Minister praises bipartisan process for data privacy bill

The minister for digital technology has expressed gratitude to citizens for contributing comments on the proposed cybercrime legislation.

Appearing before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on governance and policy matters as it reviewed the Cybercrime Bill and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill, Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Marsha Caddle praised bipartisanship in the review.

“These matters of security and safety cannot be subject to political opportunism,” she said. “Our democracy must become more mature than that, and I’ve been heartened by the honest conversation taking place.

“I am glad this committee’s bipartisan nature allows all sides to show true leadership by not mischaracterising the law’s intent and impact, but focusing on people’s real, worthy concerns.”

The Cybercrime Bill is intended to repeal the Computer Misuse Act. The Law Reform Commission advised the current legislation was inadequate for the present technological era. While the Bill had passed both houses of parliament, it went to the joint committee, inviting public discussion.

Caddle acknowledged diverse feedback, with some saying the Bill went too far and others that it did not go far enough regarding data protection.

“I paused this legislation to encourage us as Barbadians to reflect on what we want and the kind of world we want,” she told the committee.

She highlighted data and technology’s importance, likening them to “currency and weapons” globally, especially before the upcoming cricket World Cup in the region: “We must ensure we can respond, protect our people, systems and information.”