By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has ordered an investigation into the possibility that Cuban migrants are entering the Bahamas intentionally in an attempt to “destabilize our country.”
This comes after 13 Cuban migrants were apprehended in waters near Cay Sal on Sunday. The 10 men and three women, add to 20 illegal Cubans that have been interdicted in Bahamian waters in the past few weeks.
Earlier this month, 14 Cubans were found in waters near Bimini. Two weeks before that six Cuban men were found in waters near Cat Sal Bank. The men were apprehended by the U S Coast Guard but turned over to Bahamian authorities shortly after their capture.
Five of them have since been repatriated to Cuba.
Mr Mitchell, in a statement, said he has instructed officials to begin investigations in both the Department of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs to address the increase in apprehensions.
“Last night I learned to my chagrin that another 13 Cubans have been interdicted by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in Bahamian waters. These illegal migrants are to be transported to Nassau for processing before their return to Cuba,” the release said.
“This morning (Tuesday) I have instructed the public officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Department to immediately review this and the other recent interdictions, including formal contacts with our immediate neighbouring countries to see if there is any connection to criminal elements in those countries seeking to destabilize our country by
encouraging people to breach our borders by leaving Cuba and entering The Bahamas illegally.”
This twist comes after the Cuban exile group – Democracy Movement – threatened to meet with the Organization of American States if a report detailing the alleged abuse of detainees at the Detention Centre was not released.
However, despite months of protesting, Mr Mitchell said the Democracy Group has not had an impact on the Bahamas’ economy.
Comments
blackcat 10 years, 7 months ago
So, Fred thinks people are intentionally coming into this country to "destabilize" us. Does he mean in light of the alleged beatings at the detention center? I'm quite sure that if they knew about what went on there, they would jump ship before risking a trip to the bahamas, at least I would. This man has time to rush an investigation on something like this, yet he has not a minute to focus on the accusations against officers who, according to reports, went out of their way to beat the sh*t out of Cubans in our custody. Hmm....excellent job, keep up the good work.
i guess we should just drop everything since we bahamians spend so much money shopping in Miami, that excuses any and everything, of course.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Fred has gone crazy ,he knows most of the illegal alien smuggling rings are run by Bahamians , whats he trying to say that crimminal groups in Cuba are sending people to destabilize our country or crimminal groups in the U/S are encourageing them ??..Freedy freedy this nonsense may fly w/ the most ardent PLP,S and drunks under the tree ,but in reality it makes you look like a sore loser ,,now that Ramon Sanchez has pushed so hard you can,t sweep the beatings at the detention center under the rug
WinstonSmith 10 years, 7 months ago
HAHAHAHAHAH @ FRED
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
My Comrades given the unprecedented attacks against Minister Freddy, even before this Cuban saga, it can only mean one thing. That the red shirts are trying to cover-up something much too damaging about their own party's leadership infighting. Too potentially destructive for the news to go public. If anyone should know what the Cubans are really up to about disrupting our tourism economy on the world media stage, it would have to be their own locally positioned agents ... the red shirts. It was not Minister Freddy who told the entire world, that the Cuban Movement Group are now being advised by the red shirts! Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, The Royal Sovereign Head, reigning over Nassau Town and all her Out islands .... what in da hell are you go'in do about YOUR Loyal Opposition Party, acting as Agents for a foreign movement?
by TalRussell
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Tals really every time something comes out a little askew about any PLP ,and you turn it into an attack on the "red shirts " it is both childish and boring .At this point the FNM is on there knees and has no say at all on policy and international relations .Tals a year and a half ago your party won ,TALK ABOUT THEIR GOVERNANCE ..How can there be a fair and impartail hearing when the alleged victims are back in Cuba ??,,You really do have OCD that anytime a PLP is on the hot seat you rattle on about imaginary plots and twist with in the FNM ,,ITS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE ABSOLUTLY NO CONTROL OVER , IF A PLP MP IS GETTING HEAT OR A FNM TALKS YOU AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO FNM BASHING ,,,MEDICATION MAY HELP..
Frosty 10 years, 7 months ago
Minister Mitchell may be a bit paranoid as a result of the stress from the abuse scandal. Its not a conspiracy to destabilize the country but rather opportune moment. Right now their(the illegal cuban aliens) mindset must be that the Bahamas no choice but to handle their (the illegal cuban aliens) immigration status with due haste. Either grant them asylum, let them pass the interview to obtain asylum in another country or ship them back. Either way the Bahamas has to do it fast or they will try claiming unfair treatment letting their sorely confused miami based group loose on another pointless attack.
Also "This twist comes after the Cuban exile group – Democracy Movement – threatened to meet with the Organization of American States if a report detailing the alleged abuse of detainees at the Detention Centre was not released."
I Find this hilarious as their is no law that stipulates documents MUST be released to the public let alone FOREIGN BODIES not involved in governing bodies, joint international criminal investigations (this is a domestic case) or sanctioned parties that specialize in a particular area were contracted to be involved in this case as to satisfy concerned international regulatory bodies.
just me 10cents
242realtalk 10 years, 7 months ago
Fred Mitchell said what!? Fred done lost his mind!
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
if anybody in their right mind ,or crazy as a loon mind ,believes Freedy told anybody at any agency to talk to anybody in any countries foriegn affairs dept , about organized criminal gangs sending people to destabilize the Bahamas they also believe Fred is a ladies man ....
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
I have never in my fifty one years on this planet heard any Bahamian of Bahamian descent say "jog on " or " bore off "
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
So let me get this straight. Fweddie believes that whole bunches of Cubans sit in a stinky holds of boats for hours and hours with no water to drink, being tossed in the sea, hidden under decks in old rust buckets, to surreptitiously land in the Bahamas where they will be caught like animals, and beaten. And then they get shipped back to Cuba where they go to prison for trying to escape the Castro brothers social utopia. And they do this because they are secretly trying to de-stabilize the Bahamas. And I suppose afterwards, they self deport and get into a line for voluntary crucifixion. What is Fweddie smoking? He should go back to doing what he does best -- taking cash for visas:
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Good one @Banker ,,my laugh for the day ,,thx
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
Talk about poetic justice being delivered, when it comes to the degree of stress which the Miami-based Cuban Movement's Loyal Red Shirts Agents is causing Hubert up in he Cooper's Town, as he attempts to write his first novel, "How Tings Fall "Terribly" Apart Under My Leadership."
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
@ Tals...Get some meds for that OCD , This is an article about MP Mitchell claiming that criminal groups are trying to destabilize the Bahamas , it has nothing to do w/ HAI becoming an author ..
UserOne 10 years, 7 months ago
Rory, recently some of your posts were worth reading. However, you seem to have slipped back to the ranting with name calling that other bloggers have objected to in the past. Try getting it together again; your posts are not worth reading when you engage in ranting and name calling.
lazybor 10 years, 7 months ago
unbelievable...
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TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
If only I owned a pair them "flame" crest monogrammed red plaid pajamas, I'd slip on mine. while I drinks a bottle of da same Red Wine to booze me self up. Who wouldn't want to experience the high of a hurt'in red shirts? Cause what other excuse could they possibly come up with to excuse away, posting such utter foolishness? Even they don't believe what they post. Ween - Booze Me Up and Get Me High - Live in Chicago
.. / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSLuPl...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSLuPl...
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Tals , I will personally send you some medication to help deal with that OCD thingy you got going on .Once again this is an article about MP Mitchell saying he has started an investigation about criminal groups sending people here to destabilize our country . It is not an article about" flame" crested monogrammed pajamas ,red wine and boozing and doping in Chicago
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
Comrade i do have a right to demand that the critics of minister Freddy at least try posting the truth. But that isn't juicy enough to sell newspapers, attract viewers and listeners. Minister Freddy did only one thing he shouldn't have. He had no reason to have entered into what has now turned into a media farce, with sickening help of the Miami-based Cuban Movement's local red shirts (FNM) agents, over the alleged abuse of the Cubans. It is the minister of defense, not the minister of immigration, who holds the portfolio for the actions of the guards at the detention center. Sorry, but I take offense to the publishing of photos of the minster with a stash of cash, supposedly from corruption on his behalf.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
@Tals. I think the first talk of visa irregularities concerning the MP was made from a person in the foreign affairs department and disclosed on wikileaks , her name escapes me now. The MP in question is a very skilled litigator if he felt he had been slander he is more then capable of seeking damages from the person who accused him .The person name was published in both dailies and the person sent letters to officals so the accusations were in print also ,which if false would be libel .He decided not to pursue legal recourse and open that can of worms ..Tals really "take offence " what about some of the cartoons and pics you post ,,your kidding right ??
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
Dorothea LaFleur was her name. Mitchell appointed someone over her, and the department went on strike. Mitchell had to back down. Lafleur accused Mitchell of taking money from the Chinese. Mitchell said that the visas were for managers of big Chinese multi-nationals. When the MFA investigated, the companies were all fake except for a small mom and pop organisation. Mitchell said that he would sue Lafleur. He never did.
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
Anyone who has read me would have recognized I do not get angry. I cannot help but be angry with the reds, who do not care a damn that their association with the Miami-based Cuban Movement, has the potential to result in the loss of thousands of Bahamalander's paychecks, which means families will also lose their NIB benefits. Mortgages foreclosed in the thousands. Renters kicked out on to the streets. BEC not only cutting off the lights of dwellings, but businesses. They are playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette with the thousands of future jobs Baha Mar is promising to create. Let's not forget about the thousands who will be fired and ordered off Atlantis properties. If the Business Community knows what's good for their economic survival, they had better start picking up their damn telephone's and calling these red shirts MP's, to warn them to stop this dangerously political nonsense.
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
How can you blame the beatings of Cuban prisoners on her Majesty's Opposition? They are doing their job of holding the government accountable. Fred Mitchell was caught in a lie in America. He is being contradicted by Bernard Nottage. Perry Christie is silent. And this is the Opposition's fault. I suppose that you think that Pindling was not a drug runner, or that Fred Mitchell is not gay, or that Shane Gibson did not take a Rolex watch to fast track and have an affair with Anna Nicole, or that there was no closet of money for Vergeneas Alfred Gray, or that Shane Gibson did not steal millions from the ministry of housing, or that Sidney Stubbs wasn't involved in the Korean Boats or Fred Mitchell took money from the Chinese, or Obie Wilchcombe did not buy votes or Valentine Grimes was not caught with a suitcase full of ballots. You dearest PLP is nothing but a racketeering bunch of criminals led by a half-gay, vacuous, vacillating leader who cannot control his cabinet, and yet you have the audacity to blame this fiasco on the Opposition. You madam, are a very very sick, delusional person who belongs in Sandilands.
4renbahamian 10 years, 7 months ago
Sandilands is too small this is new level of crazy. What next for the Fred group.
getrightbahamas 10 years, 7 months ago
it just struck me. All the attacks on fred reveals that he is a threat for leadership of the PLP and then PM.
I think the FNM is afraid. I mean, He is popular
banker 10 years, 7 months ago
The PLP aren't afraid of Fred. They have so much muck on him, that if he ever stood for leader, it would all come out and he would never be elected to office again. This happened when Nottage was running for leader against Christie. The back room boys smeared Nottage's wife Portia because she was an entertainer. They called her everything except a child of God, implying that she was the loosest woman in the Bahamas. Why Nottage ever went back to the party is beyond me. They insulted his wife, his life and his manhood. Fred doesn't have those things for obvious reasons.
4renbahamian 10 years, 7 months ago
A man without a wife is call Fred
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Helmet boy anyone can be whatever they want to be,,,but if you start to argue that Fred ,Obie ,or Mother Pratt are heterosexual you need to see an eye doctor and a head doctor b/c you have had a break w/ reality ..Most times in 2013 people are exactly what they appear to be .
242realtalk 10 years, 7 months ago
Whatever stuck you should strike you again...Fred is only a threat to the Bahamas continuing to be seen as a country seeking to suppress the truth and having a Minister of Foreign Affairs that is incompetent and clueless as to what is diplomacy.
Fred is known but not popular, please make him leader of the PLP...That would be the easiest election for the FNM to win ever.
Please PLP make Fred the leader...lol
briwest1773 10 years, 7 months ago
Unfortunately if Fred were leader that would not help the FNM, as Minnis is not doing much better!
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
What you read here tells us that to be baptized as a red shirt, means to make the passage from NassauTown to the Port of Miami, to advise the Cuban Movement, all about how the Cubans can successfully boycott their own Bahamaland's vital tourism industry. This is a dangerous commitment to a foreign movement. Something NO opposition party in the long history of Bahamaland have ever so shamefully before committed themselves to foreigner's service. No so with the Honorable House member who now sits alone and hails from the great Marsh Harbor The only red shirts House MP, who understands the importance of tourism to his Abaco. God bless you Comrade Edison!
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
Tals who do you think financed and wrote a lot of Pindlings early speeches . The italians and jews out of New york and had lost their gambling interest in Cuba and wanted to expand here ,,
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