Antigua and Barbuda Hosts Regional Cybersecurity Exercise to Enhance Island Nations’ Cyber Readiness

By Aabigayle McIntosh

Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday welcomed regional experts within the cyber security industry for a crucial exercise to improve the cyber readiness of several island nations.

The one-day Regional Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise was spearheaded by the Cybersecurity Department within the Ministry of ICTs Utilities & Energy in collaboration with the Cybersecurity Program of the Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE.

It drew sector stakeholders from Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines and host country Antigua and Barbuda who were engaged in the use of fictional events, which sought to promote a coordinated response to a cyber-attack.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas was among the many dignitaries in attendance.

He expressed delight in welcoming all the industry experts.

“I’m happy that these three telecommunications companies are represented here and that other forms of based on the scenarios that I know you look at are the areas of agencies of the government are going to be here so that we can first start about the conversation as to where we are, create this awareness and above all begin the process of collaboration,”

Director of Cybersecurity at the Ministry of ICTs Gordina Hector-Murrell also stated the initiative is the first of its kind by the OAS with funding from the US Government to look at scenarios where everyone works together to investigate a cyber-incident or attack.

The OAS Cybersecurity Program Officer David Moreno and the OAS Cybersecurity Project Officer Manuel Alejandro Perez Panero also gave brief opening remarks.

Moreno said Cyber security is a shared responsibility by all stakeholders and all countries.

“It is very important to have exercises like this one where we are aiming to strengthen cooperation and collaboration within the countries, within the different agencies in a country and among also neighbor countries”.

The one-day event was held at the Azure Conference Room at the Trade Winds Hotel.