We are pleased to announce that we are expanding our operations and opening an office in Jamaica.
At the start of December 2023, Jamaica’s Data Protection Act 2020 came into effect, making it the latest of the Caricom member states to make its data privacy law operational.
In today’s highly digitised world, personal data is an increasingly valuable business asset. Against a backdrop of growing reliance on digital technology and the pivotal role personal data now plays in business success, it comes as no surprise that there has been a flurry of activity across the Caribbean with regards to data privacy in recent years.
The Caribbean is considered a region full of opportunities. The United States tops the list of trading partners for the Caribbean with an estimated US$35.3 billion[1] flowing between the two trading blocks. In turn, the Caribbean ranks as the United States’ sixth largest trading partner, with the region representing the third largest export market for US manufactured goods. On the back of significant trade in fuel and mining products, the European Union is the region’s second-largest trading partner and ranks ahead of a variety of other nations with whom the Caribbean has signed bi-lateral trade deals.
The belief that privacy has a positive value is a key foundation of our practice. For several years now, we have been active in the Caribbean, working with several multi-jurisdictional organisations across the region, demonstrating how good privacy is not only virtuous but boosts their bottom line. Amongst our clients is Sagicor, the region’s largest financial service provider.
More latterly, and to help organisations prepare for the incoming Jamaican legislation, we have expanded our scope to include more Jamaican clients.
When asked about the expansion, Ben Rapp, Founder and Principal, stated,
“Securys is delighted to be bringing our globally informed, locally focused approach to practical data protection to Jamaica. Having been working in the Caribbean for some years we have been very impressed with the calibre and professionalism of our local partners and see a real opportunity to build a centre of excellence in Jamaica. We intend recruiting a strong local team that will serve not only the domestic market but also the wider Caribbean and our Latin American, US and Canadian clients, assisted by our global resources. We are very supportive of recent moves in the Caribbean, and in Jamaica in particular, to bring privacy and data protection to the forefront; we hope that our investment and commitment to the country and to the region will help to cement this agenda and increase the competitiveness of Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole on the world stage.”
To cater for the specific needs of Caribbean countries as they prepare for newly or recently enacted privacy regulations, we have a specialised suite of services. These include data privacy compliance and data protection officer as a service, support as well as privacy operating model design and implementation, data privacy audits, data privacy benchmarking and AI governance support.
Co-Founder and Practice Lead, Sara Newman, herself becoming a frequent visitor to the island added,
“This is an exciting time for Securys. We are 10 years old this summer and our expansion into Jamaica is a lovely way to celebrate this milestone. During our first 10 years, we have provided privacy support to numerous organisations, around the world. We have learnt how to provide practical solutions to privacy legislation that enable businesses to achieve their objectives whilst also protecting the personal data of their clients and employees.
To our mind, being as compliant as possible with data privacy regulations is more than just a legal requirement, it is a fundamental human right that builds trust with clients and employees.”
To find out more email us at privacy@securys.com.jm or visit our Jamaican website www.securys.com.jm.
[1] Reimagining the U.S. Strategy in the Caribbean (csis.org)