2009 Speeches
Electronic Evidence Workshop
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
British Colonial Hilton
Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s wonderful to see so many friends gathered together from across the Caribbean. I know it’s often hard for us to take time out of our busy schedules for training to learn new skills in our fields but the tools you will learn in this electronic evidence workshop over the next three days are crucial for all of our nations in the never-ending battle against crime.
The phenomenal rise of information technology has provided the world with great benefits. It has literally brought the world closer together but unfortunately it has also provided the means for criminals to victimize people and businesses in new and complex ways.
This week, you, prosecutors and investigators from thirteen countries across of the Caribbean will discuss best practices in gathering electronic evidence in criminal investigations. This week you will learn about identifying and locating evidence on computers and the Internet.
As criminals and terrorists across the globe take advantage of technology to plan and orchestrate their crimes, we need to be vigilant in our efforts to locate and safeguard this evidence so that it can be used in legal proceedings.
We must understand and apply the laws and procedures for gathering this electronic evidence. It is imperative that the correct procedures be followed so as not to endanger evidence and not jeopardize the prosecution of cases.
Investigating cases that involve electronic evidence is critical to our economic and national security. Whether it’s an intrusion onto our networks or the compromise of our digital infrastructure, finding and properly handling evidence in cases of cybercrimes is critical to successful prosecutions, just as in other crimes.
Your skills with electronic evidence will keep our societies safe. Allowing our schools, hospitals, businesses, civil society and many many others – And perhaps most importantly, our children, -- To enjoy the benefits and the promise of living safely in an interconnected world.
We all share the values of democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law and it is these values that you will be endeavoring to protect as you return home with the new skills that we hope you will acquire at this workshop.
It is often through electronic evidence that we are able to arrive closer to the facts of how crimes are committed. I’m afraid that the days of simply collecting printed documents as physical evidence in a crime are long gone.
We all must have a plan and the equipment and the know-how to effectively combat and investigate electronic crimes. It is especially through the collecting of electronic evidence that we are able to understand how crimes have been committed and this provides with the knowledge needed to try to prevent similar crimes in the future.
I would like to conclude by saying thank you to the Organization of American States and the U.S. Department of Justice for putting this program together.
This workshop is just one of many of the important programs where our countries partner together in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, on behalf of the safety and security of our citizens.
It is programs and events like this workshop that are instrumental in solidifying the close relationship that our governments and people share.
I’m gratified that so many of you are able to attend this workshop. I hope you will return to your countries with a better understanding of electronic evidence and the ways in which international cooperation can lead to successful investigations and prosecutions of criminals.
Thank you.