Eight Cuban nationals who had opted to continue their journey by sea after 12 of their compatriots disembarked in Cayman Brac Sunday are being held by Customs and Border Control after their boat ran out of fuel off East End.
The eight arrived in East End around 6am today (3 May), and told police and CBC officers that they were out of fuel.
They had been part of a larger group of 20 Cubans who arrived at the Brac around 10:45pm on Sunday. A dozen of those on board left the vessel, which moored off Scotts Dock overnight, and told officials they did not want to go on with their journey. The eight remaining on board left the Brac Monday morning.
According to press releases issued by Customs and Border Control, since 14 April, 90 Cuban nationals have arrived in Cayman. This brings to 145 the number of Cubans who are currently being held on island by CBC.
The upsurge in the recent arrivals has led Cayman authorities to begin formulating a mass migration contingency plan.
In a statement issued last week, Customs and Border Control said, “In the event of local law enforcement agencies becoming overwhelmed due to a mass influx of migrants, assistance will be sought from other neighbouring British Overseas Territories through the Governor’s Office and/or the United Kingdom.”
The contingency plan will be triggered if the CBC’s Detention Centre reaches 80% of its capacity, officials said.
All Cuban nationals arriving illegally in the Cayman Islands first undergo COVID-19 protocols, including a 10-day quarantine period at the Detention Centre or another facility, before being processed, according to CBC.
Those arriving on Cayman Brac are transported to Grand Cayman for processing.
Timeline of recent arrivals
3 May – Eight Cubans, who had been among the original 20 to arrive on Cayman Brac on 1 May, run out of fuel in East End.
1 May – Twenty Cuban nationals arrive in Cayman Brac around 10:45pm. Twelve disembark and eight opt to continue their journey.
30 April – Two separate boats arrive in Cayman Brac. The first comes into Spot Bay around 1:15pm, carrying eight males and one female. About 10 hours later, a second boat, also carrying eight males and one female, arrives on the south shore of Cayman Brac. Most were in good health, but one was treated by ambulance staff for a laceration to his foot.
28 April – A boat carrying seven male and four female Cubans, all of whom are severely dehydrated, arrives in Grand Cayman. Two require medical assistance at the scene.
24 April – At around 9:15pm, a boat carrying 15 male Cubans arrives on the Brac.
23 April – In the early hours, a boat with five male Cubans on board arrives in Cayman Brac.
22 April – A vessel carrying six males and three females arrives in the Brac.
14 April – A boat carrying 12 Cuban males runs aground at Spot Bay, Cayman Brac.
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