The Caricom related nations of Guyana and Jamaica are probably the Caribbean’s leading benefactors of Chinese investments, and arguably the region’s principal users of mostly counterfeit technology out of Beijing.
But few would realize that their respective relations with China is mostly a by-product of something more sinister and dangerous that even mere common sense would not be able to comprehend.
From the computer units used by every Government department, to Guyana’s One Laptop Per Family Project, the Chinese Government-planted Hubber Spy Worm has certainly given China a firm clandestine hold on every single keystroke, email, and communication emanating from the Guyanese Government, and even that of its citizens.
This spy tool, along with a Chinese dedicated propaganda news channel broadcasting from Georgetown, has now given Beijing a firm grip over the national security, social, economic and diplomatic affairs of Guyana; and by extension, a larger section of the English speaking Caribbean Community.
While a greater number of other Caricom member states also trades with Beijing and uses their Government-funded gadgets, their dependency on Chinese technology are way lower than Guyana or Jamaica. Hence their ICT security risk is somewhat reduced, though not insulated.
But by itself, Guyana is probably China’s main regional economic playground, communication harvesting hub, and largest but unwitting host of HUB 79; - a Chinese Government-backed cyber-army in the Caribbean.
Strangled by accusations of rampant corruption, a parallel underground economy and political nepotism, Guyana opportunistically became the ideal candidate for the Chinese Government regional spy hub and an epicenter for information harvesting, more than five years ago.
According to Rabin Seth, a retired Israeli intelligence officer whose Government has been busy uncovering a map of China’s cyber warfare hubs; - the primary objective of Hub 79 (in Guyana) is to dig into the computers of Guyanese Government officials, the Caricom secretariat, diplomatic missions, media houses, journalists, politicians, diplomatic officials, military personnel, and similar units, to retrieve all information that can advance China’s economic, trade, security, and military interest.
He added that the Chinese government-funded Datang Group purchase of shares in Guyana’s main telecommunication service provider, GT&T, was no accident, neither is the presence of Huawei Technologies in that country’s eGovernance Project a coincidence.
He reminded this publication that several countries including the United States has banned Huawei from their respective Government projects, since the company was repeatedly classified as a Chinese Government intelligence tool, and a serious threat to many countries national security.
But being Technologically docile, and lacking the availability of even a single qualified ICT Security Engineer, Guyana would probably never be able to detect, much more to deter China’s continued spying on its entire technological infrastructure.
After all, the United States itself has already warned the Caribbean about the scope and degree of Beijing’s cyber army, and has even issued wanted bulletins for several Chinese Government officials for thousands of spy attacks on U.S technological interest over the past few months alone.
However, even with those warnings, countries like Guyana and Jamaica continues to tow the technology line unguarded, but had never stopped to wonder how the Chinese Government could have known that either nation needs a deep water harbour or an expanded airport, long before they even ask Beijing for funding.
