Battling growing cybercrime in region

The programme, organised by the Global Crisis Response Support Programme (GCRSP), aimed at improving the skills of the participants as well as analysing cybercrime threats.

A press release sent out by GCRSP read, “There has been significant growth in Cybercrime in the Caribbean - Government websites have been hacked, child online exploitation has infiltrated schools and the increasing use of crypto currencies to fund criminal activities are but a few of the manifestations of criminal activity in cyberspace impacting the region. These activities point to the existence of significant cyber security vulnerabilities of persons, possessions and privacy. Critical national infrastructures such as water, telecommunications, energy and health systems are also at risk of being targeted. Cybercrime could have a devastating impact on national security and, if not addressed urgently, could severely hamper the social and economic development of our Caribbean States.

“In an attempt to address these critical cyber threats, twenty-four participants have taken part in a European Union funded cyber security in crisis response workshop geared towards enhancing their skills in identifying and analysing critical cybersecurity threats.

“The workshop was organised by the Global Crisis Response Support Programme (GCRSP), a two-year programme financed by the European Union to the tune of 2.6 million euros. The GCRSP aims to strengthen crisis response and early warning capacities in Latin American and the Caribbean and to improve the interconnectivity between crisis response centres within the region as well as strengthen cooperation with the EU Situation Room and other EU institutions in the field of crisis response and early warning. Activities include training and coaching sessions covering risk and scenario analysis, early warning, conflict analysis, leadership and strategic planning, information management and other related topics.” Participating organisations included the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security; the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency; the Jamaica Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management; the Regional Security System; the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.

The Organisation of American States/Cyber Security Program of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE/OAS) together with the Information System Authority of the Republic of Estonia (RIA) conducted the course.

The course is a continuation of “the collaboration already established between CARICOM IMPACS and OAS/CICTE to tackle potential cybersecurity threats in the region.”

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"Battling growing cybercrime in region"

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