The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

TWO Cubans who were detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre escaped from the facility on Saturday, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said yesterday.

According to Mr Mitchell, Jordani Gonzales, 35, and Luis Alberty Parraoo Ramirez, 21, fled the facility around 3am, however he did not provide further details.

Mr Mitchell made the announcement in the House of Assembly as he noted an “uptick” in the number of illegal Cuban migrants following the recent apprehension of six Cubans.

The group was found yesterday morning at Gun Cay in Bimini and was expected to travel to New Providence for processing.

The Fox Hill MP said the increase in Cuban migrants is likely driven by a belief that “the United States, their preferred destination, is about to change its policy which gives Cubans an automatic right to some form of residence once they reach the US mainland.”

Mr Mitchell also announced that immigration officials in Inagua detained 47 people on Saturday.

He said an additional 70 “made their way” to Orange Creek, Cat Island yesterday, making for a total of 117 persons captured by immigration authorities since Saturday.

Mr Mitchell also said that 142 Haitian were repatriated to Port-au-Prince, Haiti last Wednesday. Three Haitian women and a Dominican man were repatriated on Saturday, he said.

According to Mr Mitchell, there are 105 persons currently detained at the Detention Centre – 59 are Cubans, 21 are Haitians and 25 are various other nationalities.

Last month, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) apprehended 11 Cuban migrants on Anguilla Cay in the Cay Sal Bank.

According to the RBDF, its operation centre was informed by Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) of suspected migrants on Anguilla Cay around 1pm on November 30.

HMBS Rolly Gray, which was on routine patrol at the time, was then diverted to investigate the report. Upon arrival at Anguilla Cay, eight Cuban men and three Cuban women were found ashore.

The Cubans were subsequently arrested and taken to New Providence where they were handed over to Immigration authorities, the RBDF said.