By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE government must “stiffen its spine”and reach a resolve concerning Cubans being detained in Nassau, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Mitchell again reiterated that there has been no abuse of several Cuban nationals who are now being held at Her Majesty’s Prison after they caused disruption at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
However, in a new turn of events, they have taken legal action against the government - a situation to which officials are paying keen attention to, Mr Mitchell said. The matter was heard in court on Wednesday where a Habeas Corpus application - for the detainees to be brought before a judge - was put forward on their behalf. The hearing has been adjourned until August 1.
He further questioned the validity of their claims as it has been found that certain Cubans at HMP were previously caught by the US Coast Guard after attempting to be smuggled into the US. Mr Mitchell said they were previously paroled in the country by the United Nations pending interviews by the Human Rights Commission to decide if they were eligible for asylum.
Not long after, claims of abuse in the Bahamas were lodged which led to protests at Miami, Florida, and another outside the Bahamas Honorary Consul in Italy.
“We do not mistreat detainees,” the Minister said, “that is a simple point. That is a direct point. If there are any specific allegations of abuse of detainees, bring those matters to the attention of authorities and those matters will be investigated in due course. The anger of the protesters is misdirected.
“What they want is these people to be in the US so, if they want them to be in the US (and) they are in the US, presumably they have some influence over the authorities there, so go and speak to the authorities in the US and we would be happy to release them if they have a country to go to.
“We happen to find ourselves as a country geographically fixed between two countries who don’t get along with one another. One is Cuba on the one hand and the other is the United States of America.
“If you are caught illegally in the Bahamas, you get detained. We follow all the protocols with regard to whether or not you qualify for asylum.
“We simply have to stiffen our resolve in the face of criticism. You are not going to always be popular but some things you just have to do for your country and that is all that is happening now.”
A video depicting alleged abuse of Cuban nationals at the Detention Centre has also gone viral on the internet and shown on television news networks in Florida. Officials has said their investigations doubt there is an authenticity to the footage.
While the Bahamas, US officials and Cuba continue talks over the matter, Mr Mitchell said their relations have not sparked contention.
The government has agreed to organised high-level meetings with Cuban officials to discuss matters of migration in the near future. Hopefully, Mr Mitchell said a positive outcome will alleviate the issues that the Bahamas faces with Cuban nationals.
Comments
ayatollah 11 years, 3 months ago
Stay home and problem over
Stapedius 11 years, 3 months ago
Couldn't agree more Ayatollah. We get pushed around too much as country. What makes it worse is it is often not the official governments of these countries but some disgruntled NGOs who always seem to have a bone to pick with the Bahamas. So what we should simply let them float through our waters and sail into our ports as it pleases them? Its funny that these folks talk about rights. You don't have the right to break our laws. Adding insult to injury whoever is behind the internet antics have the audacity to produce fake images and video of the Detention Centre. All in an effort to embarrass the country. I say we should not even blink an eye at them. Its one thing to make claims and have credible proof. But to concoct a story to try an somehow blackmail and embarrass the country is unacceptable. Politics aside we Bahamians need to stand together on this. I have no issue with Cubans or Haitians but the people representing these illegal immigrants always seem to want to fight dirty. You never hear them say thank you for rescuing us from a dingy that may capsize at any moment. Or thank you for feeding us. Its always this 'take them for suckers attitude.'
Tarzan 11 years, 3 months ago
Maybe if Comrade Fred were a little more balanced in his expression of views regarding the totalitarian state of Cuba, the Cuban refugees in the U.S. would be a little less motivated to make trouble for the Bahamas.
Fred figures that there are no consequences to his paling around and always defending his fellow socialists, despite the fact that the important market for the country he was elected to serve is the U.S. and U.S. tourism.
No doubt that the country needs to stand up to inappropriate criticism and defend itself. Who would argue with that? However, that said, does the Foreign Minister deserve some "credit" for the rough nature of our relations with an important constituency in the U.S.?
You bet he does.
john33xyz 11 years, 3 months ago
So why was the hearing postponed until Aug 1st to then even consider whether the prisoners ought to be brought before a judge to be seen? Are their injuries that bad, that they're hoping they can get them stitched up and prettied up, and glossed over by that time? Hoping the judge can't tell how bruised and battered they were July 24th when the initial court hearing took place?
Aug 1st for the postponed hearing, then an order that they be brought in. Hey that's a Thursday, so the center will argue that Monday the 5th would be earliest they could comply. So that's like nearly 2 weeks. Man they must be some rough bruises on them prisoners they don't want the judge to see.
linnassau 11 years, 3 months ago
Nothing has changed notice how, the fairer skinned Cubans in Florida are the ones always complaining about wanting their countrymen on American soil. They are attention seekers wanting to damage others eg, The Bahamas to get social and political milage for themselves.
zinos85 9 years, 9 months ago
Those who are being detained without any reason and getting assaulted they should take legal action. If you get involved in a personal injury case you should immediately hire a good law firm like The Morgan Law Firm which handles such cases efficiently. This firm could also be accessed at http://morganinjurylawyer.com/testimoni…">http://morganinjurylawyer.com/testimoni….
karina 9 years, 9 months ago
The government now have to appoint skilled attorneys to defend itself in this legal battle. However, any kind of legal complication should be sorted out before it goes beyond control. Immigration is a vital issue and when it comes to finding legal help in this field, one should contact http://immigrationoptions.com/">http://immigrationoptions.com/.
isabella 9 years, 9 months ago
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zinos85 9 years, 8 months ago
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karina 9 years, 8 months ago
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