The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE Defence Force will not investigate claims by a 24-year-old Cuban woman that she was raped and impregnated by one of its officers while at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

According to the RBDF, any such probe would have to be carried out by Immigration officials who run the detention centre, the Defence Force only providing security.

This despite the fact that the Defence Force has just completed an investigation into claims its officers beat male Cuban detainees at the centre in June.

A member of Florida watchdog group The Democracy Movement made the rape claim at a press conference in Miami last week.

Yesterday, Defence Force public relations officer Lt Origin Deleveaux said the Force has not “received any reports” of this nature

“That was the first we heard about that, actually,” he said.

But, Lt Deleveaux added, the complaint should be directed to the Ministry of Immigration in any case, as that ministry is “really in charge” of the detention centre.

“In most cases, any problems they have, any concern they have, would be forwarded through Immigration and Foreign Affairs,” he said.

At the press conference in Miami, activist Jesus Alexis told the press: “Today I am going to give the news. A young woman was raped. ”

Mr Alexis gave the name of her rapist (withheld by The Tribune).

He said the officer responsible was “apparently heading one of the beatings. His name is very well known throughout the detainees there.

“I don’t want the government to say that she was impregnated in Cuba, that is impossible. She only has been there four days and she has about three months of pregnancy.

“How can they have a sexual relationship when the duty of the guards is to protect the detainees? Their responsibility is to protect them, not rape them.”