The Cuban protest group outside the Bahamian consulate in Miami.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
MINISTER of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe says the latest steps taken against the Bahamas by a group of Florida protesters are cause for concern.
On Friday, after staging a silent protest outside the Bahamas Consulate office in Miami, Ramon Sanchez, leader of the Miami-based Cuban exile group Democracy Movement said there were plans to stage demonstrations at airports in Florida with flights to the Bahamas.
The Movement has also revealed it met with Carnival Cruise Lines and wanted to speak with the Genting Group Royal Caribbean International.
Branding this new round of demonstrations as “unacceptable”, Mr Wilchcombe vowed that officials will hit back to fight for the Bahamas. He said that is was evident the Democracy Movement was aiming to harm the country’s economy.
Mr Wilchcombe said: “We should ramp up our protests as Bahamians because what this man is doing is just unacceptable.
“What happened is unfortunate, but we have already said that an investigation is under way. They continue on this crusade but while the investigation takes place, he needs to accept the process that is happening here.
“With these latest steps, it is clear to me that this gentleman does not respect us. I believe he is on a conquest to promote himself and his name.
“We will push back against this and what this man is trying to do to us.”
Mr Wilchcombe said he was hopeful major companies with invested interests in the Bahamas would not be influenced by the Democracy Movement’s actions.
“You are talking about corporations that have dealt with the Bahamas for years. They know the Bahamas, the know the attitude of the government, and they know the personality of the Bahamian people. We work with them every single day.
“Hopefully we don’t have to worry about any repercussions because we are constantly looking for ways to improve the product of the Bahamas,” Mr Wilchcombe said.
The Democracy Movement also staged a ‘silent protest’ on Friday outside the Bahamas Consulate office in Downtown Miami.
Mr Sanchez said they aimed to highlight the alleged sexual assault of female Cuban detainees who had been held at the detention centre in Carmichael Road.
Around 40 protesters wore black bands covering their mouths, with handcuffs on their wrists and pictures of alleged abused detainees hanging from their necks.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Red Shirts can't stop shouting Viva La Floridian Cubans Movement.
by TalRussell
msmuffett 10 years, 8 months ago
Oh pleez ... Ramon Sanchez don't I remember him as the missguided champion of the Elian Gonzalez fiasco? I think old Obie is right this is nothing more than self serving performance theatre. Although i personally think that señor Sanchez thinks he can change policy regarding repatriation back to Cuba and that's what all these theatrics are all about . Mind your own business Ramon .
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Comrade Msmuffett, it is obvious you are getting good political nourishment to your smart thinking head, cause we all know how that red stuff is harmful to ya brain cells. Just ask Loretta? Chairman Cash and his red shirts leaders have fallen hook line and sinker for a Floridian movement that is threatening to harm our tourism industry. The reds need a whole new party makeover to begin working on behalf of Bahamalander's, not some damn bunch of radical Floridian Cuban movement leaders with their own political agendas. They need to start really caring about their own, before they involve we natives. Even the Cubans among us here legally, are not supportive of the potential damage they are attempting to inflict to our most vital tourism industry. I say they can go all go to hell and PLEASE take the red shirt leaders along for ya hell bound trip!
justthefactsplease 10 years, 8 months ago
While all the comments above are valid, I believe that if our governement had approached it properly from the begining, it would have gone away by now, but by Fred seeking to lie their way out of the accusations they have dug a hole for us all.
TalRussell 10 years, 8 months ago
Comrade Justthefactsplease would you spill the beans on what you "personally know" about "how minister Freddy sought to lie to Bahamalanders? Please, just the facts. No opposition party representing her Majesty the Queen should ever reach out to support a radial movement, much less one on foreign soil. particularly one with a international political agenda to bring economic harm to their own Bahamaland. The red shirts actions are wrong, they are inexcusable. To align with a radical foreign movement on foreign soil, against your own government is nothing short of high treason against your own people. Her Majesty's Official (Royal) Opposition Party is recklessly placing the economic lives of their own people at risk. And, they're doing it on foreign soil. Curious as to why Papa Hubert has remained so silent? Even I may be starting to think of advocating for his return to stop this nonsense.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
Sorry but those defence force officers were the ones who recklessly put the nations economy in jeopardy.
No wonder we have so many mothers protecting their "good sons"...they see our leaders doing it, why shouldn't they.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 8 months ago
Yes, that's like what the mothers say too. Apparently the police are around town harassing tons of "good" young sons
crabman 10 years, 8 months ago
Freddie, Obie, time to pay the piper. You can run and run very fast, but the world has a way of righting it's self. Man up you two and go to the US to get us out of the mess you put us in. Go over to Florida and tell them the photos and film and cuts and bruises and confessions were all a miss-communication, tell them it never happened, as you can see by the comments above most of the good christian folks of my country don't believe a word of what they say in the US anyway. They will only believe when the tourists go away and their pockets are empty, then hell and brimstone will come flying down upon the poor pitiful politicians who have not been telling the truth about this matter. Come judgement day I hope you all have your asbestos pajamas on.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 8 months ago
Yeh they're allowed peaceful protest over there so the po po won't be locking no one up.
Sry but where Obie been????? O they was busy talking with lawyers about that sign on the container trailer tainting Perry's own character (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y63xC...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y63xC... comes with the job of being PM. Meanwhile , from July!! there's been protest at cruise ships pulling out http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/15...">http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/15.... Why so late? O Mitchell was tryna brush under the first international movement against our lack of compliance with UNHCR back then. And the protests had stopped except gov went making viscous examples that very day which sparked further efforts (http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/...">http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/...). What happened different to cause action now?
We don't expect truth to come out? Not addressing is allowing.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 8 months ago
How did i know when i read the headline that Tals would nearly become orgasmic w/ "red shirt nonsense " and Rory would resort to name calling of his fellow posters ...
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