Cybercrime Bill protects online users – Min. Hughes

DPI, Guyana, Friday, July 20, 2018

The Cybercrime Bill of 2016 seeks to protect the more than 300,000 Guyanese who are on the internet or have access to the internet, Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes said.

The minister was debating for the Bill in the National Assembly on Friday evening. She noted the Bill will protect children with its child pornography and child luring clauses.

The Bill also protects persons against the transfer of inappropriate private photos, identity theft and unauthorised manipulation of data.

The Bill outlines harsh penalties for these offences. Minister Hughes expressed the hope the penalties will be a strong deterrent to the negative side of the country’s growing ICT space.

The minister also slammed the Opposition for failing to adequately make representations to the Bill during the two years it was in Select Committee. “The Select Committee was the mechanism by which you could come and bring all your concerns. It is unacceptable for you to come now and say that you will not participate,” Minister Hughes chided the Opposition.

Opposition Member of Parliaments Clement Rohee, Anil Nandlall, Gillian Persaud and Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira were absent from the meeting from July 2017 to present.

Members of Parliament were debating the merits of the Bill which was read for a second time earlier in the day by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams SC.

By: Tiffny Rhodius.
Image: Jules Gibson.