PM Holness Urges Jamaicans to Strengthen Cyber Awareness During Cybersecurity Month 2025

KINGSTON, JAMAICA  — As Jamaica observes Cybersecurity Awareness Week 2025, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is calling on individuals and businesses alike to adopt more responsible digital practices to safeguard personal data and national infrastructure.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Holness emphasized that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility—from mobile users to corporations managing sensitive information.

“Cybersecurity matters for every Jamaican,” the Prime Minister stated. “We are all digital citizens.”

The campaign is being led by the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), which is part of the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport.

Cybersecurity matters for every Jamaican.

This Cybersecurity Week, Director of the Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Godphey Sterling, reminds us that one of our biggest mistakes is thinking, “it won’t happen to us.”

Too often, we overshare online,… pic.twitter.com/Mf9QfLDJ6J

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) October 1, 2025

“You Carry Your Life in Your Pocket”

Holness highlighted a critical reminder from JaCIRT Director, Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Godphey Sterling, who warned that one of the biggest risks is the belief that cyber threats only happen to others.

“Too often, we overshare online, underestimate our digital footprint, or use systems that aren’t properly secured,” Holness quoted.

Sterling’s warning applies especially to individual users, many of whom carry personal photos, contacts, banking apps, and sensitive messages on their smartphones without adequate protection.

“You carry your life in your pocket,” Holness said, encouraging Jamaicans to take simple steps like enabling two-factor authentication, using stronger passwords, and avoiding suspicious links.

Data Is the New Currency for Businesses

For Jamaican businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—the Prime Minister stressed the importance of treating customer data with the same care and value as financial assets.

“For businesses, it means treating data as your new currency,” he said. “Collecting, storing, and disposing of it securely is critical.”

As Jamaica continues its push toward a digital economy, cybersecurity has become a foundational issue for national resilience, digital trust, and economic competitiveness.

A Call for Digital Responsibility

Holness concluded by urging all Jamaicans to be more vigilant, informed, and proactive in their digital lives.

“By being more careful and responsible online, we can all contribute to a safer digital Jamaica.”

Cybersecurity Week 2025 activities include public workshops, school outreach, tech forums, and simulated training exercises coordinated by JaCIRT and other national partners.

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