By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PANAMANIAN officials have yet to formally engage the Bahamas government after announcing plans to offer territorial asylum to 19 Cuban detainees.

The country plans to send a roving ambassador to organise resettlement, according to Honorary Consul General of Panama David McGrath, who confirmed that no direct contact with Bahamian officials had been made up to press time yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who has refused to comment on the matter, said: “I don’t want to make any further comment on it. The statement of the government is the statement of the government and we’re proceeding along those lines. If the situation changes there will be another announcement about it.”

Allegations of human rights abuses against Cuban detainees in the Bahamas were among the considerations that led to Panama’s decision to grant the 19 Cuban nationals territorial asylum, according to Panama’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The release was sent out on Sunday. Mr McGrath yesterday confirmed that the Panamanian government had not yet reached out to the Bahamas government.

“Nothing has been confirmed as yet,” said Mr McGrath, “I was told that somebody is due to come up from Panama to meet with the government sometime this week, but I do not know anything more than that at this time.” 

“Everything,” he said, “is in process, as of (Monday) they had not reached the government formally.”

Meanwhile, Raul Sanchez, leader of the Cuban exile group “Democracy Movement”, said his organization will continue to agitate for the resettlement of all Cuban detainees in the country. 

Democracy Movement suspended its nearly two-month-long protest and hunger strike on Monday on the condition that the Bahamas government releases the Cubans to Panama.

Yesterday Mr Sanchez said: “We ate a little bit of fruit, and some light soup with no noodles just the liquid. We’re beginning to regain strength, and still working diligently to expedite the process of the visas that have been granted by Panama. We’re also trying to work with other countries in asking them to take the rest of the people.”

“We’re doing our best to get everyone we can out,” he added.

Mr Sanchez said the decision to end the protests came after the government of the Bahamas agreed to reopen an investigation of torture in their migrant detention centre.

During his House contribution on Monday, Mr Mitchell confirmed that investigations into allegations made by protesters and detainees were continuing. 

He added that the government had commissioned a formal probe headed by a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, and that punitive or disciplinary action may result pending the outcome of the report.