News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug. 16, 2023: ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and customer engagement technology solutions, today announced that Nicola James has been appointed Vice President, Operations, of ibex in Jamaica.

As a highly accomplished and versatile BPO leader, Nicola brings to ibex Jamaica a proven track record of delivering exceptional results in management and customer service across diverse industries and multiple geographies. With over 18 years in the BPO sector, she has amassed a wealth of experience and expertise in driving operational excellence and exceeding client objectives. She will report directly to Tamara Ricketts-Brown, Senior Vice President, Jamaica Country Manager at ibex.

“We are pleased to have Nicola as part of ibex Jamaica,” said Ricketts-Brown. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, fostering a culture of innovation, and adapting quickly to dynamic business environments. Her ability to motivate and inspire teams, leading them to achieve outstanding outcomes will make her a valuable addition to our organization.”

Prior to joining ibex, James was Director of Operations at Itel, and before that, a Senior Account Manager with Sutherland Global Services. Previously, James was an SBU manager at ACS, a Xerox company. James received her tertiary level qualifications from Montego Bay Community College and the University of Technology.

“I am delighted to be part of the ibex team and drive operations as we grow in Jamaica,” said James. “ibex is known for creating an employee experience that in turn enables many of the world’s leading brands to provide the best experience for their customers. I’m excited to take on this new opportunity and aim to deliver excellence in all that I do at ibex.”

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 CX delivery center model 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 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including its Wave X platform, to manage nearly 200 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Aug. 18, 2023: The Caribbean and Latin America are known for their gorgeous tourist attractions, stunning beaches, and unfortunately, corruption. In Latin America, the OECD Development Center found that only 1 in 4 citizens trust their political leaders.

Corruption in the Caribbean isn’t any better and is nearing the bottom of the corruption perception index with Barbados’ score decreased from 76 in 2012 to 65 in 2022, the Bahamas’ score decreased from 71 to 64, and St. Lucia’s score decreased from 71 to just 55.

But, how can blockchain help with fighting corruption in the Caribbean and Latin America? Well, let’s find out!

Transparency and Accountability

Blockchain is more than just a tool for crypto market makers. Its key features, like immutability and decentralization, make it a pretty effective tool that promotes transparency. While this might not sound like a big deal, corrupt governments thrive on secrecy and back-room deals. This is where blockchain comes in.

Blockchain technology limits fraudulent practices due to its transparency. Blockchain is a distributed database that maintains a continuously expanding list of ordered records called blocks. These records cannot be altered or manipulated.

If a government were to incorporate blockchain into its systems, records of bids, financial transactions, and tender offers can’t be altered once they’re submitted. These also become public records, which means those actions will be open for everyone to see.

With this technology, blockchain prevents governments from inventing multi-million dollar contracts for invisible projects to cheat their country.

Secure Land Ownership Records

Digital innovation and blockchain technology can help impoverished farmers and landowners obtain their land registry information without running the risk of losing their documents. The Inter-American Development Bank formed the LAC Chain Alliance with various businesses and technology conglomerates.

The aim of the LAC is to secure proper land registries using Blockchain. It works by having the bank collect the legal and technical information needed from farmers and landowners and using that information to create proof of the land title.

Having a proper record of title deeds prevents land from being unlawfully claimed or taken away.

Efficient Public Procurement

By implementing blockchain technology, hiring contractors and awarding government tenders becomes fair and ensures competitiveness. Having the tenderer publically post and commit to contract terms and conditions before receiving any bids removes the risk of the selection criteria being tailor-made for a specific contractor.

This means that the team behind creating and releasing tenders won’t be able to grant them to the contractor they choose. This gives every contractor eligible a fair shot at winning the bid.

This makes the entire process easier to audit because every action and decision made is recorded on the blockchain. These decisions will also be permanent and public.

To ensure that the process is fair, the records are made available to the relevant stakeholders. This process immediately tracks every transaction and thwarts any other dishonest practices that would award a contract to an organization without the necessary paperwork.

Digital Identity and Anti-Bribery Measures

Blockchain technology enables self-sovereign identity (SSI) which allows individuals to control their digital identities. This allows people to securely store their identifiers, for example, biometric data, digital wallets, and educational certifications.

Individuals then have the option to share that information with service providers or government authorities. This ensures privacy.

This might not sound like a big deal. But having access to decentralized digital identities can empower refugees and marginalized communities by allowing them to access critical services like health care and education.

Having these SSIs will also reduce the risk of identity fraud and ensure that government benefits reach their intended recipients. It also facilitates secure voting, thus minimizing the potential for electoral corruption.

Financial Transparency and Anti-Money Laundering

Another key way that blockchain can help the Caribbean and Latin America is by promoting access to financial services like bank accounts, home loans, and student financing. Given that 70% of the population of Latin America does not have a bank account, introducing blockchain could be revolutionary.

With blockchain technology, the digital economy of these countries could be democratized. This could reduce inequality and poverty by allowing marginalized communities to access the financial services they need. For example, marginalized communities could purchase homes or finance their education.

As mentioned previously, blockchain also enables complete transparency. This means it’s quite simple to track financial transactions and follow virtual “paper trails” when investigating fraudulent activity.

This makes it easier, and faster, to detect suspicious activities in real-time and reduce scams. Blockchain also makes it simpler to pick up on any money laundering schemes and track the flow of corrupt funds.

Blockchain technology vastly improves the efficiency and transparency of financial transactions, which makes it incredibly difficult for corruption to thrive.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Aug. 14, 2023: In a significant development for the Caribbean region, two new banks have recently expanded their operations, marking a stride towards enhancing economic ties and fostering growth opportunities. The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have unveiled their plans to strengthen their presence in the Caribbean, emphasizing their commitment to the region’s economic development.

CAF’s Expansion and Commitment

The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has announced its intentions to broaden its operations in the Caribbean, reflecting its commitment to the region’s progress. Sergio Díaz-Granados, the executive president of CAF, expressed this commitment during the launch of the Report on Economics and Development. He stated that the bank’s relationship with the Caribbean extends beyond its current shareholder countries, including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

Díaz-Granados revealed that CAF’s regional office for the Caribbean was launched in Port of Spain last November, with plans underway to establish an additional office in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean islands. The bank aims to collaborate with the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), and other partner institutions to address the financial needs of stakeholders and improve the quality of life for Caribbean citizens.

Highlighting the importance of sustainability, Díaz-Granados announced CAF’s participation as a financier, investing up to US$50 million to support the Barbados-led Blue Green Bank initiative, which focuses on the blue economy.

CAF’s commitment also extends to addressing inequality in the region. The bank’s annual Report on Economic Development (RED) underlines the persistence of inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean. CAF aims to leverage its influence to promote sustainable development and inclusive growth in the region.

Afreximbank’s Caribbean Office and Trade Enhancements

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has taken a significant step towards bolstering ties between Africa and the Caribbean by opening its Caribbean office. This move aligns with the bank’s strategy to enhance trade between the two regions and strengthens its Partnership Agreement with CARICOM states.

The Caribbean office of Afreximbank aims to facilitate greater trade and investment affiliations between Africa and the Caribbean. During the launch event, Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah confirmed the provision of a $1.5 billion credit limit to support qualifying CARICOM nations. This funding is intended to stimulate economic sectors, enhance trade infrastructure, and empower small to medium enterprises across the Caribbean.

The office’s establishment is set to expedite Afreximbank’s activities within CARICOM, fostering stronger collaborations with regional governments and the business sector. Prof. Oramah envisions seamless trade implementations and the integration of financial systems between CARICOM and Africa for mutual benefit.

Strengthening Regional Partnerships

Both CAF and Afreximbank’s expansions in the Caribbean underscore the importance of regional partnerships in driving economic growth and development. As these banks work together with existing financial institutions and governments in the Caribbean, they are poised to contribute significantly to addressing economic disparities, promoting sustainable practices, and creating new avenues for trade and investment.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Aug. 14, 2023: In a recent development, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has made the decision to halt visa-free entry into Britain for citizens from Dominica. This decision is a direct response to the concerns surrounding the country’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs, which grant citizenship to individuals through investment.

Braverman explicitly cited the misuse of the CBI programs as the rationale behind this move. She stated, “Careful examination of Dominica’s implementation of their citizenship by investment initiatives has revealed clear and evident misuse of the system, including conferring citizenship upon individuals known to pose risks to the UK.”

According to the UK government, concerns surrounding Dominica’s programme include:

Poor due diligence around applications, including those of dependents.
The provision for name changes upon receipt of citizenship.
The lack of a residency requirement for applicants.
The granting of citizenship to nationals of other countries who ordinarily require visas to enter the UK, consequently leading to increased levels of asylum applications.

Notably, the Dominican government attempted to address the UK’s concerns by revoking some of the recently issued CBI passports. However, this effort proved insufficient to prevent the suspension of visa-free access.

A particularly concerning aspect highlighted was the issuance of passports to individuals from the UAE who had previously been denied entry to the UK. This crucial information had not been disclosed in their CBI applications, leading to Braverman’s decision.

As a result of the actions of a few individuals abusing the system, all citizens of Dominica are now required to go through the visa application process to travel to the UK and EU. Dominica is not the first CBI countries to face allegations of corruption, inadequate due diligence, or passport sales to unsuitable individuals. St. Kitts and Nevis encountered a similar scandal nine years ago, prompting efforts to improve their program’s integrity.

In response to these developments, other Caribbean nations with CBI programs, including Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, are under heightened scrutiny. The European Commission presented these nations with demands to maintain visa-free access to the EU, including stricter due diligence, mandatory applicant interviews, and increased investment thresholds.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Unit swiftly responded by announcing an increase in its minimum CBI investment to $200,000.

Despite these crises and fluctuations in visa-free arrangements, citizenship by investment remains a persistent option. Governments continue to seek investment through such initiatives, demonstrating the enduring allure of these programs.

Citizenship by investment offers a broader spectrum of rewards beyond the passport’s travel power, emphasizing the profound value of belonging to another nation. While visa-free travel holds allure, the rights and privileges conferred by citizenship in another country are equally significant. Dual citizenship offers both travel benefits and a second home, along with potential benefits for future generations.