Another 41 Cubans arrive in Cayman Islands

Posted on Thursday, 07.03.14

Another 41 Cubans arrive in Cayman Islands
BY JUAN O. TAMAYO
JTAMAYO@ELNUEVOHERALD.COM

A boat with 41 Cuban migrants aboard has arrived in the Cayman Islands
and asked for 24 hours of safe harbor because of bad weather, the
Immigration Department of the British territory announced Thursday.

The 33 men and eight women arrived in Cayman Brac island on Wednesday
evening and asked for permission to wait out a weather system, the
department said in a brief announcement that gave no other details of
the group.

The statement added that the arrival of a second boatload of Cuban
migrants in less than one week "demonstrates an increase in the number
of migrants leaving Cuba and passing though the Cayman area."

Thirty-four Cubans aboard a home-made boat docked Sunday in the east end
of Grand Cayman Island but sailed away quickly after authorities ordered
them to move on or face detention and eventual repatriation to their
country.

Another 30 Cubans were ordered to sail on or be detained last week after
their wooden had broken down and drifted for nearly two weeks along the
south side of Grand Cayman Island. Local residents apparently helped
them to repair their vessel.

Most Cubans spotted in Cayman waters set sail from eastern Cuba, 125
miles to the north of the British territory, and hope to ride the
prevailing currents and winds to reach Honduras. From there, they try to
travel by land to the United States, where they can legally stay under
the U.S. "wet foot, dry foot policy."

Under a 1999 agreement between the Cayman Islands and Cuba, Cayman
authorities can allow Cuban boatpeople to continue on their voyage if
their vessel is safe. But if their boat is not fit, the Cubans must be
forced to land and be detained in immigration centers. Virtually all are
later repatriated to their home country.

Source: Another 41 Cubans arrive in Cayman Islands - Cuba -
MiamiHerald.com -
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/03/4217303/another-41-cubans-arrive-in-cayman.html