Case of Cuban Immigrants Adjourned

The case of the Cuban immigrants who are on remand awaiting a court proceeding has been adjourned. Today, the proceedings took place virtually but in closed session among the parties and Justice Lisa Shoman. Last Friday, Justice Shoman had given the human rights attorneys who are representing the Cubans up to Monday to properly file their affidavits and to serve the counsels for the Crown and the court with copies of those documents. The Human Rights Commission had filed a suit against the government, after the Cubans had paid fines of a thousand dollars each and were given a removal order. However, they had reportedly indicated that they did not want to return to Cuba because they felt they would be imprisoned upon their return for leaving. The allegation against the state is that law enforcement authorities did not give the Cubans a chance to seek asylum and that their constitutional rights had been violated. They also claim that they were not provided with a translator to inform them in the language that they speak so that they could properly communicate. The Human Rights Commission got wind of the matter and got involved on the grounds that the Cubans should be given the opportunity to seek asylum in Belize. The matter will resume before Justice Shoman on Friday, May sixth.