Caribbean leaders to meet on cybercrime and eGovernance

An upcoming meeting of Caribbean Commonwealth officials with responsibility for ICT will bring the region’s eGovernance and cybercrime issues squarely into focus.

The Caribbean Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Importance of ICTs and their Impact on Regional Development will take place in Port of Spain from May 26th to 28th.

Conference delegates are expected to discuss the impact of cybercrime on social and economic development, with a view to identifying next steps in implementing e-Governance and infrastructure initiatives in identified countries. Cybercrime is a global multi-billion dollar industry with untold impact on Caribbean economies. 

The conference will also identify and address the major infrastructure components required to deliver government services online. By investing in electronic governance, governments across the world are saving money, delivering more effective services, and competing more effectively in the global economy. Infrastructure is a critical component to successfully implement e-governance strategies.

“An efficient, effective and secure public service is essential for economic investment and development as well as for deepening citizens’ participation in policy and service delivery,” a release from the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) quoted Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Marahaj.

The meeting is being convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Trinidad and Tobago, Organisation of American States (OAS), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Microsoft and the CTU.

The ITU, OAS, CTU and Microsoft are active partners in the Commonwealth Cybercrime Initiative (CCI), an international program started in 2011 to support member states in the implementation of robust cyber security programs. The 53 member countries of the Commonwealth share similar legal systems and institutional structures, and have a long history of active collaboration on issues and concerns related to Cybercrime and the Internet.

“The Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to bring together the major regional players in ICT for development. This meeting presents a significant opportunity for collaboration by a range of stakeholders on issues that have a direct impact on citizens’ lives,” Maharaj said.