They have informed Mickey Garrote, spokesperson for the Miami-based Cuban exile group, Agenda Cuba, about the missing items.
“We have sent quite a bit of toiletries, clothing, English grammar books to the detainees but they never received them,” said Mr Garrote.
“And seven Bibles that were dedicated and signed to specific Cuban detainees of an Opposition group in Cuba were sent in November 2005 but they have not received them,” he added.
“But this goes further back to 2004 where we have sent things and they never received them.”
However, when The Guardian called the Detention Centre yesterday, senior officer Sheryl Saunders said in her nine years of working at the facility, it had never denied basic items to the detainees. She explained that only glass items, razors, and knives are not allowed.
“But as far as us taking those basic items, that’s not true,” she stressed. “We have visitation days on Tuesdays and Fridays and when Cuban nationals from the U.S. come here, the only thing we do is search the items. But they give the items to their families themselves.”
“As far as items being shipped, we have no control over that because the items are not delivered here. On one or two occasions DHL (Worldwide Express) brought about one or two boxes for the Cuban nationals and we went in the back and allowed the Cubans the sign for them. The only thing we do is examine the items and make sure they pass security.”
Mrs Saunders also noted that there are 97 Cubans at the Centre, up from 60 just a year ago.
By: MINDELL SMALL, Senior Reporter at The Nassau Guardian
