PM’s Wife Lauds OAS & CPA For Hosting Cyber Security Workshop

By Derrick Scott

Washington, DC – Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, Jamaica Mrs. Juliet Holness was among several Commonwealth parliamentarians and policymakers who attended a workshop on cyber security in Washington, DC on October 17-20, 2016.

The Caribbean Regional workshop for Parliamentarians and policy makers was organized in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association (CPA) and the Organization of American States (OAS) as a part of the OAS’s cyber security program.

The workshop which brought together policymakers from across the region, as well as high profile experts from international and nongovernmental organizations, civil society and academia discussed several topics as it relates to addressing cyber security.

The participants also looked at several strategies geared at strengthening parliamentarians’ awareness of cyber security threats and promote the implementation of appropriate legislative security and oversight mechanism in their respective jurisdictions.

An international eBook on cyber security will be produced which will provide more detailed information on the safeguarding of cyber security.

Mrs. Holness who is also the wife of Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness lauded the CPA and OAS for organizing what she described as an enlightening and far reaching workshop.  She said the various topics that were discussed will no doubt assist parliamentarians as they seek to address cyber security in their various jurisdictions.

“We depend heavily on the internet.  It brings many opportunities and while it facilitates this openness, it also makes individuals and companies easy prey for hackers and fraudsters. The government has a responsibility and a mandate to ensure that cyber security is high on the agenda.”

Accompanying Mrs. Holness at the workshop were Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Her Excellency Audrey Marks, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Jamaica Mrs. Marsha Coore- Lobban and Jamaica’s alternate representative to the OAS Mrs. Julia Hyatt.