maintain its managed distribution level. The Fund is currently not relying on any exemptive relief from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the 1940 Act. Please note that for stockholders enrolled in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”), the distribution will be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund as described in the DRIP.

The Fund expects that distributions under the MDP will exceed investment income and available capital gains and thus expects that distributions under the MDP will likely include returns of capital for the foreseeable future. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of a stockholder’s investment is paid back to the stockholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income.’ Any such returns of capital will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to maintain the level of distributions called for under its MDP, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current quarterly distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per common share.

Current Distribution % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date
Net Investment Income $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Return of Capital $0.15525 100% $0.3105 100%
Total (per common share) $0.15525 100% $0.3105 100%

Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on November 30, 2020 3.09%
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2020 10.58%
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of PRICE as of November 30, 2020 13.44%
Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2020 27.32%
Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2020 5.29%

No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. The MDP is subject to ongoing review by the Board to determine whether it should be continued, modified or terminated. The Board may amend the terms of the MDP, suspend the MDP, or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s stockholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interest of the Fund or its stockholders. The amendment or termination of the MDP could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.

With each distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income, the Fund will issue a notice to stockholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to stockholders are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during its full fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send stockholders a Form 1099-DIV for the respective calendar year that will tell them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Stockholders should consult their tax advisor for proper tax treatment of the Fund’s distributions.

About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.

TJHA, founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA).

More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, and other statements that Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (TJHA”) or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release.

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ECCB and Toronto Centre Lead Workshop on “Coping with Climate Change and Other Environmental Risks”

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and Toronto Centre lead workshop for supervisors and regulators of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union to help identify climate and other environmental risks to financial institutions, economies, and consumers

CaribPR Wire, BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dec. 02, 2019: At the request of, and in partnership with, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Toronto Centre is holding its first five-day cross-cutting climate risk workshop. The workshop is aimed at helping financial sector supervisors and regulators identify the risks that climate change and other environmental factors pose to financial institutions, economies, consumers and vulnerable groups. Participants will learn how to develop action plans to deal with climate change and other environmental risks, and how to identify and communicate effectively with key stakeholders to achieve results.

The IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report, 2019 prominently highlights climate risk as a risk to financial stability. In addition to examining the nature of these risks and their potential effects, the program identifies steps that supervisors and financial institutions can take to deal with these risks. Product design, investment, lending, and strengthening risk management and stress testing are areas that supervisors and financial institutions can explore. The workshop additionally highlights steps that could be taken to manage risks to consumers, such as improving financial literacy and inclusion.

Timothy N.J. Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) said: “As the custodians of the payment system, our Central Bank is advocating for and facilitating disaster and climate resilience strategies inclusive of investment in physical and digital infrastructure, early warning systems, and fiscal resilience. ECCB is pleased to host this inaugural workshop on coping with climate change and other environmental risks and key actions that can be taken by supervisors and those they supervise to deal with these risks. Toronto Centre’s capacity building efforts are essential as financial sector supervisors and regulators in our region tackle these risks.”

Babak Abbaszadeh, CEO and President, Toronto Centre said: “Climate risk is an emerging risk for financial policy makers, standard setters, and supervisors. Toronto Centre applauds the ECCB’s initiative and leadership to be an early mover in building their capacity to deal with climate risk.”

LEARN MORE

www.eccb-centralbank.org/

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was established in October 1983. It is the monetary authority for a group of eight small country economies namely – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Agreement establishing the ECCB as the monetary authority for the eight ECCB participating governments was signed on 5 July 1983 in Trinidad and Tobago. The ECCB was officially commissioned on 1 October 1983, replacing the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority (ECCA) which was established in March 1965.

The primary objective of the ECCB is to maintain the stability of the Eastern Caribbean Currency and the integrity of the banking system.

LEARN MORE

www.torontocentre.org

Established in 1998, Toronto Centre for Global Leadership in Financial Supervision (Toronto Centre) is an independent not-for-profit organization that promotes financial stability and access to financial services globally. Our mission is to provide high quality capacity building programs for financial supervisors and regulators, primarily in emerging markets and developing countries. We believe that for countries to thrive, their financial systems must be stable and inclusive. Our mission supports sustainable growth and job creation and helps to reduce poverty by helping to build these economic foundations. In turn, stable, sustainable economic growth is a vital enabler of infrastructure investments, strengthening international trade and reducing poverty as confirmed by the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Financing for Development. Our mission is aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. Since our inception, we have trained more than 12,000 supervisors and regulators from over 190 jurisdictions. Toronto Centre is supported by Global Affairs Canada, the International Monetary Fund, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Comic Relief, Jersey Overseas Aid, and other valuable international partners.


El Banco Central del Caribe Oriental (ECCB) y Toronto Centre dirigen un taller sobre “Cómo enfrentar el cambio climático y otros riesgos ambientales”

El Banco Central del Caribe Oriental y Toronto Centre dirigen un taller para supervisores y reguladores de la Unión Monetaria del Caribe Oriental para poder identificar riesgos climáticos y otros riesgos ambientales para instituciones financieras, economías y consumidores

CaribPR Wire, BASSETERRE, San Cristóbal y Nieves, Dec. 02, 2019: A pedido del Banco Central del Caribe Oriental, y en asociación con este, Toronto Centre llevará a cabo su primer taller transversal de cinco días. El taller tiene por objeto ayudar a los supervisores y reguladores del sector financiero a identificar los riesgos que el cambio climático y otros factores ambientales plantean para las instituciones financieras, las economías, los consumidores y los grupos vulnerables.  Los participantes aprenderán cómo desarrollar planes de acción para enfrentar el cambio climático y otros riesgos ambientales y a cómo identificar y comunicar en forma eficaz a las partes interesadas clave para lograr resultados.

El Informe sobre la estabilidad financiera mundial de 2019 del FMI destaca claramente al riesgo climático como un riesgo para la estabilidad financiera. Además de analizar la naturaleza de estos riesgos y sus posibles efectos, el programa identifica los pasos que los supervisores y las instituciones financieras pueden tomar para enfrentarlos. El diseño del producto, la inversión, el préstamo y el fortalecimiento de la gestión de riesgos y las pruebas de resistencia son áreas que pueden examinar los supervisores y las instituciones financieras. Asimismo, el taller destaca los pasos que podrían tomarse para manejar los riesgos para los consumidores, como mejorar la educación y la inclusión financiera.

Timothy N.J. Antoine, Gobernador del Banco Central del Caribe Oriental (ECCB) afirmó: “Como custodios del sistema de pagos, nuestro Banco Central defiende y facilita las  estrategias para la resistencia ante el clima y los desastres, que incluyen la inversión en infraestructura física y digital, sistemas de advertencia temprana y resistencia fiscal. ECCB se complace en organizar este taller inaugural sobre cambio climático y otros riesgos ambientales, y las medidas clave que pueden tomar los supervisores y aquellos a quienes supervisan para enfrentar estos riesgos. Las medidas de desarrollo de capacidades de Toronto Centre son esenciales, dado que los supervisores y reguladores del sector financiero en nuestra región enfrentan estos riesgos”.

Babak Abbaszadeh, Director ejecutivo (CEO) y Presidente de Toronto Centre, sostuvo lo siguiente: “El riesgo climático es un riesgo emergente para las autoridades responsables de políticas financieras, las personas que establecen estándares y los supervisores. Toronto Centre aclama la iniciativa y el liderazgo del ECCB por ser uno de los pioneros en promover el desarrollo de su capacidad para enfrentar el riesgo climático.”

MÁS INFORMACIÓN

www.eccb-centralbank.org/

El Banco Central del Caribe Oriental (ECCB) se fundó en octubre de 1983. Es la autoridad monetaria de un grupo de economías de ocho pequeños países, a saber, Anguila, Antigua y Barbuda, Dominica, Granada, Montserrat, San Cristóbal y Nieves, Santa Lucía y San Vicente y las Granadinas.

El Acuerdo que estableció al ECCB como la autoridad monetaria para los ochos gobiernos que participan del ECCB se suscribió el 5 de julio de 1983 en Trinidad y Tobago.  El ECCB recibió la autorización oficial el 1.º de octubre de 1983, en reemplazo de la Autoridad Monetaria del Caribe Oriental (ECCA), que se fundó en marzo de 1965.

El objetivo principal del ECCB es mantener la estabilidad de la moneda del Caribe Oriental y la integridad del sistema bancario.

MÁS INFORMACIÓN

www.torontocentre.org

Fundado en 1998, el Toronto Centre for Global Leadership in Financial Supervision (Toronto Centre) es una organización independiente sin fines de lucro que promueve la estabilidad financiera y el acceso a los servicios financieros en todo el mundo. Nuestra misión es proporcionar programas de capacitación de alta calidad para supervisores y reguladores financieros, principalmente en mercados emergentes y países en desarrollo. Creemos que para que los países prosperen, sus sistemas financieros deben ser estables e inclusivos. Nuestra misión apoya el crecimiento sostenible y la creación de empleo y ayuda a reducir la pobreza ayudando a construir estas bases económicas. A su vez, un crecimiento económico estable y sostenible es un factor vital para facilitar las inversiones en infraestructuras, reforzar el comercio internacional y reducir la pobreza, como confirman los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de las Naciones Unidas para 2030 y la Financiación para el Desarrollo (Agenda de Acción de Addis Abeba) Nuestra misión concuerda con la Política de Asistencia Internacional Feminista de Canadá. Desde nuestros inicios, hemos capacitado a más de 12.000 supervisores y reguladores de más de 190 jurisdicciones. Toronto Centre cuenta con el apoyo de Global Affairs Canada, el Fondo Monetario Internacional, la Agencia Sueca de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (ASDI), la organización Comic Relief, la organización Jersey Overseas Aid y otros valiosos socios internacionales.


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Global Financial Technology Provider Equisoft Appoints Ruben Veerasamy as Head of the Caribbean Region

MONTREAL, Oct. 30, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Equisoft, a leading global financial technology company providing advanced solutions for the insurance and wealth industries, today officially announced the appointment of Ruben Veerasamy as Senior Vice President, Caribbean.

Equisoft’s strategic objective is to diversify and accelerate their global expansion. The company has delivered significant strategic business value in the Caribbean market for more than 10 years, working with clients in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda and Trinidad, and is continuing to scale up rapidly. With the objective of developing a team dedicated to servicing Caribbean clients, the time has come to nominate a leader for the region.

Ruben has performed different delivery and sales roles at Equisoft for over 10 years. With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, he brings a strong expertise in establishing and managing sustainable client, partner and employee relationships.

“Ruben’s ability to build connections and confidence has been instrumental in helping us develop a great reputation in the Caribbean over the years,” said Equisoft’s CEO, Luis Romero. “We already serve six companies with our insurance and wealth solutions, and we are shortlisted for multiple large opportunities in the region. Appointing a dedicated leader was the next logical step to make sure that we provide our customers with the level of support they are expecting from their technology partner.”

“Being active in the region since 2009, we have a deep understanding of the specific challenges that Caribbean insurers and financial institutions are facing, both from a business and technology standpoint,” said Ruben. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with our customers to help them achieve their business goals.”

About Equisoft

Founded in 1994, Equisoft is a global provider of advanced digital solutions in life insurance and wealth management. Recognized as a valued partner by over 50 of the world’s leading financial institutions in 15 countries, Equisoft offers innovative front-end applications, extensive back-office services and a unique data migration expertise. The firm’s industry-leading products include CRM, financial needs analysis, asset allocation, quotes and illustrations, electronic application, agency management systems, as well as customer, agent and broker portals. Equisoft is also Oracle’s main global partner for the Oracle Insurance Policy Administration platform. With its business-driven approach, deep industry knowledge, state-of-the-art technology, and a growing team of over 400 specialized resources based in the USA, Canada, Latin America, South Africa and India, Equisoft helps financial institutions tackle any challenge in this new era of digital disruption. Website: equisoft.com

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Leclanché and Government of St. Kitts Agree to Build Largest Solar Generation Plus Storage Project in Caribbean

Fully Integrated Solar Photovoltaic and Lithium‐ion Battery Energy Storage System Will Provide Clean and Reliable Energy for Residents of St. Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis, DALLAS and YVERDON LES BAINS, Switzerland, Aug. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC

PR WIRE/ — The largest solar generation plus energy storage project ever to be built in the Caribbean has been

announced by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the state-owned St. Kitts Electric Company (SKELEC)

and Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world’s leading energy storage companies.

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/711940/Leclanche_Logo.jpg

The Honorable Ian Patches Liburd, St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Public Infrastructure, Post, Urban Development and Transport, said: “We are set to embark on this vital solar+storage project as a key part of our renewable energy thrust that is critical to the future development of our country.”

The 35.6 MW solar energy plant and 44.2 MWh battery storage facility will be built on government provided land in the Basseterre Valley, adjacent to the City of Basseterre and the current SKELEC PowerStation on the island of St. Kitts. It will provide the residents of this Caribbean twin-island Federation with a reliable and renewable clean energy source with fixed cost savings compared to the current diesel-generated power system. The system will provide between 25-30% of the nation’s current power generation needs, while displacing the same amount of diesel-generated capacity.

The solar storage project will help solidify the financial strength of SKELEC over the next 20+ years, while substantially reducing the islands’ fuel cost over that period,”said Liburd“The expected fuel avoidance cost from the installation of the solar farm will not only be beneficial to the energy demand of the Federation but represents that most viable option for securing SKELEC’s financial future.”

Leclanché will serve as the prime engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the installation of both the solar photovoltaic (PV) system and battery energy storage system (BESS).

“We want to thank Prime Minister Timothy Harris, Public Infrastructure Minister Liburd, the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis, and the SKELEC Board and Executive Team for their tremendous vision, cooperation and efforts in support of this exciting project,” said Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché“This project marks the first time a megawatt-scale solar energy system, stabilized by a state-of-the art lithium battery energy storage system, can be utilized to provide true ‘base load’ power for a utility on a Caribbean island. It sends a strong signal to other Caribbean countries, and those around the world, that there is a cleaner, more cost-efficient and viable alternative to diesel power.”

Minister Liburd said“We are pleased to partner with Leclanché, one of the world’s leading energy storage solution providers, in this milestone project for the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis. The solar and battery storage project represents a giant step forward in the government’s efforts to ensure a clean, safe and affordable energy future for our country. This project offers many benefits for our residents, businesses and the millions of tourists who visit St. Kitts and Nevis each year.”

The government recently approved an allocation of land for the project site which will be provided under a lease between the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the project company. SKELEC and Leclanché have already entered into a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) which ensures the system will supply essential power capacity for St. Kitts for many years to come.

Leclanché has established a St. Kitts special purpose vehicle (SPV) along with local partner Solrid, to fund, own and operate the facility. Once the energy generation and storage project is completed and delivered, Leclanché will be responsible for the management of all project operations, maintenance and equipment warranties.

“SKELEC’s leadership in this solar generation and storage project is commendable on many levels,” said St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Sylvester Harris“This project is an example of the bold thinking and actions being undertaken by our electric utility to ensure a reliable power supply and a cleaner, more sustainable environment for our citizens and tourists.”

“The cost of this project to St. Kitts and Nevis citizens is zero,” said Bryan Urban, Executive Vice President and Head of Leclanché Stationary Business Unit“It is being fully paid-for over 20 years through the savings created by the switch to clean and reliable solar energy.”

Ground-breaking for the solar and energy storage project is scheduled for mid-October 2019 with an anticipated completion date of September 2020.

For more information, write to [email protected] or visit www.leclanche.com.

About Leclanché
Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanché SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanché’s history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company’s culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanché the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanché is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanché is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world, organised along three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions and specialty batteries systems. Leclanché is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).

SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanché’s business, which can be identified by terminology such as “strategic”, “proposes”, “to introduce”, “will”, “planned”, “expected”, “commitment”, “expects”, “set”, “preparing”, “plans”, “estimates”, “aims”, “would”, “potential”, “awaiting”, “estimated”, “proposal”, or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanché’s production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanché or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanché regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanché’s products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanché, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/711940/Leclanche_Logo.jpg

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Cloud Carib Ranked Among top third World’s Most Elite 501 Managed Service Providers

12th Annual MSP 501 Identifies Top Forward-Thinking Global MSPs & Leading Trends in Managed Services.

CARIBPR WIRE, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 18, 2019: Cloud Carib has been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers on the prestigious 12th-annual Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings. Coming in above all other providers in the Caribbean and Latin America, and #160 out of 501 managed service providers worldwide, there’s a lot to be proud of for The Bahamas owned and headquartered company.

Every year, MSPs worldwide complete an extensive survey and application to report their product offerings, growth rates, annual total and recurring revenues, pricing structures, revenue mix and more. MSPs were ranked according to a unique methodology that weights revenue figures according to how well the applicant’s business strategy anticipates trends in the fast-evolving channel ecosystem.

Channel Futures is pleased to name Cloud Carib to the 2019 MSP 501.

“We’re honored to be awarded #160 out of the top 501 MSPs worldwide, and to be the highest rated in both the Caribbean and Latin American regions,” said Scott MacKenzie, CEO, Cloud Carib. “We’re proud to be recognized on a global scale and take it as further evidence that we’re helping transform this region and establishing the Bahamas as a tech hub of the region. Every year more MSPs enter the market and competition gets fiercer, our ranking demonstrates our dedication to our client’s business needs, our thirst for innovation and forward thinking as well as our ability to compete on a global scale”.

In the 12 years since its inception, the MSP 501 has evolved from a competitive ranking list into a vibrant group of service providers, vendors, distributors, consultants and industry analysts working together to define the growing managed service opportunity.

“The 2019 MSP 501 winners are the most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet, and they stand as a model of excellence in the industry,” says Kris Blackmon, Content Director of Channel Partners and Channel Futures and lead of the MSP 501 program. “As the MSP 501 Community grows, leagues of managed service providers learn from the successes of these winning companies, gaining insight into the best practices, strategies and technologies that elevate an MSP to the level of the 501 winners. Our heartfelt congratulations to the 2019 winners and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of both the 501 and the thriving managed services sector.”

In addition to deciding the rankings, the survey drives the creation of an annual in-depth study of business and technology trends in the IT channel, released each year at the Channel Partners Evolution conference. The full MSP 501 Report leverages applicant responses, interviews with industry experts and historical data to give a well-rounded picture of the managed services opportunity.

The complete 2019 MSP 501 list is available at Channel Futures.

About Cloud Carib
Cloud Carib is the region’s premier provider of managed cloud services founded upon the principles of delivering quality, agility, and value for every client. Solutions range from complex bespoke dedicated private cloud offerings to hybrid cloud services. Every solution provides clients with controlled costs, unrivaled levels of service, and unparalleled levels of data protection and privacy – when and where privacy matters.

Cloud Carib clasificada entre los tres principales Proveedores de Servicios Gestionados 501 de mayor elite en el mundo

La duodécima MSP 501 anual identifica los principales MSPs visionarios & las tendencias líderes mundiales en servicios gestionados

CARIBPR WIRE BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, July 18, 2019: Cloud Carib fue nombrada como uno de los principales proveedores de servicios gestionados del mundo en la prestigiosa duodécima clasificación anual Channel Futures MSP 501. Posicionándose en primer lugar entre todos los proveedores en el Caribe y América Latina, y #160 entre 501 proveedores de servicios gestionados en todo el mundo, hay mucho para estar orgullosos de la empresa de propiedad y con sede en Las Bahamas.

Cada año, los MSPs en todo el mundo completan una extensiva encuesta y solicitud para informar sus ofertas de producto, tasas de crecimiento y utilidades recurrentes, estructuras de precios, mezcla de utilidades y más. Los MSPs fueron clasificados de acuerdo a una metodología exclusiva que pondera las cifras de utilidades según el resultado que la estrategia de negocios del participante anticipa las tendencias en el ecosistema de canal de rápida evolución.

Channel Futures se complace en nombrar a Cloud Carib para la MSP 501 de 2019.

“Nos honra ser galardonados #160 entre los top 501 MSPs en todo el mundo, y tener las más alta clasificación en las regiones del Caribe y América Latina”, dijo Scott MacKenzie, director ejecutivo de Cloud Carib. “Nos enorgullece ser reconocidos a escala global y tener aún mayor evidencia de que estamos ayudando a transformar esta región y estableciendo Las Bahamas como un centro tecnológico en la región. Cada año más MSPs penetran al mercado y la competencia se vuelve cada vez más fuerte, nuestra clasificación demuestra nuestra dedicación a las necesidades de nuestros clientes, nuestra sed de innovación y visión futura, así como nuestra capacidad para competir a una escala global”.

En los doce años desde sus inicios, la MSP 501 ha evolucionado desde una lista de clasificación competitiva a un grupo energético de proveedores de servicios, distribuidores, consultores y analistas de la industria que trabajan conjuntamente para definir la creciente demanda de la oportunidad de servicios gestionados.

“Los ganadores de MSP 501 de 2019 son los proveedores de servicios de IT de mayor elite, innovadores y estratégicos en el planeta, y están catalogados como un modelo de excelencia en la industria”, dice Kris Blackmon, director de contenido de Channel Partners y Channel Futures y líder del programa MSP 501. “A medida que crece la comunidad MSP 501, las ligas de proveedores de servicios gestionados aprenden de los éxitos de estas compañías ganadoras, obteniendo una perspectiva de las mejores prácticas, estrategias y tecnologías que elevan un MSP al nivel de los ganadores 501. Nuestras más sinceras felicitaciones para los ganadores de 2019 y nuestra gratitud a los miles de MSPs que han contribuido al continuo crecimiento y éxito del programa 501, así como del próspero sector de servicios gestionados”.

Además de decidir las clasificaciones, la encuesta conduce la creación de un estudio profundo anual de las tendencias de negocios y tecnología en el canal de IT, publicado cada año en la conferencia Channel Partners Evolution. El informe completo MSP 501 utiliza las respuestas del solicitante, entrevistas con expertos de la industria y datos históricas para proporcionar un cuatro completo de la oportunidad de servicios gestionados.

La lista complete de MSP 501 de 2019 está disponible en Channel Futures.

Acerca de Cloud Carib
Cloud Carib es el principal proveedor de servicios gestionados en la nube de la región y se basa en los principios de ofrecer calidad, agilidad y valor para para cada uno de sus clientes. Las soluciones van desde ofertas complejas personalizadas de nube privada a servicios de nube híbrida. Cada solución proporciona a los clientes costos controlados, niveles de servicio inigualables y niveles de protección de datos y privacidad incomparables: cuando y donde la privacidad importa.

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PaySett Corporation expands its regional payment partnership with JMMB Group of Trinidad & Tobago

PaySett’s market proven PayBank® payments solution will contribute to the growth of electronic payments in Trinidad & Tobago.

ATLANTA and PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, July 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – PaySett Corporation, a global provider of ePayment solutions and JMMB Group, announced today an expansion of their partnership to continue to drive up electronic payments adoption in the Caribbean region.

www.paysett.com

Jesus Garcia, VP of Business Development, commented, “Regional financial institutions like JMMB rely on PayBank® to process a large volume of electronic payments from multiple banking channels which creates efficiencies that reduce operational costs while providing more innovative services to their customer base.”  PayBank’s robust feature set and adaptability across payment systems in many different countries allows global and regional banks to standardize their payment processing in a global environment. These capabilities allow for fast deployment of new payment innovations on a global basis.  PayBank® is part of a suite of products from PaySett that allows for the processing of both consumer and corporate payments in a real time or batch environment.  Mr. Garcia further commented, “For over a decade, JMMB has relied on PaySett’s solutions for their payment processing needs and we look forward to further collaboration in the region.”

Lisa-Maria Alexander, Chief Marketing Officer at JMMB Group also commented, “We are really pleased to partner with PaySett in bringing increased efficiency and innovation to our clients here in Trinidad & Tobago.”

About PaySett Corporation

Atlanta, Georgia based PaySett Corporation is a global provider of payment software solutions. PaySett provides products/services to assist global financial entities to effectively manage the way money moves throughout their organizations and for their customers. PaySett’s two decades of experience moving payments through national and international payment networks has allowed for the development of advance payment software for assisting global banks with the capability to enhance their regional and global payment network processing capabilities.  Fifteen of the top twenty global banks process payments through PaySett software.

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