Cubans Found in Belizean waters want their day in court

Remember the group of Cubans who were found stranded off the coast of Belize in February? Well two of them are taking G.O.B. to court. Human Rights Attorney Attoinette Moore, who is representing the Cubans in the Supreme Court case on Thursday, told News Five today that they will be seeking judicial review of the government’s failure to hear the refugee claims. The Cubans have applied for refugee status in Belize and according to Moore, under the Refugee Act and United Nations Refugee Convention, they are entitled to a hearing. But they have received no response to their applications and none of the requirements under the law have been complied with. Moore says there are several other immigrants behind bars whose applications for refugee status have equally been ignored. She clarified that her arguments are not on whether the Cubans should be allowed to stay or not, but that they should not be denied their right to a hearing. We also contacted the Cuban Embassy regarding the pending deportation and were told that the group of fourteen is still in Belize and there is no set date for their departure. But that may be soon since News Five has learnt that funding for their repatriation has been approved. The group originally numbered sixteen, but two of them died due to the harshness of the elements during their perilous journey on the seas.