The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

A HUNGER strike at the nation’s Detention Centre has come to an end with the Cuban detainees involved accepting meals as of Wednesday, government officials announced yesterday.

The situation first came to light when a photo of four women, purportedly taken inside the Detention Centre, was posted on babablublog.com; it showed them gagged and wearing signs calling for freedom and political asylum.

Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration confirmed in a statement that a hunger strike was taking place; and in another statement released yesterday, the government announced the detainees had started eating again.

The strikers were also examined by doctors and cell phones were seized.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration wishes to advise the public that the Cuban nationals who did not accept meals at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre resumed accepting meals yesterday – the 20th March 2013,” the statement said.

“They also accepted breakfast this morning.”

A doctor visited the Detention Centre on Wednesday and after examining the detainees, reported to authorities they were all in good health. A search of the premises was also conducted, the statement continued, and “several” cell phones were confiscated from among the detainees.

“As indicated yesterday, the Ministry will continue to monitor this situation and keep the general public abreast of any new development at the detention centre,” the statement said.

On Wednesday, Cuban Ambassador Enersto Soberon Guzman told The Tribune he was unaware of the women’s detention until he was informed about the hunger strike.

Up until then, he said, he only knew of 18 Cuban men at the centre, who, he said, have now been cleared to be repatriated to Cuba. He added, he is looking into the matter.

This incident was not the first time a hunger strike has taken place at the Detention Centre.

Back in 2009 three Cuban men detained there told The Tribune that they had gone hungry for two days to protest the deplorable conditions at the centre.

They vowed not to eat until officials rectified the issues. The men claimed that other detainees wanted to participate in the hunger strike but were afraid of abuse from the centre’s guards.

The men further called on then Police Commissioner Reginald Ferguson to pay the facility a “surprise visit” to interview them for the full story.

Hunger strikers claimed that they had been severely beaten by guards at the centre. One of them said he was assaulted with sticks until his body was swollen with black and blue bruises that lasted for weeks. He also lost several toenails and fingernails.

They questioned how officials could ignore the severity of the matter.

The conditions at the Centre were at the time described as unbearable and overcrowded.