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Cybersecurity

Aug 20, 2015 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I am most enthused by renewed alacrity and interest that is being placed on the issue of cybersecurity and more so, a recognition of the need for the relevant mechanisms to tackle growing cyber-threats in Guyana.
Most of us go about our day to day lives utilizing the rapidly advancing technological infrastructure that has so engulfed us; we are rarely perceptive to the risks that face us in the process. While we become more connected, the more vulnerable we stand against this affront in a globalized world where businesses, governments and people heavily depend on the internet and storage media as critical tools for marketing, communication, governance, ecommerce activities and entertainment, just to name a few.
I hesitate to be so audacious as to assume that the regular Guyanese man-in-the-street is blind to the issue of cyber-threats. In fact, millions of cyber-threats are perpetuated across the globe every second and more and more articles are alluding to the issues that are trending, e.g. the Nigerian email phishing scams.
Some of these threats have escalated to being defined “cybercrimes” and are so constructed with the aim of being mischievous, destructive, nefarious and even terroristic in nature. I must however – in a very assumptive yet emphatic way, point out that, many Guyanese have been the targets of cybercrimes in the past – maybe unknowingly, and in the cases in which they are aware, the lack of robust cybercrime legislation and policies do not empower relevant authorities to inform, investigate and act on such occurrences.
Occurrences, mind you, which pass in front of our very eyes and for the most part, due to a general lack of knowledge, might have significant adverse effects on us. That being said, onus should be placed on the term “cyber-hygiene” (or best practices to be adhered whilst operating in cyberspace) when dealing with establishment of policies, programmes and enacting legislation.
In this regard I wish to commend the establishment of the Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team (GN-CIRT) which falls under the Ministry of Public Security and is mandated “to provide technical assistance to public and private agencies, and individuals to prevent and respond effectively to information security incidents of national importance” (www.cirt.gy).
Gratitude should also be given to organisations such as the Organisation of American States (OAS) through their Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), the United States Department of State and the ICT4Peace Foundation who provide invaluable assistance in supporting mechanisms to bolster and prepare Guyana for issues that, if left in the dark – will spell disaster for our country.
With the same preoccupation that we have placed on legislative propositions such as the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, the Local Government Bill and the Customs Amendment Bill, it is with the same fervour that we must push ahead, a fortiori in regards to a “Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill” as well as continued high-level support and buy-in by government, private sector entities and other stakeholders for the successful formulation and implementation of a National Cybersecurity Strategy.
Aneal Giddings

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