Showing posts with label Miami Cubans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miami Cubans. Show all posts

Monday, March 14, 2005

22 Cuban men detained at Her Majesty’s Prison in Fox Hill who were allegedly involved in the uprising at Carmichael Road Detention Centre, and other Cuban nationals who entered The Bahamas illegally - to be repatriated

The Bahamas government officials have decided that it would be best to just repatriate the Cuban immigrants allegedly involved in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre uprising - than to charge them with a crime


After the riot, Cuban Consul General to The Bahamas Felix Wilson told The Bahama Journal that the “criminal” act carried out by some Cubans must be condemned


Cubans Being Sent Home



By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

14th March, 2005


Government officials are preparing to repatriate early this week a group of nearly 30 Cuban nationals who entered The Bahamas illegally.


The arrangements are being made through the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in conjunction with the Cuban Consulate office in The Bahamas.


Among those set to be repatriated are the 22 Cuban men being detained at Her Majesty’s Prison in Fox Hill, who were allegedly involved in the uprising at the Detention Centre on Carmichael Road last December.


Instead of pushing for charges in the matter, government officials have decided that it would be best to just repatriate the immigrants.


The Bahama Journal reported last week that there is reportedly concern that charging the Cubans with a crime would result in serious backlash from the Cuban-American community in Miami.


But some people believe repatriating them could also have the same effect.

 A source close to the decision also said that it would be cheaper to send the Cubans home rather than spend money caring for them in prison.


Under the treaty The Bahamas has with Cuba, Cubans found in Bahamian territory must be repatriated.  But a key international convention requires The Bahamas to first determine whether immigrants qualify for political refugee status.  If that were the case, they would be granted asylum.


Authorities have noted that the reason why Haitians are often repatriated faster than Cubans is due to the fact that while they (Haitians) may be economic refugees, they are seldom-political refugees.


The Cubans believed to be responsible for the Detention Centre uprising were sent to the prison immediately after the incident and government officials had promised to keep them at the facility for “safekeeping” until their removal to their place of origin.


Immigration authorities had said that, “The government remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations and will make every effort to repatriate all individuals at the Detention Centre as soon as possible, once those obligations are completed.”


Minister of Immigration Vincent Peet told The Bahama Journal on Sunday that in all, 29 Cubans will be repatriated on Tuesday.


“The government believes it is in the best interest of all parties involved and it will save Bahamian taxpayers the expense of keeping the Cubans in jail,” he said.


Among those expected to be sent back to the Communist island is Francisco Napoles Valdez, the illegal Cuban immigrant who had escaped from the Detention Centre immediately after the riot and was soon recaptured.


After the riot, Cuban Consul General to The Bahamas Felix Wilson told The Bahama Journal that the “criminal” act carried out by some Cubans must be condemned.


He had also expressed hopes that the illegal Cuban immigrants who started the fire and led the attack at the centre be repatriated as soon as possible; adding at the time that a clear message must be sent that resorting to crime is not the answer to frustrations that some illegal immigrants may feel.


In the days following the uprising, the cries from the Cuban-American group, Vigilia Mambisa, faded and authorities are hoping it remains that way.


The uprising had placed the spotlight on alleged human rights abuses at the Detention Centre, which government officials were forced to deny.  Repeated claims eventually led to authorities appointing former prison superintendent Edwin Culmer as director of the facility.


Since the uprising, the Cubans being detained at the prison have also made it to the front pages of the Miami Herald, making claims of abuse.


It put authorities here on the defensive again.  Former Minister of Immigration and now leader of the Free National Movement Senator Tommy Turnquest said as far as he’s concerned, government officials are following proper procedure by adhering to the treaty the country has with Cuba.


But he also said any illegal immigrant who may have broken the law here should “face the music.”


He added, however, that part of their sentence could very well be that they are repatriated.


“If they broke laws in The Bahamas they ought to be subject to Bahamian laws,” Mr. Turnquest said.  “They ought to be tried, but over and above that I don’t know that there is anything other than what they’re doing that the government could have done.  It’s not easy, but governance is not easy.” 

Friday, March 11, 2005

More Than Three Months After The Carmichael Road Detention Centre Uprising, no Cuban Has Been Charged

The failure of police to charge any Cubans in connection with the uprising – which resulted in 11 Defense Force officers and nine detainees being injured – has some people pointing to what they see as differential treatment between Haitian and Cuban immigrants in The Bahamas 


Attorney Eliezer Regnier, who represents the Haitian family charged within days of the Nassau Village riot earlier this year, is one of them


Cubans In Limbo At Fox Hill


By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

11th March 2005


There are reportedly concerns among some in government that any decision by police to bring charges in relation to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre uprising in December could spark a serious backlash from the Cuban-American community, The Bahama Journal has learnt.


But Assistant Commission of Police Reginald Ferguson has assured that due process is being followed in the matter.


A source close to the investigation told The Bahama Journal that there are serious diplomatic issues involved that must also be considered.


More than three months after the incident, which made international headlines, no Cuban has been charged in connection with the matter, although police and immigration authorities had indicated that charges were likely.


There are also reports that police may forward the matter to the Office of the Attorney General, but Mr. Ferguson said that determination had not yet been made.


He added, “That is one of the options that is open to us.  We may very well do that to get a thorough look at it to assist in the thoroughness of the whole investigative process.”


The failure of police to charge any Cubans in connection with the uprising – which resulted in 11 Defense Force officers and nine detainees being injured – has some people pointing to what they see as differential treatment between Haitian and Cuban immigrants.


Attorney Eliezer Regnier, who represents the Haitian family charged within days of the Nassau Village riot earlier this year, is one of them.


“I think the Cuban situation is such that the Cubans in Miami have put the fear in the government [of The Bahamas],” Mr. Regnier said.  “I think they just want to sweep that situation under the carpet.  They fear terrorist reprisals because the Miami Cubans are very aggressive whereas in the case of the Haitians, they know once they do something to them, that’s the end of the matter.”


Magistrate Linda Virgill denied the Haitian parents and their son bail and sent them to Her Majesty’s Prison.  She also suspended their permanent residence status.


However, Mr. Regnier told The Bahama Journal that he was able to eventually secure bail for Wilson Pierre, Clarisine Pierre and Celession Simeus.


He also noted that it did not take long for the Haitians who attempted to ram a Defence Force boat off New Providence to be charged either.


Magistrate Virgill gave most of those involved maximum sentences and fines after they pleaded guilty.  They admitted to trying to smuggle illegal Haitian immigrants into The Bahamas.


Mr. Regnier believes this is a clear case of differential treatment among immigrants.


But Mr. Ferguson cautioned against drawing comparisons, pointing out that each investigation is different.


“Every investigation has its own characteristics and it is determined by the investigation as it progresses,” he noted.  “I don’t think it is fair to make a comparison between one incident versus the other because every incident is different.”


Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming has confirmed that the 22 Cuban nationals believed to have been involved in the Detention Centre incident back in December are still being held at Her Majesty’s Prison in Fox Hill.


Cuban Consul General to The Bahamas Felix Wilson told The Bahama Journal that he is aware that a group of Cubans may soon be repatriated, but he was not sure whether those at the prison may be a part of that group.


Following the fire at the Detention Centre, some Cuban-Americans demonstrated in Miami, claiming that the Cubans at the facility were being abused.


But that’s a claim government officials have vehemently denied repeatedly.