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Cybercrime Legislation Coming

Government is committed to ensuring that the new cybercrime legislation will be taken to Parliament.

Attorney General Dale Marshall expressed this commitment today as he delivered remarks at the opening of a series of workshops for stakeholders on the national cybercrime legislation, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Mr. Marshall told his audience: “I can say to you that the Government is committed to seeing this legislation brought swiftly to Parliament, and we are also committed to ratifying the Budapest Convention.”

Noting that Government enacted a Computer Misuse Act in 2006, the Attorney General said it was adequate to deal with the challenges at that time.

“Of course, our facility with computer technology, the prevalence of social media, and I suppose the increasing sophistication of the criminal element forced us to relook the legislative framework that we had in place, and to see if it was adequate to deal with our current circumstances, and not just in the area of cybercrime.

“In looking at our recent child justice and child protection legislation, we had to consider the impact of the technology on some very serious offences against minors. We know that it is quite common today for individuals to groom children using computer technology, get them engaged in pornographic activity and so on. So in a sense, we are here today because the pervasiveness of criminal activity using computer technology has been viewed in stark light,” he stated.

Mr. Marshall underscored the importance of the consultation with stakeholders over the next three days, saying the discussion is key and will redound to a much better piece of legislation, if there are any defects.

“But certainly it will also mean that when it does get enacted, the various people who have to deal with it will be more than prepared,” the Attorney General proffered.

Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Sir David Simmons, stated that cybercrime is a very serious international phenomenon and the legislation has to do its best to try and keep up with the modalities of cybercrime.

He thanked Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Sir David Simmons, for the hard work being done.

In his remarks, Sir David said although information and communication technologies had led to significant social economic development worldwide, cybercrime could have a negative impact on core societal values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. He noted that Barbados was well aware of the disruption that was wrought by cybercrime to institutions in the public and private sectors in the last few years.

Sir David continued: “Governments must therefore strengthen legislation and the capacity of relevant authorities to handle electronic evidence and to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cybercrime. But in addition, international cooperation is absolutely necessary and critical to succeeding in carrying out those functions.”

Countries in this region, he pointed out, have taken steps, in recent years, to equip themselves with legislation to address cybercrime. He said the Budapest Convention on cybercrime has served as a gold standard in respect of legislation for states wishing to adapt their national legislation.

He noted that the Law Reform Commission is of the view that the draft bills on Cybercrime and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters are in their final stages of drafting.

“We wish to ensure that any amendments that may originate out of the workshops over the next three days, will be of such a nature as will enable us to make any amendments that will be necessary and consequential before the Attorney General takes the bills to Cabinet and ultimately to Parliament.

“We hope that the bills may reach Parliament by the end of this calendar year. Cybercrime is a very serious international phenomenon and the legislation has to do its best to try and keep up with the modalities of cybercrime,” Sir David stated.

As part of ongoing cooperation, the Octopus Project of the Council of Europe and the CARICOM IMPACS are supporting Barbados in the workshops, aimed at raising awareness of the legislation by law enforcement agencies and criminal justice authorities. Those participating in the sessions include the judiciary and magistracy, Department of Public Prosecutions, The Barbados Police Service and various service providers. (PR/GIS)

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One Family hamper drive gets $75,000 boost from Sandy Lane Charitable Trust

Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of BBD. 75,000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Derrick Smith, Grand Patron and founding Trustee, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team. Present to receive the donation were Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his Ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Mrs Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1,000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.” (PR)

Caption: Pictured from left are SLCT Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, One Family Project Officer Lisa Holder, SLCT Trustee Pippa Challis, Derrick Smith, SLCT Grand Patron and founding Trustee, People Empowerment Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, and Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel.

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Men’s programmes lighting the way with support from Light & Power

Barbadian men are stepping up to mentor and inspire a new generation of male leaders to reach their full potential and light the path to a brighter future.

On International Men’s Day recently, two such organisations were recognised and supported with financial donations from the Barbados Light & Power Company (Light & Power). The Rites of Passage: Boys to Men program, led by Anthony Seale and Reverend Derick Richards of the James Street, Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church, and the Purpose 180 Foundation, founded by Nigel Jules, were both lauded for their contributions during a presentation held at Light & Power’s Garrison, St. Michael Headquarters. Both organisations spoke about the impactful initiatives they have established to support young men in Barbados.

Light & Power said it was pleased to support programs focused on mentoring and uplifting at-risk young men.

“These programs are crucial in empowering young men to reach their full potential, and Light & Power is pleased to support and partner with initiatives like Rites of Passage and Purpose 180 that actively work to create brighter futures for the next generation of young male leaders.”

Both programs focus on mentorship, character building, and equipping young men with tools to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional growth. (PR)

Caption: Light & Power employees, including at left, Communications Advisor Adriel Richard, and to the right, Chano Belle, Manager, Finance (Supply Chain) and Curtis Brewster, Supervisor, Dispatch and Quality Control, with visiting organisation representatives Nigel Jules of the Purpose 180 Foundation (second from left), and Reverend Derick Richards and Anthony Seale of the “Rites of Passage: Boys to Men (BTM) programme” of the James Street/Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church in Barbados (at centre)

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Yearwood wins first 5k Run/Walk

Kristian Yearwood won the inaugural 5k Run/Walk to Help 5k held on Sunday. He clocked 21:36 in the running race, 2nd place went to Ralf Luther in a time of 22:05, followed by Fr. Andy Nyga in 3^rd with a time of 23:40. The top three runners in the female segment were Adeline Lamorell,27:17, Phillipa Sylvester, 30:46 and Sumaya Desai, 47:22.

The event was organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and is a fund raiser for church’s ministry to the poor in our community as well as to assist the Child Card Board. What started last year as a fun walk now features competitive 5k races in running and walking. The blend of race running and walking along with fun walking should see the event attacking a cross section of participants.

Anderson Maughan was the winner in the walk race in the male segment with a time of 30:59, he was followed by Anthony Phillips in 34:50 and Akil Bryan in 37:40. Angela Jackson crossed the line in 36:31 to win the female walk race she was followed by Fay Waithe in 40:42 and third place was taken by Mary Moseley in 41:57.