CARDTP Makes Regional Push with OECS to Tackle Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity is a critical sub-component of the World Bank–funded Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), reflecting the region's growing emphasis on strengthening digital resilience and safeguarding information systems. Serving as the technical lead institution for this sub-component, CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security ​ (IMPACS) coordinated the development of the regional cybersecurity strategy, which was executed by the consulting firm NRD Cyber Security.

Digital and national security experts from Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states Grenada, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, participated in developing a comprehensive Regional Cybersecurity Roadmap to address the growing urgency of digital threats in the Eastern Caribbean.

Participants reviewed current national cybersecurity strategies across participating countries, while promoting structured cooperation in line with regional and international frameworks. The workshop aimed to enhance participants’ skills in identifying and protecting Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), support the development and refinement of National Incident Management Plans through practical exercises, and strengthen cyber crisis preparedness through a simulated table-top exercise.

At the opening ceremony, Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, emphasised that protecting the regional digital space is no longer a solitary endeavour.

“For the OECS, the protection of our digital space must therefore be approached as a matter of collective regional responsibility. No single small state can effectively confront these challenges alone. Cyber threats do not respect national boundaries, and neither should our response. This is why the work being undertaken through this initiative is so important. The development of a Regional Cybersecurity Roadmap, accompanied by actionable national implementation plans, represents a critical step toward strengthening governance, coordination, and preparedness across our Member States.”

Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Information in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honourable Phillip Jackson, explained that through CARDTP, his ministry can materialise the country’s cybersecurity agenda with the goal of “building a culture of cybersecurity awareness”.

Minister Jackson said, “Technology alone cannot protect us; our people are our first line of defence. We recognise that cybersecurity is not just a technical issue for IT specialists; it is a life skill for every citizen.”

He outlined a two-tiered institutional approach to safeguarding national assets, highlighting the creation of dedicated response teams. Firstly, the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government Computer Security Incident Response Team, which will serve as the shield for our government's digital infrastructure, protecting the services our citizens rely on every day. Secondly, the National CSIRT will be the national hub for coordinating threat intelligence and incident response across all sectors. It will be the primary point of contact for regional and international partners, ensuring a coordinated cross-border response when a threat emerges.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Disaster Management, and Immigration, Honourable St. Clair Leacock, further reinforced that digital resilience is now a fundamental pillar of state stability, equating the impact of cyber incidents with physical disasters.

“We view a National Cybersecurity Strategy and action plan as an integral component of our national security framework. The threats we face in cyberspace—from ransomware that can halt government operations to disinformation that can destabilise our society—have tangible, real-world consequences. They affect public order, citizen safety, and the integrity of our state institutions. It is therefore critical that our strategy and actions establish, among other elements, the protocols for a coordinated national response to a major cyber incident, allowing us to treat it with the same gravity as a physical disaster.”

Ms. Marolla Haddad, Task Team Lead for CARDTP of the funding agency, said that the World Bank Group is proud to be working with the member states on this strengthening exercise.

She said, “Cybersecurity is not a technical agenda, purely. It is a development and security issue. It underpins economic stability…and the resilience of our societies. It is very critical that we are embarking on this journey, and what makes this effort particularly compelling and interesting for us is its regional character. In a world where cybersecurity threats do not respect borders…this OECS regional approach has the potential to become a model.”

At the end of the session, participants identified key takeaways and outlined next steps for implementation at both national and regional levels. The workshop signified a milestone in the OECS’s ongoing efforts to ensure that regional digital transformation is underpinned by robust security, sovereignty, and trust.