Government is aggressively drafting effective legislation to combat cybercrime, says Cornell Buckradee, advisor to Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith.Speaking on behalf of the minister at the virtual launch of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union's (CTU) headquarters in Port-of-Spain, Buckradee said the ministry is placing great priority on e-Legislative initiatives including amendments to the Telecommunications Act and the Electronic Transaction Act.
He said the policy framework for T&T's information, communication and technology (ICT) sector was driven by an understanding that expanded connectivity would stimulate domestic growth and provide scope for greater participation by the population in the global information economy.
Buckradee said the state would adopt a set of underlying policy principles which included nurturing a sustainable and financially viable communications sector and developing a robust policy and regulatory framework that ensures competition and encourages growth.
"While we have achieved much, we are not complacent about our current position. Going forward, we have several initiatives including that of improvements in the ICT legislative environment encompassing the areas of e-commerce, e-banking and other on-line services. T&T is also currently working on developing its cybercrime legislation to properly regulate and safeguard cyber-activities."
He added: "We are now going further in e-Government so as to transform how we create and deliver public service. In recognition that we have a more educated and technologically-savvy citizenry that has higher expectations and wants to play a more active role in national affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, through its agency iGovtt has been bringing an increasing amount of Government services online."
He said the ministry is collaborating with international research institutes, universities and others that are leaders to identify and develop the best concepts, ideas and strategies.
Buckradee said the ministry is rolling out its national ICT plan, SmarTT, a virtual road map with the aim of making the ICT sector a major contributor to GDP in the shortest possible time. SmarTT focuses on enhancing the quality of life, improving service delivery, increasing national competitiveness and creating new opportunities for citizens and businesses.
"Our goal is to cultivate society in which our citizens are empowered and human imagination drives social transformation and economic growth. The government of T&T has recognised that our education system must keep pace with the rapid growth of technology of the 21st century.
"In addition to our highly successful laptop initiative for every child within the secondary school system and the innovative Smart Classroom project, this Government has incorporated ICT within its education curricular at various levels," he said.