Draft Cyber Security Strategy Being Finalised

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining is finalizing Jamaica’s draft cyber security strategy.

State Minister, Hon. Julian Robinson, anticipates that the document will be completed within two weeks of the Ministry’s two-day cyber security validation workshop, currently underway at Jamaica House, after which, “we move forward, in terms of implementation.”

He made this disclosure during an interview with JIS News on Monday, September 15, following the workshop’s opening ceremony.

Over 20 persons are participating in the forum, inclusive of members of the Ministry’s Cyber Security Task Force, comprising public and private sector representatives, and other local and international stakeholders, and representatives from co-sponsor, the Organization of American States (OAS).

They are discussing proposed recommendations from local and international experts. This exercise is based on the contents of the strategy’s fourth draft, which is also being reviewed.

Mr. Robinson told JIS News that the deliberations aim to determine if the recommendations are consistent with industry stakeholders’ positions, and “to see whether or not we need to make adjustments… and then to move towards finalization.”

Mr. Robinson said the Ministry has been receiving support from the OAS to develop the strategy, through its Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE).

“They have looked at the strategy as well, and they have also given their inputs in the strategy and made recommendations on best practices globally,” he stated.

Mr. Robinson said the OAS has given its commitment to assist the Ministry in implementing the strategy, pointing out that “we are meeting with the OAS team over the next two days to work out specifically what we need, in terms of resources.”

The strategy aims to support the Cybercrimes Act, which was enacted in 2010, by streamlining the necessary supporting inputs to implement the legislation’s provisions.

These provisions are intended to effectively safeguard Jamaica against potential cyber criminal threats capable of undermining the country’s information and communications technology (ICT) framework, and compromising economic and other activity.

Mr. Robinson is confident that when implemented, the Cyber Security Strategy “will address the critical issues we face as a country.”

Also participating in Monday’s opening ceremony were British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency, David Fitton; and Canadian counterpart, His Excellency Robert Ready, who underscored the importance of cyber security strategies, within the global context.

There were also presentations from the Programme Manager, National Cyber Security Programme, Cabinet Office, United Kingdom (UK), Alex Lahood; Coordinator, Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative and Secretariat, David Tait; and Professor Paul Cornish, of the University of Oxford’s Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre, UK.