Protests against The Bahamas will resume in Miami, Florida according to
Cuban activist Ramon Sanchez, who indicated that he is prepared to die for the cause.
Sanchez, a representative of the Democracy Movement, told The Nassau Guardian the group decided to resume protests after it received word that a group of Cubans detained in The Bahamas will be repatriated.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell confirmed that the Cuban government has approved repatriation requests for some of the detainees. He added that some requests are still outstanding.
But the Democracy Movement is pushing for the Cubans to be sent to a third country.
“It’s sad, but if this hangs over our heads we have no choice but to begin our demonstrations and [Thursday] morning you will see us begin our hunger strike in front of the Bahamas [Consul General Office] downtown Miami…I am willing to die for this.”
The Democracy Movement called off its weeks-long protests against The Bahamas after Panama indicated its intention to accept the migrants.
The group has heavily promoted a travel boycott of The Bahamas and recently protested outside the Bahamas Consul General Office.
The protests started after a Spanish-language TV station in Florida broadcasted a video that purported to show Cuban detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre being beaten by Bahamian officers.
The Bahamas government has dismissed it as being a fake video.
Sanchez, who was one of two people who staged the hunger strike, said he went 18 days without eating.
He said while the protestors are prepared to fight indefinitely, they hope the issue could soon be put to rest.
Mitchell said previously that the government would release the Cubans to any third country willing to accept them.
“A deportation order was signed some time ago, so as soon as we can find a country that’s willing to take them, they can go,” he said.
On Monday, Honorary Consul General of Panama to The Bahamas David McGrath said Panama intends to offer humanitarian exile to 19 Cuban nationals.
However, Mitchell told reporters earlier this week that the government of Panama has not formally communicated its intent to offer humanitarian asylum to the Cubans.
Source: Krystel Rolle
The Nassau Guardian
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Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay President Rev. C. B. Moss yesterday renewed his call for the government to reject an application from Canadian fashion designer and Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard to lease Crown land in the Clifton Bay area.
Moss, who held a press conference in Rawson Square, claimed the waters in the Clifton Bay area were challenged by work carried out at Nygard Cay.
“This news alarmed the coalition, because while we had heard of periodic oil spills, they were described as minor by the authorities,” he said. “Therefore, the magnitude of the threat to the proposed sea park was of great concern to us.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie said in the House of Assembly last week that no approvals to dredge the waters or acquire land in the area have been given to Nygard or any other group.
He said upon coming to office last year he engaged a consultant to have a study done of the Clifton Bay area.
The study examined the accretion of land at Nygard Cay and the history of the Lyford Cay area, he said.
“The study indicated to us that what was being done was not the correct way to do it and in any event the necessary permissions were not there,” Christie said.
“We had the written details of the implications of (Nygard’s neighbor) Louis Bacon breaking out into the sea and written certifications that up to this point, as I’m speaking, questioning whether or not they got dredging permit, or paid the fees etc.
“The study looked at the work that was done out there and the challenges to the beach out there.
“I forwarded the study to the minister of works, the deputy prime minister (Philip Brave Davis), who in accordance with the report issued a stop order to Mr. Nygard; that the work be stopped immediately.
“That’s what a responsible government does. No further approvals were given.
“A process is now ensuing where a determination as to the course of action we take has to be effective.”
Moss, who fought to protect Clifton Bay in 1999, said he wants the government to put the interests of the Bahamian public first and reject any applications by Nygard to acquire land that coalesced around his property.
Moss told reporters, “The Coalition to Save Clifton is adamantly opposed to the approval of the lease or grant of this crown land to Mr. Nygard, or indeed to anyone else.
“In fact, we are opposed to the continued existence of this artificially created three acres.”
