Belize to Host First National Cybersecurity Symposium

BELIZE CITY, Belize—In response to a growing incidence of cyber-threats, Belize will host its first national cyber security symposium from April 24 to 27. “We have observed a disturbing rise in threats to critical network infrastructure, corporate networks and personal data. These threats are growing more frequent, more sophisticated and more harmful each year,” said John Avery, Chairman of the Belize Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which is jointly organising the event with the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG).

“There has also been a disturbing proliferation of Internet-related criminal activity perpetrated against citizens. Meanwhile, Belizean laws have struggled to keep pace with malicious technology-enabled actors who pay no regard to borders, jurisdictions or local law enforcement readiness,” he added.

The symposium is being billed as an important first step in changing the national discourse around cyber-issues. The four-day meeting is expected to attract a broad range of local, regional and international delegates, including heads of technology organisations, industry executives, government ministers and public sector officials.

Belize has low Internet penetration, less than 40 per cent according to recent World Bank data. As a consequence, cybersecurity issues simply are not top of mind in much of Belizean society. Avery said that the symposium is deliberately aimed at gathering diverse voices and viewpoints, so that a wide range of sectors could lend their strength to the country’s cyber security action plan.

“Our larger objective is the development of a set of actionable priorities for strengthening our cyber defenses, safeguarding Internet users and creating an environment with digital-enabled innovation can thrive,” he explained.

Bevil Wooding, Executive Director of CaribNOG and an Internet Strategist with US-based Packet Clearing House, said that the growing concern over increased incidence of cybersecurity threats was not unique to Belize but also affecting the wider region.

“Attacks on corporate networks, financial institutions, government agencies and personal devices have increased exponentially in Belize and the wider Caribbean. There has also been a disturbing proliferation of criminal activity perpetrated against members of society. Our laws and policies have struggled to keep pace with malicious, tech-savvy actors who pay no regard to borders, jurisdictions or local law-enforcement readiness,” Wooding said.

Unlike almost every other Central and South American country, but like most Caribbean nations, Belize has “neither a cyber-defense policy nor a national CSIRT; consequently, cyberattacks are mainly handled by the IT Unit of the Belize Police Department,” a 2016 report on Latin American and Caribbean cybersecurity by the Organisation of American States and Inter-American Development Bank observes.

“Guarding our digital gates is a collective responsibility. This is why it is so important to have a truly national forum where the threats can be explained to the widest possible cross-section of society, together with practical steps that can be taken to strengthen laws, safeguard networks and protect businesses, citizens and especially our children online. These groups will be collaborating to develop a comprehensive, common approach to securing Belize’s digital future,” he added.

The forum aims to bring together business leaders, network operators, law enforcement agents, and members of the judiciary, legal fraternity, academia and civil society.

The Belize Public Utilities Commission and CaribNOG are coordinating the event on behalf of the Government of Belize, working closely with several ministries and State bodies including the Central IT Office, the National Security Council and the Office of the Chief Justice.  The high-profile event is also being supported by international partners, including Packet Clearing House and the Internet Society, and regional partners such as the Caribbean Telecommunications Union.

Originally published: Caribbean Journal

Global tech experts discuss regional internet development in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala—Global technology experts are calling for a collaborative, multisectoral approach to the continued development of a more open, stable and secure Internet in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

“For Internet users in many Central American societies, the Internet affects many aspects of our quality of life. The Internet is not just an impersonal telecommunications technology. Therefore, Internet development is not just a technical question. It is an issue that deeply affects us all,” said Alfredo Verderosa, manager of services at the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC), a non-governmental organisation established in Uruguay in 2002.

Verderosa was among several regional Internet experts gathered in Guatemala City for LACNIC On The Move, a regional technology event taking place from March 20 to 22.

“The growth of an open and secure Internet requires the participation and cooperation of all sectors of society, including government, private sector, academia and the technical community. For this reason, the mission of LACNIC On The Move Guatemala is to allow a variety of Guatemalan perspectives to inform the development of the Guatemalan Internet,” added Cesar Diaz, head of strategic relations and telecommunications at LACNIC.

Through initiatives such as LACNIC On The Move, LACNIC has provided training to more than 15,000 technology professionals throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, Diaz added. The three-day event was held with the support of global Internet organisations such as the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and coordinated by the national regulator, Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SIT).

“In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Internet is perhaps the single most important driver of development for our countries and our societies. For this reason, the development of the Internet is a mission that unites us all,” said Sebastián Bellagmaba, regional bureau director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Internet Society (ISOC).

Since its inception in 2014, LACNIC On The Move has facilitated the training of some 230 participants.

“LACNIC On The Move and ICANN’s LAC I Roadshow are initiatives that allow us to converge our efforts on one common cause, such as the development of the Internet in Guatemala and the region,” said Rodrigo Saucedo, a senior manager for ICANN in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The next LACNIC On The Move event is expected to take place in Guyana in July.

How The Caribbean’s Top Court Is Going High-Tech

A suite of new high-tech court management systems are to be adopted by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The CCJ will be one of the first adopters of a set of technology-enabled systems for electronic filing of court documents, case management and court performance measurement, the court announced.

The region-wide initiative aims to ensure that courts across the Caribbean have access to the software and training needed to strengthen their operations and improve service delivery, the release said.

A pair of pilot projects are scheduled to take place soon in Belize and Grenada, the release said.

It announced the establishment of a not-for-profit corporation called Advance Performance Exponents Inc. (APEX), which will coordinate the new technology-driven solutions and services for Caribbean courts.

“With APEX, courts can take greater advantage of modern, web-based and mobile technologies to improve the quality of their services to the public, and increase the efficiency of judicial officers,” said Sir Dennis Byron, President of the CCJ.

Bevil Wooding, a key architect of the APEX strategy, described the launch as “a significant milestone for courts across the Caribbean.”

“The systems being used by APEX are built on technology licensed from US-based court technology services provider Courtechs Inc.,” Wooding said. “The software is tailored to the specific requirements of Caribbean courts and meet and exceed international best practice for digitally enhanced courts.”

APEX is currently building a regional network of service providers to ensure that local support is available for national courts that adopt the systems. It will also engage Chief Justices, court registrars, technology administrators and bar associations from across the region in the ongoing design and implementation of its systems and services.

“With APEX, Caribbean courts and justice stakeholders can now have an ongoing stake and say in the evolution of the new models and systems for court administration and court performance improvement,” said Sir Trevor Carmichael, chairman of the board of directors of the new agency, said in the release.

Originally published: Curacao Chronicle