The official said that as a result of recent events related to cyber attacks, the Ministry is taking measures to mitigate these incidents while maintaining public confidence.

“We are currently actively working to ensure privacy, generate public confidence and maintain the security of our data.”

These measures are based on three main areas of work,’ said Belfon, who was quoted by the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.

Belfon explained that this initiative includes the full proclamation of the Data Protection Act, which the Ministry expects to complete by the end of 2024.

He added that associated with the Act, the process of defining the metrics to be used by the Information Commissioner’s Office is underway, which will also be finalized during 2024.

Third, we have made it a top priority to build a robust cybersecurity environment, including ensuring that public sector digital transformation initiatives include security from design as one of their principles,’ he said.

He explained that the national strategy is necessary to meet the very diverse needs from a wide variety of stakeholders from civil society, the private sector and government.

Belfon noted that the proposed guidelines focus on maintaining high standards, flexibility and reliability of data, including international practices for data use. This strategy is a collaborative effort that seeks to harness the transformative power of data for a brighter and more equitable future, serving as a model for improving decision-making, protecting privacy rights, ensuring security, and promoting transparency, he concluded.

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