Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy, took the lead at last week’s National Security Council (NSC) meeting, briefing top government and security officials on the continued recovery from the crippling cyberattack that struck the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in December 2024.
The ransomware breach, which shut down critical government systems, disrupted treasury operations, border security processes, immigration services, and halted cheque distribution, remains one of the most severe cyber incidents in TCI’s history. Recovery efforts have been ongoing for eight months, with assistance from a United Kingdom taskforce brought in to help restore systems and strengthen defenses.
Minister Saunders told the NSC that his ministry is finalizing a Cyber Security Strategy and Transformation Plan (CSSTP) aimed at maturing the territory’s cyber resilience and ensuring government operations can withstand and rapidly recover from future threats.
The August 7th NSC meeting, co-chaired by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Washington Misick, also heard from the Intelligence Working Group on national security risks and crime trends, and from the Unified Command on efforts to acquire a long-range, deep-water patrol vessel.
Saunders’ presentation, however, underscored a pivotal shift in TCI’s national security priorities — placing cyber defense alongside traditional policing and border protection.
He has in times past, publicly conveyed that this is about protecting not just Turks and Caicos systems, but its people, economy, and sovereignty.
The CSSTP is likely to be rolled out in phases, incorporating updated protocols, upgraded technology, and continuous training for government staff; though this was not directly stated by the NSC press release.
Still, with digital threats escalating globally, the TCI’s approach signals a determination to learn from the December attack — and to ensure it never happens again.
