There was a heated exchange in the House of Assembly yesterday over the manner in which the two Cuban dentists were allowed to leave The Bahamas.
After being held for 11 months at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, Cuban dentists David Gonzalez-Mejias and Marialys Darias-Mesa were escorted to Jamaica Tuesday. morning, where they boarded another plane for the United States.
Their release came after U.S. Republican Representatives Connie Mack and Ileana RosLehtinen had threatened to table a motion to impose economic sanctions against The Bahamas, which would have included the discontinuation of the U.S. pre-clearance facilities at Nassau and Grand Bahama international airports.
However, the Free National Movement criticised the government over the Cubans’ handover to the Americans, saying it did not consult the Bahamian people and showed incompetence and indecisiveness in dealing with the matter that precipitated a diplomatic crisis.
In defence of the government, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said despite the matter taking 11 months to be resolved, there was an amicable agreement between all parties concerned which should be commended. “The matter has now been resolved with the departure of the individuals to the destination of their choice. The integrity of all of our country is intact, all of our international obligations have been honoured, and our relationships have been preserved with all parties,” he said.
Mr Mitchell, using the phrase, “My country right or wrong,” added that the FNM should be joining the government in promoting the country as one that has successfully resolved the problem, and not try to make it a partisan issue.
This triggered a wave of snickering on the Opposition side, provoking Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe to shout, “What, you don’t believe in My country right or wrong! You don’t believe Bahamians could have handled it? Is that what you’re suggesting?
“Stand up for The Bahamas for once. Stand up for something, stand for your country, man,” he admonished.
House Speaker Oswald Ingraham called for order saying, “This parliament certainly cannot continue in this fashion. We must maintain order in this place. Please honourable members, let’s seek to continue to do just that.”
Minister Mitchell continued after the five-minute interruption, thanking the Jamaican government for assisting in accommodating the Cubans’ travel to the United States.
“And some have asked why the individuals flew to Jamaica. I can only say Mr Speaker, in diplomacy, a country tries to make arrangements to settle matters in the best interest of all.”
He also put to rest arguments that The Bahamas was favouring its relations with Cuba over the United States. In 1996, the government signed a migration treaty with the Castro government calling for the swift repatriation of Cubans who are found in The Bahamas. The treaty stipulates that all Cubans who come to The Bahamas should be returned within 15 days. The Bahamas Government is also mandated to notify the Cuban Government within three days of Cubans landing here. Also, the Accord, which was amended in 1998, does not allow for any exceptions to repatriation.
Said Mr Mitchell, “In public comments on this matter some have sought to frame this as The Bahamas being more afraid of Castro than valuing friendship with the United States. That is foolishness and commentary rooted in ignorance.’
“I have said also that when two sovereign countries make an agreement, they are bound by that agreement. It is not in the interest in The Bahamas to either engage in or participate in a war of words or rhetoric with partisans from Cuba who are immigrants in another country. That is not a battle for The Bahamas.”
By: MINDELL SMALL, Guardian Senior Reporter
