The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

CUBAN exile group the Democracy Movement yesterday staged a “silent protest” outside of the Bahamas Consulate office in Miami, Florida.

Activist Ramon Sanchez, the group’s leader, said the move was to symbolise their opposition to the repatriation of Cuban detainees from the Detention Centre.

Around 40 protesters stationed themselves outside the office in Downtown Miami wearing black bands around their mouths, handcuffs on their wrists and pictures of alleged abused detainees hanging from their necks.

If the Bahamas government ignores the steps which the group has taken, Mr Sanchez said they intend to protest outside not only Bahamasair counters at Miami International Airport, but at other airlines that fly to the Bahamas.

He said: “We acknowledge that there are steps being taken and we know that this is not going to last forever because we are eager to end this campaign.

“But we just want the government to take responsibility or make a definitive statement which should happen in a democratic government.”

Mr Sanchez said his group was not attempting to harm the Bahamas’ economy. He said they only wanted to enlighten those coming to the Bahamas or conducting business here on the “atrocities” that have been committed against Cubans at the Detention Centre.

“The focus is not on doing anything that will stifle the Bahamas’ economy but since we are not there, we have to use whichever avenues are available to us. This is a target toward the Bahamian government,” Mr Sanchez said.