PATROL BOAT REPORTCaribbean Security ChallengesBy Edward Lundquisthe Caribbean is a complex curity in the region. tion for the TCI. “There is a huge vul- without scrutiny.”maritime environment, with Maritime Security Caribbean 2013 nerability about these islands.” Among the major challenges to mari-multiple countries and ter- was hosted by Homeland Security Out- “Maritime security is an ongoing con- time security are illegal landings sloops Tritories, signi? cant seaborne look and held at the Beaches Resort on cern for our government. We have lots packed with people who did not go commerce and a wide variety of threats Providenciales. of beaches—ideal landing areas for traf- through proper entry process, Gardiner to safety, security, stability, the environ- The conference was opened by Peter ? cking of drugs, humans and ? rearms, said.ment and sovereignty. A diverse group Beckingham, the governor of the Turks and the removal of endangered or intro- According to Gardiner, the number of of stakeholders gathered in Providen- and Caicos Islands, an independently duction of invasive species,” said Ricar- illegal migrants who were interdicted ciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) governed British overseas territory lo- do Don-Hue Gardiner, the TCI minister was about 900 in 2012, and is on track to to discuss those challenges and reaf? rm cated south of the Bahamas and north of border control and labor. Gardiner. be higher this year. “It could reach the their commitment to address them. A of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. “We have a fundamental responsibil- equivalent of four percent of our popula-major theme throughout the conference Beckingham acknowledged the substan- ity to do the very best we can to protect tion this year.”was that partnerships and collaboration tial maritime security risks of drug and our people and our visitors. No vessel “We have 40 islands and cays, and are important to achieving maritime se- human traf? cking and illegal immigra- should reach our shores undetected and they’re all pretty small, so it’s challeng-M . ODUTECH MARINE INCBUILDERS OF WORLD CLASS COMMERCIAL BOATSModutech Marine 95’ Multi Mission Boat (MMB)95’ long x 28’ beam aluminum Multi Mission Boat (MMB) with raised Pilothouse, transom ramp to transition payloads to/from ocean surface to/from an Aft Flat Cargo Deck, deck cranes, and dedicated Electronics Equipment Compartment.s