PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jan 24, CMC – Commonwealth Caribbean cyber fellows have developed a roadmap designed to boost cooperation to combat online crimes and make the internet safer for citizens.
Officials from the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and the Regional Security System (RSS) participated in the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Caribbean Cyber Fellowship that ended here earlier this week.
The organisers said that the roadmap lays out a framework for greater regional cooperation to prevent and combat cyber threats, including fraud, ransomware, and hacking.
They said specific actions include establishing an online platform to share knowledge and tools, exchanging strategies to enhance national cybersecurity policies and infrastructure, and fostering mutual support in handling electronic evidence.
Senior Director of the Cyber Intelligence Policy and Incident Response Branch at Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security, described the roadmap as a significant step towards creating a safer digital future.
“The roadmap will provide a valuable platform for fellows from across the region to share expertise, exchange ideas and develop adaptable models that countries can use to strengthen their cybersecurity.”
The head of the Cybersecurity Incident Response Team at Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of National Security, Anish Bachu, acknowledged the challenges posed by the small size of Caribbean countries, pointing out that some countries have cybersecurity teams consisting of just one or two people.
Anish said that the fellowship would help address this limitation by bringing Caribbean countries together to pool their knowledge and resources, which he said would result in swifter and more coordinated responses to cyber threats.
Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Rule of Law Section, Elizabeth Macharia, said digital connectivity has immense potential for the development of societies.
“However, it also exposes businesses and citizens to significant cyber threats that demand urgent attention.
“This roadmap, developed and led by the region, will equip countries to take more proactive measures rooted in domestic laws, as part of their wider efforts to create a safer digital environment for all,”Macharia said.
Launched in 2024, the fellowship is supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
“The fellowship is an important opportunity as it brings together key stakeholders in the cybersecurity space to share best practice, knowledge, and expertise,” said Jon Dean, British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, said:.”
“Through this initiative, we are ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean are well-positioned to tackle the growing cyber threats of tomorrow.”
The fellowship contributes to the delivery of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, an agreement among the 56 member Commonwealth countries to promote safe cyberspace for all Commonwealth citizens.
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