PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to the global IT outage on July 19, United People's Party candidate number 7 Nikhil Kukreja stresses the urgent need for improved cybersecurity and updated laws in Sint Maarten. This incident highlights vulnerabilities that exist not only on the international level but also within our digital infrastructure, which threaten national security, economic stability, and personal privacy. This global outage affected our economy, where businesses had to come to a standstill because they could not accept credit card payments.
Kukreja points to previous cyberattacks on government infrastructure, including the administration building and utilities company NV GEBE, as catalysts for immediate action. These incidents have caused significant inconvenience for the people of St. Maarten, particularly regarding their monthly bills.
He stresses the importance of modernizing Sint Maarten’s legal framework to effectively address cybercrime and enhance data protection, aligning with international standards like the GDPR. As a member of the VKS for 20 years, one of Nikhil's primary objectives has been to enhance security on the island. Legal definitions of cybercrime are necessary for law enforcement to combat threats such as hacking and identity theft. As we transition into the digital age, this type of security cannot be overstated. This also creates job opportunities for our youth in the IT field.
Kukreja emphasizes that Friday’s outage and recent attacks are a call to action. Even though we have some basic cybersecurity awareness, we need to scale up big time across the country to remain protected these days, when we see so many cyber wars and cyber-attacks taking place. He urges government officials, businesses, and civil society to prioritize cybersecurity to create a safe digital environment. “Together, we can build a resilient and secure Sint Maarten,” he stated.
