ACTIVISTS in Miami have ramped up their protests of alleged mistreatment of Cuban detainees held in the Bahamas.
This morning The Tribune was sent this picture of a lorry in Miami. Earlier in the week dozens of vehicles drove through downtown Miami.
Activists allege that Cubans detained on suspicion of illegal immigration have been beaten by guards, denied access to adequate food, water and medical care, and deprived of the ability to file asylum claims while held in the Carmichael Road detention centre that the US and UN have said does not meet international standards.
The protest, which has taken place at the Bahamian consulate in Miami and near the piers where cruise ships embark to the Bahamas, has drawn support from members of the US Congress and a sharp response from Bahamian officials, who deny any abuse and are angered over calls for a tourism boycott.
“Bahamians are quite fed up with this attack on our country, which in our view is unfair,” Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell said. “We spend $1 billion in the Florida economy every year. What’s the point in trying to damage our economy?”
Carmichael Road was converted from a school into a detention centre in the mid-1990s to accommodate the increasing number of migrants.
Two of the four dormitories burned in a fire started by detainees in 2004 and some people held there must sleep on the floor or outside when capacity is reached, according to a 2012 US State Department report. It said as many as 375 people had been held there.
Mitchell said the government had not received any specific, credible claims of abuse and no investigation was being conducted. He said officials had looked into a video released by supporters of the detained Cubans allegedly showing men being struck by guards in the detention centre and determined it was “clearly a staged event.”
Six Cubans were moved from the detention centre to prison for “hostile behaviour,” which included sewing their mouths shut in protest of conditions. Mitchell said two of the men have legal US residence status and are believed to have been attempting to smuggle other Cubans when they were detained.
He said the government was taking steps to improve conditions in the detention centre, and is soliciting bids for a contract to build new dormitories.
The UN gave the government credit on Monday for improving conditions, saying in a statement that the Bahamas had approved a budget to upgrade the detention centre and had taken “preliminary measures establish a fair asylum process.” But it also noted that “further fundamental changes are needed” to meet international standards.
Comments
tommymusic 10 years, 8 months ago
Interesting.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 8 months ago
Idiots! Why don't these lousy Cubans go back to their own country and fight for their freedom? So because they are cowards we have to provide plush accomodations so they can go to Walmart? Screw em! Make it as uncomfortable as you can for them. Maybe then they'll get the message and stay out of our country. Cowards won't fight for their own country but they wanna make us out to be the bad guy? Should just let em pass when we see them at sea, let em get to the states or die trying...
jackbnimble 10 years, 8 months ago
I agree. Somebody fooled these idiots. They have managed to take over a WHOLE city in the United States and believe that gives them the right to land illegally in our country and we are supposed to roll the red carpet. Bunch of nonesense!!
jackflash 10 years, 8 months ago
Human smuggling amount to terrorism in view...
Did the have WMDs or Drugs on board as well??
Stapedius 10 years, 8 months ago
Hahahaha funny. Say 'Undocumented.' A nice way of saying ILLEGAL. These Cuban-Americans really think that they can bully us into a corner. Please take up your issues with the Cuban government and your own government in the US. But it seems like they can't get either of those parties to listen to them so the next best thing is to attempt to bully our government. Such cowards. Please, I hope Bahamians see what our good nature gets us. A kick in the pants every time. We must have a kick me sign on our doorstep. Anyhow, no weapon formed..........
John 10 years, 8 months ago
These are clearly terrorist bullies who seem that they will destroy the economy of the Bahamas to gain the freedom of three criminals suspected of human trafficking. The government should NOT give in to their demands in any way,shape or form. IN FACT THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SHOULD NOW BE LOCKED IN HIGH LEVEL TALKS WITH CUBA TO HAVE THESE PERSONS SENT BACK TO CUBA AND LET THEM BULLIES IN FLORIDA TAKE THEIR FIGHT TO CASTRO!
GQ 10 years, 8 months ago
If I had to make the call I would send ALL and I mean ALL illegals along with their illegal offspring back to the country from which they came. PERIOD. Let the Miami Cuban Mafia deal with Castro and the Jamaicans, Haitians and any others do the same.
BlessedGuardian 10 years, 8 months ago
Bahamians need to become more patriotic and start supporting their own country. They should stop shopping in Miami and go to Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando or Canada.
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