CASTRIES, St. Lucia - Four member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are from Tuesday participating in a World Bank-funded initiative promoting digital transformation across nine-member sub-regional grouping.
OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules (File Photo)The awareness programme for the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP) represents a people-centered, regionally coordinated effort to ensure that as digital services expand, so too does public trust and safety.
The awareness programme got underway in St. Lucia on Tuesday, followed by Dominica on August 28, St. Vincent and the Grenadines on September 2, and Grenada on September 4 and is part of a unified regional push to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world securely.
The campaign seeks to raise public understanding of cyber risks, encourage protective digital behaviors, and strengthen alignment with the CARICOM Cyber Security and Cybercrime Action Plan (CCSCAP).
It is designed to address gaps identified in a recent regional situational assessment, which highlighted limited awareness among vulnerable groups such as seniors, women, and rural populations.
“As we embrace digital transformation, we must ensure that our people are equipped with the knowledge and tools to navigate the online world safely and confidently. This campaign is about more than awareness; it’s about empowerment,” said OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules.
“We are bridging the digital divide by reaching vulnerable populations, including the elderly, women, and rural communities, who are often left behind in national dialogues around technology. When people are informed, they can better protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods from cyber threats.
“The OECS Commission is proud to support this coordinated regional effort under CARDTP, which underscores our commitment to building a safe, secure, and inclusive digital future. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and regional integration strengthens our ability to respond to threats, raise standards, and build resilience together,” Jules added.
According to the officials, the campaign launches in each of the four participating countries will include engagement with national leaders, local coordinators, and regional partners, highlights of CARDTP’s accomplishments to date and livestream options to include remote audiences across the Caribbean
The campaign also follows a situational assessment conducted across the region, which revealed key gaps in public awareness, particularly among seniors, women, and rural populations and helped shape the communications strategy now being implemented.
The Trinidad-based Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) has commended the partners involved in the project.
“We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure the campaign’s success and to support the broader objectives of the CARDTP. Our role will be to provide expertise and support in the areas of law enforcement training, intelligence sharing and policy development to combat cybercrime effectively,” said CARICOM IMPACS executive director, Lt. Col. Michael Jones.
“We believe that a multi-faceted approach, combining public awareness, legislative frameworks and strong law enforcement capabilities, is the key to creating a secure digital environment for all Caribbean people,” he added.
Jones said that CARICOM IMPACS is confident that this campaign will be a significant step towards a safer and more secure Caribbean.
“We urge all citizens and organisations to participate actively and to share the message of cybersecurity awareness. Together, we can build a strong, secure, and prosperous digital Caribbean.”
