Florida legislator lays new claims against Fred Mitchell

A Florida legislator has made claims about Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell

As of Monday, August 19, 2013

A FLORIDA legislator claims US and Bahamian officials were at the airport discussing requests not to deport 24 Cubans - but Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell didn't tell them the plane carrying the group was already taking off for Havana.

The claim comes from Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen tonight, who has accused Bahamian officials of conducting themselves 'in a manner not conducive to a free society.'

She said: "Bahamian government officials told US State Department officials in the Bahamas that the video of the abuses against the Cuban refugees was accurate.

"Also, last week, the Bahamian officials stated that the guards had been reassigned and security cameras were installed due to these incidents. Yet today, the Foreign Minister denies all of these words.

"The Foreign Minister also stated on Friday that the Bahamian government would not send Cubans to any third country such as Panama because it could encourage further illegal migration. He now says merely that Panama had just not filled out the proper paperwork even though the Panamanian government had sent a letter to the Bahamian Foreign Minister regarding asylum being granted to the Cubans refugees.

"Furthermore, US officials had set up the meeting with the Foreign Minister at the airport to discuss these issues and to request that the Cubans not be sent back to the Castro dictatorship, but the Minister did not inform our officials that the plane carrying the Cuban detainees was on the tarmac ready for takeoff as the conversation was taking place.

"There are Cubans still left in the horrid detention centre in the Bahamas and the government of that country must improve the livelihood of those under its care and provide basic necessities for these freedom seekers.”

On Friday the Bahamian government repatriated 24 Cuban migrants, including eight involved in filming a cell-phone video showing an alleged guard at the immigration detention centre kicking several detainees on the ground.

Panama had offered asylum to them and 11 others allegedly beaten.

The Bahamas government has said the video was a fake but Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said on Friday US State Department officials had told her The Bahamas had now agreed the video was real and had removed the guards.

Over the weekend Mr Mitchell said: "There is no offer from Panama to take 19 asylum seekers from The Bahamas contrary to what has been published in the public domain. We have asked Panama for a formal explanation of what we have read in the press.

"No one from The Bahamas government has admitted that there was any abuse of detainees by the Bahamas government. The Bahamas has not admitted to the authenticity of the video which the protestors themselves have admitted is a fake. This is contrary to an assertion made by a legislator in the United States."

rory 11 years, 3 months ago

This woman again? Either she is a liar, or her "source" in the US State Dept is feeding her a load of crap. Anybody with half a brain knows that Guard was speaking with a Spanish accent. All Bahamians should go to her twitter feed and tell her how wrong she is : https://twitter.com/RosLehtinen">https://twitter.com/RosLehtinen

ohdrap4 11 years, 3 months ago

if she is bilingual, she might not realise that the guard speaks with a spanish accent.

ayatollah 11 years, 3 months ago

Stay y'all ass in Cuba and problem solved

Stapedius 11 years, 3 months ago

You are hilarious dude. Always expect a funny comment from you. That phrase sounds so Bahamian.

John 11 years, 3 months ago

Someone has to be really dishonest here and telling lies...Persons in the Bahamas is saying the complete opposite of what is being said in Florida....can someone get to the bottom of this and find out what is the truth ?

proudloudandfnm 11 years, 3 months ago

News Release Date: Aug. 09, 2013

Contact: Coast Guard repatriates 11 Cuban migrantsMIAMI — Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell repatriated 11 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, Tuesday.

While on routine patrol, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry Aircraft, from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, located a 30-foot rustic vessel off the coast of Marathon, Fla., on Aug. 3. The Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke was diverted and arrived on scene with the vessel. The Ocracoke crewmembers safely embarked 11 Cuban migrants aboard the cutter. The rustic vessel was destroyed as a hazard of navigation.

The 11 Cuban migrants were later transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive and then to the Margaret Norvell for repatriation.

"People aboard these vessels are putting their lives at risk," said Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of Response Enforcement. "U.S. Coast Guard cutters, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft crews will continue to vigilantly patrol the Florida Straits and the Caribbean to rescue and repatriate undocumented migrants who take to the sea.

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

The Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell is a 154-foot Fast Response Cutter, homeported in Miami.

The Coast Guard Cutter Ocracoke is a 110-foot patrol boat, homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Coast Guard Cutter Decisive is a 210-foot reliance class cutter homeported in Pascagoula, Miss.

The Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutters are designed to conduct maritime drug interdiction, alien migrant interdiction, search and rescue, national defense, homeland security, living marine resources and other Coast Guard missions. This class of patrol boat is capable of deploying independently to execute Coast Guard missions and prevent potential threats from approaching our shores and offers vastly improved capabilities over the aging 110-foot Island class patrol boats it replaces. The Fast Response Cutter is part of the Coast Guard’s layered approach to maritime security that includes the National Security Cutter and the Offshore Patrol Cutter. For more information on the Margaret Norvell and the new Fast Response Cutters, please visit http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2013/06/w…

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the U.S., call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

proudloudandfnm 11 years, 3 months ago

US Coast Guard repatriates 24 Cuban migrants

Published on May 31, 2013 Email To Friend Print Version

MIAMI, USA -- The US Coast Guard repatriated a total of 24 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, in two separate incidents last week.

On Saturday, Coast Guard Sector Key West, Florida, watch-standers received a report from a Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft of a rustic vessel southwest of Key West. Sector Key West diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant to respond and the Valiant safely embarked 11 Cuban migrants from the unseaworthy vessel.

The migrants were then transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island for repatriation.

The Coast Guard repatriated another 13 migrants to Bahia de Cabañas on Wednesday after receiving a report of suspected migrants aboard an unseaworthy vessel. Watch-standers diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant, whose crew arrived on scene and embarked 13 Cuban migrants. The migrants were later transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island for repatriation.

"Illegal migrant ventures at sea are both risky and dangerous," said Capt. Brendan McPherson, 7th Coast Guard District chief of enforcement. "The Coast Guard will continue to put a high priority on patrolling offshore to prevent illegal migration and rescue those who put themselves at risk aboard unseaworthy rafts and rusticas."

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

proudloudandfnm 11 years, 3 months ago

Fred tell that lying woman to buss out!

ohdrap4 11 years, 3 months ago

i am not worried, he is paid handsomely to be minister

Stapedius 11 years, 3 months ago

Let's move on. It makes no sense being in a war of words with people who want to bully you. Bullies will always be bullies. There is no changing that. The deal is done. Curtains please. But again I plead with our government to get serious on this immigration stuff. Please can we really build a serious Naval force that will deter people who want to run rampant in our borders? It seems like these NGO's are out to get us from every angle. When it aint the economic rating firms its the OECD. When it aint them its the human rights people. I agree that we are not a perfect country but we are far better in terms of freedoms and rights than many other countries. This includes countries that the US has cozy relations with. Like I said before, no weapon formed shall prosper ........... Love my 242.

What's funny is that the many Cubans who we have welcomed into the Bahamas have yet to defend the name of this country. Where are your voices in all this? That's why it is really important to be sure of who we allow into this country. I am open to people from anywhere in the world coming and enjoying this place we call home. But I have to say we need to have more loyalty and respect from those who come to live with us.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 3 months ago

i always thought Flyin Freddie looks like Astro from the jetsons ,,,,,,lmao

proudloudandfnm 11 years, 3 months ago

1:03 pm, Mon Aug 5, 2013.

Associated Press | 0 comments

MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated 69 migrants from Haiti and Cuba.

Twenty-six Haitian migrants were transported to Cap-Haitien, Haiti, on Thursday. Forty-three Cuban migrants were repatriated to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, on Tuesday.

Authorities said the migrants were interdicted at sea in five separate incidents.

Thousands of Cubans, Haitians and other migrants from the Caribbean and Latin America attempt to reach the U.S. through Caribbean waters each year. Cubans who arrive are generally allowed to stay under the "Wet-Foot, Dry-foot" police, while those stopped at sea are usually returned home.

Other Latino immigrants do not receive the same treatment.

Coast Guard Capt. Mark Fedor said the agency will continue to patrol the waters around the U.S. to deter illegal migrant activity.

concernedcitizen 11 years, 3 months ago

ohh no cat fight btw / flyin freddie and lleana ross,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lol

proudloudandfnm 11 years, 3 months ago

So Rubio and this tree stump congresswoman think it's ok for the US to repatriate but not us? Man this is why I could never go into politics. I'd tell these people to kiss it right in the middle. HYPOCRITES.

getrightbahamas 11 years, 3 months ago

Anyone know what a dirty sanchez is http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p… Thats what he is trying to do to us. Ba$+a&d0. GRB

SP 11 years, 3 months ago

Mr. Mitchell just need state his position and ignore these people. This is not the "one man band" administration that kiss's every foreign hip that sneezes.

John 11 years, 3 months ago

Lets gather some facts: What did Ileana Ross>> say about the threats made against the Bahamas and its consulate in Florida? (please be quiet so you can hear her answer)

And what did she say about the demonstrations against tourists travelling to the Bahamas. (something like don't got there, just stay here and spend your money in South Florida?""

And she is running for office in when? 2016 and who constitutes most of her voters? Cuban Migrants. Can she really be impartial in this matter?

OK three strikes and your out..Ileana:

Ok well one more question: When Bahamians, and Jamaicans and Haitians and Dominicans and Bajans do crime in the United States, what happens to them after they are released (ok lets not say 'released", but what happens to them when they finish their jail time? and what happens to Cubans in the same fate?

banker 11 years, 3 months ago

It's amazing how this story just won't go away. Mitchell is in a catfight with a stronger opponent, and the only real weapons are probity, honesty and integrity. (Here is what should have been said: "Yes we are deporting them according to legal principles. The plane has left. Find another fight. We disregarded the Panamanian offer. That's where it stands"). Instead he tried to play the same game that he does with Bahamians. As a blindly ambitious political opportunist hiding a personal secret, with an almost socio-pathic disregard for the truth, the foreign minister is entering this battle unarmed, and will lose until he grows some cojones and gets an injection of truth serum.

Rontom 11 years, 3 months ago

Astute. Clear. Precise. Agree.

Tarzan 11 years, 3 months ago

banker is right on!

Stapedius 11 years, 3 months ago

Very true banker. I don't see why we are trying to make an international event out of this. Let us do what we think is right and in the best interest of our country and move on. As I posted before. Its no use we carry on with people who simply want to carry on in the media. We already know that Americans enjoy the media coverage that they too often get. Especially the politicians. So why give them ammunition? The deal is done. Curtain call.

Sign in to comment

OpenID

The Tribune