Regional law-enforcement leaders call for unified action against cybercrime

Information and data sharing, robust collaborations, effective law critical to tackle faceless perpetrators

Regional law-enforcement leaders gathered in Kingston between October 7 and 8 to deliberate on how to deepen partnerships to implement effective law-enforcement strategies and legislation to enhance the region’s cybersecurity resilience.

The robust two-day, closed-door Caribbean Law Enforcement Leaders Symposium, convened by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in collaboration with the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS), was described by Bevil Wooding, ARIN’s director of Caribbean affairs, as an opportunity for vital regional collaboration. “True cybersecurity is built on trust, not technology. It’s our willingness to share information, expertise, and resources that will ultimately secure our collective future,” said Wooding.

In welcoming the international and local experts to the symposium, Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for Caribbean states to develop collaborative and indigenous solutions to tackle the complex and extremely dangerous cybercrime threat. “The solutions will not come from outside this region,” Blake said, adding that beyond the Caribbean’s natural beauty, the region needs to develop resilient and effective solutions to ensure cybersecurity and take on the threats head-on. “We must lean on each other’s strengths, learn from each other’s experiences,” he added.

Chief Justice of Jamaica Bryan Sykes concurred with Blake, adding that effective cybersecurity laws were important to bring perpetrators of cybercrime to the book. Justice Sykes, a proponent of using artificial intelligence tools in the settlement of cases, called on the stakeholders to work in tandem to ensure safety and security of online data, and the peace of mind of citizens.

Leslie Nobile, senior director of trust and public safety at ARIN, in her remarks, assured the participants of her organisation’s support to the regional law-enforcement agencies in digital forensics, cybercrime investigations, and countering online threats.

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CAJS Chief Technology Officer Richard Wall reiterated the need for regional collaboration to build resilient defence mechanisms. “CAJS believes in the power of regional collaboration and in productive knowledge sharing and embracing investment in innovation,” Wall said, warning that the Caribbean should not wait for a cybersecurity breach, which would debilitate the countries, to get on an action mode. “CAJS, ARIN and the key stakeholders are there to play our part in taking action,” he said.

Darrin Simons, commissioner of police, Bermuda Police Service, recounted his country’s fight against cybercrime and reiterated the need for regionally developed solutions, knowledge sharing and collaboration. Bermuda was shut down by a cyberattack targeting the government’s IT systems in September 2023. Key government services, from digital payment processing to court operations and customs systems were hit.

“It took several weeks to restore the systems, and this wouldn’t have been possible without active collaboration with overseas cybersecurity specialists,” Simons said. Bermuda introduced its Computer Misuse Act 2024 in June to provide enhanced legal measures to fight cybercrime.

“Regional collaboration makes us stronger,” affirmed ARIN’s Wooding.

“We cannot afford to wait for a cyber disaster to spur us into action. Proactive investment in cybersecurity is an investment in our regional readiness and resilience,” noted Wooding.

Among the key local agencies participating in the cybersecurity symposium were the Ministry of National Security; Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team, e-Gov Jamaica; the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Digital Forensics and Cybercrimes Unit); JCF’s Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch and the Communications, Forensics and Cybercrime Division, MOCA; and the Institute of Cyber Science at the Caribbean Military Academy, Jamaica Defence Force.