ANTIGUA UPDATE ON COMPUTER HARD DRIVE STOLEN FROM GOVERNMENTCaribbean Net News: Officials in Antigua continue investigations into information theftOfficials in Antigua continue investigations into information theft
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Officials in Antigua are continuing investigations in the alleged removal of a hard drive from a computer at the office of a secretary at the Public Information Department (PID).

The state-owned ABS Television Station in its 7:00 pm newscast on Monday reported that a computer in one of the offices of the Public Information Division (PID) was tampered with and the hard-drive removed. The hard drive is said to have contained "very important" government information.

Meanwhile, a highly-placed Government Information Services source told Caribbean Net News Wednesday that information officials are of the view that Antigua Labour Party (ALP) operatives employed at the PID are believed to be involved.

"... you would appreciate that this is a very serious matter and based on certain information received, there is a view that a former Government Information Official and the ALP operatives are the ones behind the theft of the hard drive which contains very important information."

Our source said the police are also on the case and are sure the culprit or culprits will be caught.

Since taking office following elections over one year ago, the Spencer Administration has been working to establish a professional and secure communications service.

Caribbean Net News published a report on November 22 last year entitled, "Antigua-Barbuda officials investigate leak of classified information" which stated that the then Information Commissioner, Iban Thomas, was placed on suspension while an investigation was carried out into several alleged information leaks.

Speaking to Caribbean Net News in a telephone interview back in November, a government source revealed that there are suspicions among government officials that Thomas could have knowledge of the leakage of top secret government information to un-named enemies of the government. However, nothing further was heard on the matter, either to confirm the government officials’ suspicion or to clear Thomas' name