Published 16 May 2026
Buckie Got It,
St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
UNESCO CYBERSECURITY WORKSHOP BRINGS REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Basseterre, St. Kitts, Wednesday, May 13, 2026: The St. Kitts and Nevis National
Commission for UNESCO hosted the SIM Caribbean Cybersecurity for Older Adults Hybrid
Workshop on Wednesday, May 13, bringing together regional stakeholders to discuss
cybersecurity, media literacy, misinformation, and digital transformation in the Caribbean.
Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Minister of Education, highlighted the increasing need for senior
citizens to be equipped with the skills to navigate today’s technology-driven society safely.
“Today we gather at a defining moment. The digital world is no longer optional. It is how we
bank, how we access health care, how we stay connected to family, and how we participate in the
life of our nation. Through the Ministry of Education, Gender Affairs, Ageing and Disabilities,
we understand that media and information literacy is not a luxury for seniors, it is a right, a
shield and a key to independence.”
The workshop forms part of UNESCO’s Small Island Developing States Inclusive Initiative on
Media and Information Literacy in the Caribbean. The initiative seeks to strengthen digital
awareness and equip individuals, particularly older adults, with the knowledge and skills needed
to navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly.
Mr. Eric Falt, Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean, underscored the
wider social impact of strengthening digital capabilities among senior citizens.
“It is important to realise and to remember that when older adults become more confident online,
it is entire families and communities that benefit”
Sen. Hon. Isalean Phillip, Minister of State of Ageing, Disabilities, Youth and Gender Affairs,
also emphasized the need to protect vulnerable groups, including older adults, especially
females, from online threats such as scams, misinformation, and digital exploitation.
“Building media and information literacy means giving our mothers, our grandmothers, our great
grandmothers, the tools to verify what they read, to protect their data, to speak confidently
online, and to do business online without fear.”
Participants from Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda also took part in the hybrid workshop
through virtual engagement.
UNESCO’s engagement continued on Thursday, May 14, with the SIM Caribbean MIL Youth
and Stakeholder Workshop.
