2009 Speeches
Remarks by CDA Timothy Zuniga-Brown
Cyber Crime Conference
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sheraton Hotel
Nassau, Bahamas
Distinguished guests, good afternoon - It is truly a pleasure to be here today. Today is the culmination of a week focused on important issues that are central and critical to the law enforcement missions of both the Bahamas and the United States.
I promise that I will be brief – honest. I simply wanted an opportunity to thank you all - The students, the trainers and your leadership. The students, because it is you who will give meaning to the training you have had today, by effectively implementing what you have learned. The trainers, because of the expertise you have shared with the students and your leadership, because it is their understanding and vision that frankly has made this training a priority.
So let me congratulate all of you on completing this cyber security training. In a world where we rely increasingly on technology, our police officers, defense forces, government agencies and prosecutors must keep pace with the methods for preventing, combating and investigating cyber crime.
In a recent speech on cyber security, President Obama noted that, “our interconnected world presents us, at once, with great promise but also great peril.” We depend on our computers and networks everyday to complete the work of our nations…from our military, to our schools, to our hospitals and businesses.
Our desktops, laptops, cell phones and Blackberries have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Our computer networks allow us to pay our bills, do our banking and shopping.
They run our transportation and military systems and they deliver services that are essential to our everyday lives.
Just think about how devastating it would be to have any one of these capabilities taken away by the simple keystroke of a hacker or terrorist.
Our networks and digital infrastructure keep us safe, and provide us with information and the ability to communicate.
The prosperity of both the United States and the Bahamas depends on cyber security Cyber threats are one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face today.
For this reason, it was of the utmost importance to hold this conference now and work to address these issues. This conference was brought about by the Rhode Island State Partnership Program and the Traditional Commander’s Activities program — two programs that highlight the close and enduring relationship between our two countries.
The Rhode Island partnership is a successful program which has brought both our governments together to collaborate on issues such as higher education, military, prisons, economic development and historical preservation. The Traditional Commander’s Activities Program has supported conferences and exchanges on topics like search and rescue, ship boarding, port security and standards, and maritime law enforcement.
Recently, our governments have sponsored training and seminars such as the Department of Justice conference on intellectual property rights. A Business Development Conference designed to help entrepreneurs break into the business market and a seminar on Freedom of the Press.
In the near future we look forward to co-hosting an Energy conference sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Embassy and the Bahamas Hotel Association. This conference will bring together relevant stakeholders to discuss energy and environmental policy and to explore emerging technologies on energy use and consumption.
Events such as this one and programs like those I’ve just described are instrumental in solidifying the close relationship between our governments and peoples. The Bahamas is our closest neighbor, a stalwart partner, and a country that shares our most cherished beliefs – democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.
I’m pleased that so many of you attended this training and are committed to protecting our prosperity and security. I hope you have all come away from this conference with valuable tools to prevent and combat cyber crime, and that you’ll be able to share these tools with your colleagues.
Congratulations again.
Thank you.