More Cubans shipwrecked in Belize
In other police news, eleven more Cubans remain in police custody after they were found on Thursday stranded in the northern Turneffe islands. Acting Commissioner of Police, Gerald Westby, says they had received reports about the men, and in conjunction with the Immigration Department, a team was dispatched to the scene and the men brought in to Belize City.
A.S.P. Gerald Westby
“We got a report sometime yesterday that there were some Cubans stranded on northern Turneffe. And with liaison with immigration we sent out one of our vessel to assist them and these people were brought in. From the initial interviews we’ve had with them so far, they are claiming that they left Cuba about eleven days ago on their own to Honduras. About four days into their journey, their engine gave them trouble and then they started use sail and they ended up by Turneffe. We are working closely…it’s an immigration matter, so immigration will follow it up thereof.”
Jacqueline Woods
“More than likely they will be deported back to Cuba?”
A.S.P. Gerald Westby
“Well I wouldn’t want to comment on that, that’s an immigration matter, so I prefer to leave it for immigration.”
Jacqueline Woods
“But for the moment they are here in police custody.”
A.S.P. Gerald Westby
“Right, but we are working with immigration. It’s an immigration matter, but they are I police custody.”
Seven Cuban boat people who landed at northern Ambergris Caye on November seventh are being allowed to repair their vessel and head back out to sea. They claim that they will be returning to Cuba.
