Caribbean News
Government Fortifying Jamaica’s Cybersecurity Resilience
Kingston, Jamaica – The Government is enhancing Jamaica’s cybersecurity resilience through a comprehensive strategy that strengthens prevention, detection, and response capabilities against threats.
Addressing the opening of Guardsman Group of Companies’ Cyber Intelligence Security Operations Centre (SOC) at 14-16 Balmoral Avenue in Kingston on Wednesday (May 14), Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the Government has made cybersecurity a key initiative in efforts to promote digitalisation and build out digital public infrastructure.
To this end, he said the Government is reviewing and strengthening legislation, including the Cybercrimes Act and the Data Protection Act, to create a legal environment that protects the public and promotes responsible digital innovation.
Additionally, Dr. Holness said investments are being made to train cybersecurity professionals, “because we recognise that technology without talent is ineffective”.
“We understand that digital resilience is national resilience. We are, therefore, very happy to see the opening of the Guardsman Cyber
Intelligence Security Operations Centre; it will complement and strengthen the Government’s own framework. Through our National Cybersecurity Strategy and the national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT), we are building national capacity to prevent, detect and respond to cyberthreats,” he said.
Dr. Holness emphasised that the Centre’s opening signals a transformative shift in the security landscape, strengthening Jamaica’s and the wider region’s resilience against cyberthreats.
“It is a nerve centre that allows for 24/7 monitoring of systems and networks, real-time detection of malicious activity, rapid response to incidents and proactive threat intelligence gathering from across the globe.
“This is about defending ourselves from known risks and also anticipating and neutralising unknown ones. As society becomes more digitalised, we must also develop the culture of digital vigilance where protection is not only reactive, but also strategic,” he stated.
Consequently, Dr. Holness welcomed Guardsman’s focus on cybersecurity awareness training for employees and executives, pointing out that the organisation’s “commitment to education, awareness and workforce development in this field is not only commendable, it’s essential”.
The Prime Minister also highlighted how digital transformation is reshaping every sector, bringing both unparalleled opportunities and significant risks that must be carefully navigated.
“Cyberthreats are growing in scale, frequency and sophistication, targeting everything, from critical infrastructure to privacy. No country is immune, and no sector is untouched. Latin America and the Caribbean has seen the fastest regional growth in reported cyberincidents; about 25 per cent annually since 2013. More than 200 billion attacks or attempts across the region in 2023,” he indicated.
Dr. Holness said Jamaica, like many other countries, has witnessed a rising tide of cyberincidents.
“We recorded 43 million attempted attacks in 2023. We have seen ransomware attacks on businesses, phishing schemes targeting citizens as well as attempted breaches of Government systems,” he informed.
Against this background, Dr. Holness said Guardsman’s Cyber Intelligence Security Operations Centre positions Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, not just as participants in the global digital economy but as front runners in digital security.
“What is particularly impressive is that the SOC is not a replica of a foreign model; it is regionally grounded. Guardsman Cyber Intelligence
understands the unique technological, cultural and regulatory conditions of the Caribbean, and it has built a system tailored for those realities,” he stated.
“That localisation, paired with global best practices and enterprise grade tools, makes this facility both exceptional and indispensable. The SOC’s capabilities in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, data protection compliance, forensic analysis and dark web monitoring are world-class,” the Prime Minister added.
Dr. Holness encouraged other private-sector stakeholders to contribute to the continued development of Jamaica’s robust cybersecurity framework, emphasising that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will play a key role in Guardsman’s cybersecurity operations.
Guardsman Group’s Executive Chairman, Kenneth Benjamin, said the Centre is the first facility of its kind in Jamaica, “and probably the first in the Caribbean”.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to innovative security solutions. As we evolve to address the growing threats of cyberattacks, this SOC will provide real-time monitoring and rapid response to safeguard Jamaica’s digital landscape. We believe in strong partnerships between private sector and the State [security] forces for a safer Jamaica, and we will remain dedicated to anticipating change and embracing innovations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Executive Chairman, Nick Benjamin, announced that the company will roll out a series of islandwide initiatives, including drone surveillance, drug-detecting dogs at airports, artificial intelligence integration, and advanced camera overlays.
“This Centre… is a symbol of our commitment to keeping Jamaica safe and secure, not just on the ground but in cyberspace as well,” he said.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
RELEASE: JIS
PHOTO CAPTIONS
CAPTIONS:
Header: Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), along with Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte (fifth right), and Executive Chairman, Guardsman Group of Companies, Kenneth Benjamin (fourth left), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Guardsman Cyber Intelligence Security Operations Centre (SOC) at 14-16 Balmoral Avenue in Kingston on Wednesday (May 14). They are joined by Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (left), employees of Guardsman Group of Companies, and other guests.
1st insert: Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), greets Executive Chairman, Guardsman Group of Companies, Kenneth Benjamin, on arrival for the official opening of Guardsman Cyber Intelligence Security Operations Centre (SOC) at 14-16 Balmoral Avenue in Kingston on Wednesday (May 14).
2nd insert: Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), in discussion with Cybersecurity Analyst, Guardsman Group of Companies, Jacqueline Comrie (seated), during a tour of the company’s security operations centre at 14-16 Balmoral Avenue in Kingston, following the official opening on Wednesday (May 14). Listening (from left) are Executive Chairman, Guardsman Group, Kenneth Benjamin, and Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte.
Photographer: Yhomo Hutchinson
Imagine an Atlantic Bridge connecting the Caribbean Region to the African Continent
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When CARICOM leaders convened with African counterparts and Afreximbank officials in Ethiopia, the outcomes were savory and exactly what many Caribbean people want to see materialise as the islands become uniquely reconnected to the African continent.
At the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held at the African Union headquarters, leaders moved beyond symbolic language to agree on a draft communiqué that, if finalized, would anchor this partnership in practical action. While not yet officially published by the AU or CARICOM, the document points to an agenda that blends history with urgent twenty-first century priorities.
The draft outlines commitments to improve air and sea transport links, including the pursuit of a multilateral air services agreement to break down the barriers that still keep the Caribbean and Africa physically apart. It also calls for visa facilitation and simplified entry regimes, making it easier for citizens of both regions to travel, study, and work across the Atlantic.
Equally significant are pledges to advance double taxation treaties that could remove one of the most stubborn obstacles to investment.
With Afreximbank’s Caribbean headquarters already established in Barbados and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) gaining momentum, leaders now want to lock in the financial and legal frameworks that will drive new business.
Reparatory justice also featured prominently, with the draft communiqué sharpening a joint call for coordinated advocacy. CARICOM’s long-standing Reparations Commission is expected to work more closely with African institutions to demand global recognition and redress for the shared traumas of slavery and colonial exploitation.
CARICOM’s incoming chair, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, captured the spirit of the gathering when he urged that the Atlantic Slave Trade be reimagined as an “Atlantic Bridge — a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure our people take their rightful place in this world.”
For Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting was a “homecoming,” but also a reminder that concrete steps like the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and improved transportation links are needed to transform rhetoric into results.
For citizens back home, wrestling with inflation and economic uncertainty, the Addis outcomes — transport, visas, investment, health, and reparations — are precisely the kinds of measures that can validate leaders’ journeys and rekindle faith in South-South cooperation. What was once only rhetoric now hints at the beams of an Atlantic Bridge, connecting the Caribbean and Africa in ways that could finally turn history’s tragedy into tomorrow’s advantage.
