10 Guyanese certified as ambassadors for cybersecurity practices

A group of 10 Guyanese are now certified to promote online safety practices across Guyana, after undergoing training via the United Kingdom-based ‘Get Safe Online’ ambassador scheme.

‘Get Safe Online’ is a non-profit organisation that is funded by the UK Government. It helps individuals and small businesses from over 20 countries to stay safe, secure and confident when using the internet. Through its Ambassador Scheme, it empowers persons to make a difference in their communities by providing people with the necessary awareness of online safety, to enable them to protect themselves and others.
This certification programme is delivered through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) to promote online safety practices in Guyana, particularly in schools.
The latest group of ambassadors – the third batch certified in Guyana – are employees of the NDMA who, in recent months, have taken online safety training to numerous locations across the country. Many sessions were at schools, providing valuable online safety awareness sessions for the next generation of internet users. They additionally provided in-house training for their colleagues at the NDMA.
To celebrate the excellent work of this new group of certified ambassadors, the British High Commission in Georgetown hosted a reception on Wednesday evening to provide recognition of their noteworthy achievements in cyber security and cyber resilient practices in the country.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, pointed out that while innovation and technology have improved lives on a daily basis, there are also risks associated with using those platforms. She noted that Get Safe Online has been particularly impressed with the work that’s been happening in Guyana to promote safety online.

“These ambassadors have been working hard; working across Guyana, particularly in schools; ensuring that thousands of young people now can get online and get online safety. Whether it’s protecting financial safeguard, or whether it’s protecting their personal identity, the UK takes cybersecurity incredibly carefully, incredibly seriously, and Get Safe Online is just one of our instruments that we’re wanting to promote across the world to ensure online safety,” she expounded.
High Commissioner Miller added, “Safeguarding personal data through robust security measures is crucial for privacy and trust in online interactions. This programme’s dedication and effectiveness highlight its immense value in equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital landscape securely. Such initiatives underscore the UK’s steadfast commitment to innovation as well as enhancing global cyber resilience.”

<<Critical online safety messages>>
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Get Safe Online, Tony Neate, underscored the important role the ambassadors play in spreading critical online safety messages and practices.
“The Get Safe Online Ambassadors Scheme cannot work without you. We believe in it because we are passionate in helping people wherever they are to stay safe when they’re online. We’re proud of what we’ve seen (in) individuals like you taking our advice…and using it in schools and communities in your area,” he said.
“Our Get Safe Online Ambassador Scheme epitomises what we do: striving to help individuals and small businesses to use the internet safely, securely and with confidence wherever they are in the world. These Get Safe Online Ambassadors have done some fantastic work here in Guyana, and we are delighted to see their efforts being rewarded today. We thank them for their tireless efforts, and hope that they continue to continue their excellent work,” Neate has said.
The Get Safe Online Ambassadors who were recently certified are: Muriana McPherson, Latoya Etkins, Irshad Nasir, Melissa Vandeyar, Rovin Scarf, Taruna Manger, Stephan Joseph, Chrison Jack, Renard Jacobis, and Miracle Singh. Collectively, they conducted numerous sessions over a two-month period in October and November 2023, reaching thousands of people, predominantly children. The sessions focused on protecting identity, sharing information safely, and how to avoid online threats such as ransomware.
Schools involved included Lodge Secondary School in Georgetown; Line Path Secondary School in Skeldon, Corriverton; Fort Wellington Secondary School on the West Coast of Berbice; Soesdyke Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara; New Amsterdam Multilateral School in East Berbice; Leonora Secondary School and Vreed-En-Hoop Secondary School on the West Coast of Demerara.
The organisation is now looking to expand this training to other secondary schools across Guyana. (G8)