A review of the memorandum of understanding between the
Cayman Islands and Cuba will be a welcomed undertaking.
Members of the Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission have
said they are considering a review of the MOU as it pertains to human rights.
It’s time for such a review to take place.
The MOU was signed between Cuba and Cayman on 15 April,
1999.
Basically the agreement says that any Cubans who come to the
Cayman Islands illegally will be repatriated. People who live in Cayman aren’t
allowed – legally – to equip Cubans with food, water or fuel.
The Cubans who find themselves on our shores are usually
travelling in poorly equipped vessels on their way to Honduras in search for a
better life. We would think that most Cubans know about the MOU and wouldn’t
trouble with coming to Cayman’s shores unless there was a need for help.
Most Caymanians would like to offer emergency provisions and
send the Cubans along on their journey to freedom.
In 2005 Cabinet passed regulations that took the MOU further
by establishing guidelines on how migrants should be received. The action came
after a busy period of Cubans leaving their homeland and ending up in Cayman.
It appears that a failing economy in Cuba is the impetus for
more Cubans to leave their homes and venture out to sea in search of freedom.
We’ve already seen an uptick in the number of illegals arriving on Cayman Brac
and Grand Cayman.
Whatever the Human Rights Commission determines in its review
of the MOU, any changes will have to be weighed carefully. The Cayman Islands
needs Cuba more than Cuba needs us. That will become even more evident if and
when the United States lifts sanctions against Cuba and allows its citizens to
freely travel to and from our neighbour
to the north. Once that happens, Cuba will be a direct competitor to our
tourism product, especially cruise tourism.
In the meantime we can expect more Cubans to pass our
shores. Some will be repatriated, but most won’t stay put.
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