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Addressing cyber crime is a work in progress – Cabinet Secretary
Realising legislation to combat cyber crime is currently a work in progress and much of it depends on the development of such measures elsewhere in the world.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon.
At least this is according to Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, as he responded to questions about Guyana’s ability to deal with such occurrences during his most recent Post Cabinet press briefing at Office of the President.
Cyber crime is a term used to describe criminal activities that involves the internet, a computer system or computer technology which could include but is not limited to identity theft. And according to Dr Luncheon cyber crime is currently not an area for which there is great clarity.
He said that at the moment “we don’t have legislation that addresses aspects of cyber crime…that addresses the offence and the penalties; this is a work in progress…”
Moreover, he said that with the development in other countries, Guyana will then be able to make necessary adjustments and have them customised and be made applicable to the Guyanese situation, something he insists is yet to be done.
According to him, such moves are yet to be made to the point where “we can actually go to Parliament with a legislative instrument that actually does what can be done with crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering Act…We haven’t done that as yet,” asserted the Cabinet Secretary.
He has however noted that the administration plans to remain alert and proactive in light of the fact that cyber crime is one of the fastest growing areas of crime.
Turning his attention to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Dr Luncheon noted that when examined serially during the mutual evaluation procedures that subscribers treaty members subscribe to, deficiencies and weaknesses were identified.
He disclosed that during an evaluation of Guyana’s efforts and compliance with its treaty obligations it was recognised that there were a series of amendments that had to be undertaken. As such he noted that Anti-Money Laundering Act and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009 have been amended and will soon be tabled in the National Assembly.
A first reading of the Amendment Bill was moved by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in the House on Monday.
According to Dr Luncheon the whole thrust of the Anti-Money Laundering Act Amendment Bill is to remedy the existing weaknesses and deficiencies. The Amendment, he said, will also cater to better defined penalties that have been heightened or rendered more severe, adding that “the nexus with other pieces of legislation have been recognised and addressed to the amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.”
The sum total of the enactment of the Amendment Bill, according to the Cabinet Secretary, will see a legislative strengthening of the Anti-Money Laundering Act itself and thereby allow for the movement into parallel pieces of legislation where money laundering considerations are dealt with.
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