The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE FNM is urging Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell to shed more light on the events surrounding the abuse of Cuban detainees and when he became aware of them.

As criticisms continue to mount over the government’s handling of the situation, FNM shadow Minister Hubert Chipman is also concerned that in the midst of an investigation, the officers responsible for the abuse have not been suspended or placed on leave.

Notwithstanding the fact that the accused officers are still on active duty, comprising the probe, Mr Chipman said the government should at least offer the Cubans compensation for the abuses suffered in the Bahamas.

“On top of them sending the victims back to Cuba,” said Mr Chipman, “the officers that are culpable are still on the job. Now what kind of investigation are they going to have?

“This could have all been over a long time ago with the Minister admitting that something did happen and that the government would deal with it. But since he didn’t we have the ongoing situation.

“Fred Mitchell just needs to come clean and say what he knew and when he found out about it. There is no other way to shed light on this.”

Mr Chipman said he still believed that Mr Mitchell should resign from the post.

More than a week ago FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to “dismiss Fred Mitchell from his Cabinet forthwith.” He said it was clear that Minister Mitchell had exhausted every ounce of credibility as Foreign Affairs Minister.

At the time he said: “To date, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has not given a full account of what took place at the detention centre on May 20, 2013.

“The FNM has been advised that several senior government officials and ministers became aware fairly early that a major instance of abuse had taken place.”