Business View Caribbean - Feb 2024

underlining the proactive measures to secure the exchange’s operations and stakeholder interests. In the face of a downturn in market performance, the JSE remained focused on growth, mainly through expanding its listings. “Within 2023, we listed more than we did in 2022, with 14 securities as against 12 of the previous year,”Dr. Street Forrest proudly states. This significant achievement reflects the exchange’s ability to attract new listings and capital, even in less favorable economic conditions. Furthermore, she points out that in terms of capital raised, the JSE outperformed the previous year, which indicates the Jamaican market’s robustness and appeal to both local and international investors. Turning her attention to the subsidiary operations, Dr. Street Forrest underscored the innovations at the Jamaica Central Securities Depository (JCSD). Launching the JCSD Client Portal was a major milestone. This technological advancement allows investors to access their portfolio information online, facilitating independent verification of their investments across brokers. “Once you log in, you can see the state of your investment across brokers, allowing for independent verification at your fingertips,” she elaborates. This initiative, she believes, is crucial for enhancing confidence in the market.“Ensuring that confidence in the market is not only maintained but improved was very important for us,” Dr. Street Forrest asserts. CYBERSECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY Digital transformation dictates the pace of business and investment in today’s financial environment, and cybersecurity is a pivotal concern for financial institutions globally. The Jamaica Stock Exchange, under the guidance of Dr. Marlene Street Forrest, has placed a significant emphasis on fortifying its digital defenses, ensuring the safety and confidence of its stakeholders. Dr. Street Forrest provides a detailed account of the JSE’s approach to cybersecurity.“We ensure that our framework is in line with the NIST framework,” she states, referring to the globally recognized standards for cybersecurity. This adherence benchmarks the JSE against the best in the world and ensures a 52 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 02