The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Cuban Embassy remains tight-lipped on whether or not two Cubans claiming to have been beaten at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre will be returned to the Bahamas to testify.

Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman spoke with The Tribune yesterday about the status of the request to the Cuban Government by the Defence Force. The trial was postponed until Jordan Cantero and Alexander Vazcuez can be cross-examined.

“We are working on that right now,” Ambassador Guzman said.

When asked if the decision to testify rested with the individuals or their government, Mr Guzman said “it’s an 
issue for both sides to decide.”

“The only thing I can tell you right now is that we’re working on it and we will let you know what happens. We will resolve this,” he said.

Currently, the men in question do not have permission to travel.

Wayne Munroe, who represents the Defence Force marines accused of abuse, recently told The Tribune he does not believe the Cuban government will grant them the required permission.

The trial’s participants, he said, may therefore “have to go down” to Cuba to continue proceedings.

“They tried to escape Cuba before and tried to escape the detention centre so they won’t take that risk and let them come again,” he said.

He also noted that so far 23 witnesses have testified in the closed trial.

The Tribune understands that the Bahamas government is prepared to cover the costs of airfare for the two complainants.