Perry Center Professor Celina Realuyo delivered the keynote speech on “Collaborating to Counter the Globalization of Illicit Networks” on June 2, 2015 at the 2015 COJUMA (Comité Jurídico Militar de las Américas) Workshop on Legal Considerations in Developing a Robust Maritime Border Security and Counterterrorism Strategy in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

US Southern Command and the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Forces hosted over 50 participants from 10 of the 15 CARICOM countries at this workshop focused on the threats to the Caribbean from illicit trafficking and terrorism, including the recruitment of foreign fighters by ISIL. Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of National Security BG (ret.) Carl Alfonso and Chief of the Defense Forces Major General Kendrick Maharaj delivered opening remarks describing the threats from terrorism and crime to the Caribbean and called for more regional cooperation to counter these threats.