by Linda Straker
- Regional Security System Council of Ministers meeting opened in St George’s on Wednesday
- IT–facilitated criminal activity keeps rising, mainly due to mobile phone use
- RSS Digital Forensics Laboratory opened in 2017
Linda S Taglialatela, the current USA ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, recommends that Grenada and all others members of the Regional Security Systems update their cybercrime law.
Addressing the opening of the Regional Security System Council of Ministers meeting in St George’s on Wednesday, she said that criminal activity facilitated by information technology keeps rising, mainly due to the use of mobile phones to plan and carry out illegal activity.
“As a result, more and more countries are relying on exploiting evidence on mobile devices to achieve successful prosecutions. In 2017, the RSS, with the support of the United States, opened its Digital Forensics Laboratory. The lab continues to grow and provide cyber or digital forensic analysis services to law enforcement and military organisations in RSS member states,” she informed the meeting.
Ambassador Taglialatela said the lab cleared over 300 cases supporting criminal investigations throughout the region, with a small staff and sophisticated software and technology.
“The United States is committed to the continued support of the lab through training, expert exchanges, and securing accreditation. And to ensure that continued success, I strongly encourage all RSS member states to pass updated cybercrime laws,” she told the meeting. Participants included regional prime ministers and other national security representatives for the member states.
Speaking about the criminal justice sector modernisation, the Ambassador said that the United States and the United Kingdom are continuing their joint efforts through the work of the USA-UK Criminal Justice Advisor Sirah Abraham.
“Sirah continues her work in mentoring and advising your prosecutors and judges. We have also collaborated closely with your countries to draft modern criminal legislation so that the Eastern Caribbean has effective tools to fight transnational crime,” she disclosed.
Pointing out that security challenges continue to grow for everyone, she said that every country represented at the meeting benefits from the RSS — whether through digital forensic analysis, capacity building through training, control of narcotics flows, or disaster assistance.
“For that reason, I would urge you to ensure the RSS receives adequate financial resources to fulfil its mission. The United States will continue to stand by the RSS — but it is just as important that its Member States do so, as well,” she said.
“This institution is a vital component to maintain peace and stability in the Eastern Caribbean. You are valuable partners to the United States in the fight against transnational organised crime. You’ve proven time and again that we share the same concerns when it comes to protecting and improving life for all the citizens privileged to live in this beautiful region,” she said of the RSS.
What the US concerns is its only security. It cares nothing about the Caribbean countries.