PASSPORT, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) says there is no merit to an accusation that its internal systems have been breached, and is insisting that it “maintains the highest information security standards”.

The agency made the declaration in a news release on Monday, in an obvious response to charges of a data breach in the current political squabble over Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s passport.

Government Minister Daryl Vaz sparked the controversy last week when he revealed that in 2011 or 2012 Golding had applied for a Jamaican passport at age 46, five years after serving as a legislator in the Upper House.

That triggered a call from the People’s National Party (PNP) for an investigation into what the party said was a significant data breach, and accused Vaz of publicly releasing information on Golding’s private interactions with PICA.

However, Vaz has denied that he got the information from PICA. Instead, he said he got it from “deep within the belly of the PNP”.

On Monday PICA said it issued the release after making checks.

“The concerns that have been raised are unfounded. We want to assure the public that PICA is fully committed to upholding the highest ethical standards when handling personal data. Our dedicated team undergoes regular training to stay updated on evolving security threats and best practices. This reinforces our commitment to maintaining the trust placed in us by the Jamaican people,” the agency said.

Stating that safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of personal data is paramount, PICA said it operates under a robust framework to ensure compliance with all relevant data protection laws and regulations.

“Our procedures strictly adhere to standards, ensuring individuals’ privacy and preserving sensitive information integrity,” PICA said.

“As an agency entrusted with sensitive information integral to national security and immigration matters, PICA remains vigilant in its commitment to information security. The agency is bound by local and international regulations for security and identities; as such, we continuously review and enhance our security measures to address emerging threats and technological advancement,” it added.

“We remain transparent and accountable, ensuring that the public’s trust in our ability to protect their data remains steadfast,” PICA insisted.