Jamaica ready to handle cyberattacks, pandemics – PM

WESTERN BUREAU:

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica is equipped to defend itself against cyberattacks and the outbreak of pandemic disease, which he identified as two of the main threats to the tourism sector in the Caribbean.

“The truth is that global travel is dependent on this whole business of exchange of information, so the data of the travelling person is vitally important for the efficient operation of the ports and provision of services,” said Holness, who was delivering the keynote address at the official launch of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in Montego Bay on Wednesday.

“If that data gets into the wrong hands or is used in nefarious ways, you could virtually cripple the industry in the same way as the shutdown of an airport,” added Holness, in speaking to the importance of having iron-clad measures in place to prevent cyberattacks.

Between 2014 and 2018, several Jamaican government websites have been hacked, including those of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining; the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of Transport; and the information arm, the Jamaica Information Service.

Holness said the Government is fully aware of the importance of improving the nation’s cyber­security capabilities and is investing in shoring up its defences.

“The Government of Jamaica is taking this very ­seriously, and I give my assurance that we are spending significant resources to ensuring the security of our citizens and visitors alike. In particular, we are now in the process of improving our cybersecurity capabilities, in terms of the acquisition of technology and the training of our people,” said Holness.

With regard to the risk of pandemics, Holness noted that even the perceived threat of an outbreak could spook prospective travellers to the Caribbean.

“More and more, we’re seeing how pandemics can have a significant effect on travel, and thankfully, the region has been spared major pandemics, but we’re not taking it for granted,” said Holness. “The challenge with pandemics is not that people will get sick, but that people will hear there is something in this region, and the region is avoided.”

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which is based at The University of the West Indies’ Mona campus, was created to ­assist global tourism destinations with preparedness, management, and recovery from crises that impact tourism and threaten economies. Its work will include climate-change and disaster-preparedness training and cybersecurity testing.