Real pirates of the Caribbean scuttle tourist trade

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

‘Attacks on yachters across the Caribbean have marred the luxurious cruising life with increasing frequency as the number of vessels sailing the lush islands grows year to year, and with it the lure of valuables for thieves and drug traffickers in the region,’ writes The Times’ Carol J. Williams from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

‘What is new in the last two to three years is an increase in the use of weapons,’ said Melodye Pompa, administrator of the Caribbean Safety and Security Net website, a sailing community endeavor that logs thefts, robberies and assaults committed against boaters. ‘It’s becoming more violent. I’ve tracked that across the region we cover.’

-- Reed Johnson in Mexico City