Creating an enabling environment for e-government and the protection of privacy rights in the Caribbean: A review of data protection legislation for alignment with the General Data Protection Regulation

This study examines the data protection laws of six Caribbean countries with a view to identifying gaps and weaknesses and making targeted recommendations for revision of existing legislation or adoption of new legislation in order to bring it into compliance with regional and international standards, including the GDPR. Due to its extraterritorial scope and influence, the GDPR is prompting the harmonisation of data protection legislation around the world and a number of Caribbean countries aligned with the GDPR across the subregion will not only guarantee individual privacy rights but also help to create an enabling environment for data sharing and e-governance and facilitate data and trade flows within and outside the Caribbean.Abstract .-- Introduction .-- I. Background. A. Data protection, sharing and the development of e-government in the Caribbean. B. The right to privacy in the digital age. C. International and regional instruments and frameworks protecting the right to privacy. D. Key features of and interplay between data protection, sharing and related laws. E. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). F. Research methodology .-- II. Analysis of data protection legislation of select Caribbean countries. A. Overall findings. B. Antigua and Barbuda. C. The Bahamas. D. Barbados. E. Belize. F. Cayman Islands. G. Jamaica .-- III. Recommendations