– aims to heighten awareness of dangers of cyber crimes
AN important two-day national conference on cyber security concluded yesterday at the Regency Suites in Georgetown in recognition of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s vision of transforming Guyana’s economy to ensure that there is access to telecommunications and related technology. The forum was held under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs and seeks to heighten awareness of the dangers of cyber crimes, among others.
Cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and critical infrastructure protection were among some of the issues discussed over the duration of the two-day event. 
Cyber security involves protecting personal information stored on a computer by preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks.
Speaking at the Conference opening on Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the initiative by Government must be lauded since it would allow for the smooth flow of information via the internet.
While noting that the conference will look at national efforts to address cyber security, Dr. Luncheon said that, as a developing country, objectives must be implemented to enhance national security since, in the National Development Strategy, the role of information technology has been “hallowed”.
“It would also require reading for the course and the Information Communication and technology (ICT) strategy document produced by the administration, although it is undergoing revision it is an important reference,” he said.
He pointed out that, like many other developing countries, Government has recognised that the proper management of information is the way to go. As such, a significant amount of resources has been invested into training youths in ICT.
“The state policy is to make so many people at all ages literate so that the penetration and those who are committed to perverting the use of ICT for other purposes, will not be a part of a juvenile and illiterate environment,” Dr. Luncheon posited.
According to Luncheon – who is also Secretary to the Defence Board of Guyana, deliberations such as these is important if Guyana is to effectively deal with and enhance the way cyber security is being addressed.
Representative of the Organisation of American States and the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, Mr. George Soares, in his address to participants at the opening of the conference, said the global dependence of IT has been increasing and as such, persons are being faced with new types of crimes committed through technologies.
He noted that the international banking system has been hard hit by cyber fraud and, as such, cautioned that if Guyana does not erect safeguards, the same would occur.
“It is an honour for me to be part of this event since it is the aim of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism to coordinate efforts to assist the OAS in defeating terrorism worldwide,” Soares said.
Meanwhile, the administration was also lauded for the step by a representative from the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, Alberto Bolana who stated, that during the two days ideas and proposals will be shared with the aim of addressing cyber crimes.
With the introduction of the internet, which is a means of communicating with people around the world, there is no doubt that the new form of communication has evoked concerns.
Cyber security involves the protection of information by preventing, detecting and responding to attacks. Among these dangers are, viruses erasing an entire system, a person breaking into a system, altering files and attacking others, or stealing credit card information and making unauthorised purchases.
Also in attendance at the forum were – Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee; Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack; Head of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookoo; Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine; Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle;  and representatives from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.