Cayman’s Human Rights Commission has backed the government’s plan to deal with a potential influx of Cuban migrants as the country’s economic crisis deepened.
A written statement said: “The commission is satisfied that the government is taking appropriate and responsible steps to plan for potential scenarios.
“Preparedness is an evolving process, particularly in situations involving humanitarian protection and continued coordination and flexibility will be important.
“We remain supportive of efforts to ensure that responses are consistent with Cayman’s legal and human rights obligations while recognising practical constraints.”
Cayman’s four-person Human Rights Commission includes Chairman Ben Tonner and members Nicholas Dixey, Alecia Johns and Mike Gibbs.
Strategic direction
The commission was speaking after the government’s recent announcement that a multi-agency Mass Migration Committee had been set up.
The government said the committee was designed to ensure that the relevant agencies could provide “strategic direction” and that any response was “proportionate, legally compliant and aligned with national priorities”.
It added that the committee would also support Customs and Border Control officials if it had to implement established procedures for large numbers of people fleeing Cuba, Cayman’s nearest neighbour.
The procedures prioritise identity verification, medical and health screening and security assessments, consistent with Cayman law and international standards.
A Ministry of District Administration and Home Affairs spokesperson said at the time that existing facilities such as the immigration detention centre at Fairbanks would continue to be used to house migrants.
She added, “Any activation would be short-term, phased and subject to strict operational controls, with utilisation determined solely by operational need and capacity at the relevant time.”
Finite resources
A Cuban escapee, one of two who fled from the immigration detention centre on 7 Feb., was recaptured on Friday, 20 Feb. by Customs and Border Control officials.
The other turned himself in to the centre just two days after the escape.
The Human Rights Commission highlighted in its response to the Compass that Cayman, like other small jurisdictions, had “finite resources” with which to respond to humanitarian crises
“Capacity to respond would necessarily depend on the scale of arrivals, but the Cayman Islands government has demonstrated an ability to respond pragmatically and collaboratively in times of change.”
Helping or sheltering a migrant or helping them to make an illegal entry or departure from Cayman is a criminal offence. Offenders could face a fine of $50,000 and seven years in jail.
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