Cuban Refugees Cause Stir

Monday, April 26, 2004

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Reader comments:

• Mr Harris asks, “Where are the human rights in Cayman?” Perhaps he and others in the Cayman Islands should pay more attention to articles published recently by Cayman Net News and he would realise that there are NO human rights in Cayman and there never will be unless and until voters insist on their elected government accepting the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution - Anonymous
  
   
• So the officials think "Cayman Brac is another Country”. Well indeed! And we who were born in the Sister Islands are quite aware that we often are looked on as "Bastard Children". At least we can be thankful that maybe they have finally realized that the Sister Islands are separate Islands and NOT a connected District of Grand Cayman. That is why we should not have to take a back seat and wait for handouts when it comes to our piped water, medical needs, etc., etc. I don't think we can expect to see water trucks, fire trucks, or ambulances drive over from Grand Cayman like the other districts can expect. Someone needs to find out for sure though, what the Cubans are really up to...they may be running that lucrative stuff between these Caribbean Islands. The many, many private planes flying into Little Cayman on that private land that they have been using as an airfield, may not all be tourists - Anonymous
  
   
• I am encouraged by the media seeking to hold the Immigration Dept accountable for the treatment of refugees and I would like to suggest that media and other independent observers should accompany the repatriation of these people to ensure that Cayman is complying with international treaty obligations.
  
  In the meantime, I was astounded to learn recently that policy in relation to the treatment of refugees is being dictated by the Government Information Service (GIS). The Memorandum of Understanding that the public has not yet seen is reportedly a bilateral agreement between Cuba and the Government of the Cayman Islands, the legality of which must be in serious question.
  
  In the circumstances, it is entirely inappropriate for GIS to make decisions as to the treatment of refugees, or indeed any policy decisions at all – its purpose is to disseminate information. The preferred course of action would be for the refugees in question to be handed over to the International Red Cross for processing in accordance with the Geneva Convention and other treaties – Anonymous

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