Internet governance, cybersecurity in focus at ‘ICANN’ Conference at UG  

Discussions on internet governance and cybersecurity in Guyana took centre stage on Tuesday as the first-ever ‘ICANN Near You’ conference opened at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.

The three-day conference, running from February 3–5, is being hosted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG) and the Internet Society (ISOC). It aims to strengthen technical skills, internet resilience and policy awareness in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, a release from UG stated.

The conference features hands-on workshops on the Domain Name System (DNS), DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) and Internet security, while also exploring how governments, law enforcement and students can engage in ICANN’s global processes.

Participants include representatives from CARICOM, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), regional Internet governance bodies, students, and local and international experts.

In her opening remarks, UG Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin noted the importance of understanding how the internet works, especially as institutions face growing cyber threats such as phishing attacks, impersonation of staff and students, and system intrusions.

Professor Mohamed-Martin emphasised that while society largely engages with the Internet as end-users, there is now a greater need to understand how it works and how it can be protected and leveraged for inclusivity, efficiency and national progress.

Meanwhile, Chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional At-Large Organization (LACRALO), Lance Hinds, emphasised the need for greater Caribbean participation in internet governance, particularly within academic institutions, as Guyana continues its development.

ICANN Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement, Rodrigo de la Parra, said the Caribbean premiere of “ICANN Near You” reflects strong regional collaboration and the success of the multi-stakeholder model in building Internet capacity.

Speaking on behalf of students, UG Engineering student Bimal Balaram said the conference is an investment in the future, helping students become better prepared to contribute to the global digital space.