very well said! Let's ignore these nonsenses...<img src="http://tinyurl.com/c7l9ck6" width="1">

read the article ,there are democrats also ,,,,,although i prefer democrats they lie also ,,Ben gazi...also i as a Bahamian have been beaten by the police ,then rode in the van all night as they whipped the sh##t out of young black males and told them to get their a## back over the hill ,,,,this wasn,t the 1950.,s it was 2003 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,

When I first heard the story I thought it was just a bunch of baloney. I thought it was ludicrous that defence force officers would beat detainees. But from what I read today...one of the detainees may have been hospitalized for something like 3days. That's unbelievable!! I'm going to assume that it was retaliation for something done to the officer...but that's no excuse.

Human rights violations are a big deal **worldwide** not just in the States. I believe what Fred Mitchell did was done in spite...my personal belief. If there were reports that the Panamanians wanted the detainees it should have been investigated, the "I haven't heard anything from the Panamian consulate" doesn't pass muster.

It looks bad. Some may say who cares..with all the %#%* blowing around in this mess I pray not too much of it blows back on us.

This was poorly handled all around.

VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT POST

It is well known around the world that the Bahamian police can and do beat detainees’! You all wonder why the Cubans are crying foul when a young man was beaten to death by police and it was just reported through the media.

SEEMS like these people trying to use the Bahamas to advance their dispute with Cuba. On the one hand they claim the Cubans were beaten, mistreated and underfed in the Bahamas but they made no effort to assist in their maintenance. Then they say the Cubans was seeking to return to the USA but authorities in that country never gave permission for their return. Then there were claims that they eere granted assyulum in Panama but this was never confirmed. In the main time loud and embarrassing protests were going on affecting the economy and number one industry of this country. The government did the right thing and got the Cubans out of this jurisdiction. Now they should communicate with the Cuban government and those protestors in Florida and let them know that while the present environment exists, there is no guarantee thst Cubans found illegally in our waters and on our shores will NOT be returned to Cuba. So advise their people NOT to come

unless the Cubans are pretty girls ,somehow they seem to get out of the detention center ,marry a Bahamian and open businesses ,,,the U/S can survive w/ out our shopping in miami ,,we can,t survive w/ out their 4 to 5 million visitors a year ,,its nice to point the finger at the big bad U/S but unless we make beds and serve them drin ks we don,t eat ,,THATS REALITY ,,,,

Wow. This story is getting legs. It didn't die down. This doesn't look good for the Bahamas. I am wondering if the Cubans were beaten here. If so, then the story won't die down.

It seems to me that they were...I was shocked to hear it, from Fred Mitchell's earlier communication i thought the whole story was a load of crap...but it seems "something" actually did happen. One of these articles today mentioned that one of them may have been in the hospital for 3 days...

If they are so 'gravely concerned' why dont they take these 'refugees' off of our hands? I mean that is where the cubans want to be, IN THE USA! IF YOU REPUBLICANS/SENATORS/CONGRESSMEN ARE SOOO 'CONCERNED', PLEASE HELP US AND OFFER ASYLUM TO THESE BLATANT/TRESPASSING CUBANS! Our country is small, we have our hands full dealing with our own citizens, yet you want us to just give asylum to these LYING/DEFAMING/TRESPASSING Cubans? I HATE WHEN THESE SPECIFIC AMERICANS GIVE ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE THINGS YET THEY DON'T WANT TO OFFER HELP OR ACCEPT THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING. They are not even here to see what is going on and, are not even trying to either. They only see and hear what is in the media but never seek the real source of information which is coming from our Minister Fred Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell do not mind all the heat coming from this. Stand your ground and do not be swayed, same to you Mr. PGC! Now get this mulatto man 'plastic smile' off of the front page, there is other more important news to be reported!

READ THE ARTICLE ,THERE ARE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS/CONGRESSMEN TOO,,THE U/S EMBASSY GIVES US A LOT TO HELP ,,EVERY 10YRS OR SO THEY GIVE US BOATS THAT END UP AS SCRAP AT CORAL HARBOUR ,,THE LAST ONES ON DRY DOCK SOME MARINES STOLE THE PROPELLORS TO SELL FOR SCRAPE ,,DON,T WORRY THE EMBASSY KNOWS IF THERE WERE BEATINGS OR NOT ?

Mr.Concerned Citizen, you want to critique but it doesn't seem like you've got on your glasses or contacts. Do you see the slashes '/' that separate the words? REPUBLICANS / SENATORS / CONGRESSMAN. Republicans in the sense that it relates to this Senator, and Senators and Congressman in general who are also concerned, Republican and/or Democrats. And hell with them boats, because it is not the matter of catching them, we already did that, but it seems like they are more concerned with the treatment that they did not help to assist and/or offer. We are treating them the best with what we have but is it not obvious the state and geographical location of our country? This is not something that just happens out of the blue, we are in the center of a trade/immigrant triangle in the sense that Goods are being transported to and from the USA as well as immigrants looking for a better life there. Its not our fault that these refugees did not think of the consequence of 'what if we get caught by Bahamian authorities?'. Immigration affects us all differently.

also i as a Bahamian have been beaten by our police and some of us are complicent in smuggling cubans and hatians ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it makes us feel good to give the finger to the big bad U/S ,but deep inside we all know our very standard of living depends on american visitors ,republicans and democrats ,,and lest you forget it is a democrat that passed the cultural exchange program w/ Cuba making it possible for 400,000 americans to visit there last year ,,next time you go through FT lauderdale look at the ads w/ direct flight from U/S to Cuba ,,the tour company pulls the permit from the state department under cultural exchange ,,all approved under a democratic administration ..

The police do this to our own and we still defend them.

The above statement contained in the letter is interesting and suggestive that something did occur, "the description of their treatment is deplorable, but we recognize your government's efforts in accepting responsibility and for committing to a full investigation into what occurred". If the claims are bogus, exactly what did we accept responsibility for? I understand the need to send a clear message to potential Cuban immigrants, however, notwithstanding this situation should have been handled with better professionalism and diplomacy. We are a small country and we must choose our partners and enemies very carefully because unfortunately the concept of a level playing field is unrealistic. It is similar to your child demanding a level playing field and joint decision making in your house.

Thanks Minister Mitchell. Are there any other issues above you can shed light on based on your discussions with them?

There seems to be a lot of paid propagandists (or ignoramuses) in the comment section of this article.

Nothing happened, the video was fake (even the protestors admitted it was fake) and they (the cubans) came here illegally to begin with. I like how Mitchell didn't bow to foreign pressure, if he did, every dirty Cuban and their mama would be on a boat headed for Nassau.

Anyone taking the side of the illegals is an illegal themselves, a paid propagandist or just plain stupid.

Get off this page bey!

Rubio is a joke, I find it funny how all those Americans bashing Mitchell are of Cuban descent.

GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY GO BACK TO CUBA!

Don't know who you're referring to as paid...but I really wish someone was paying me to do this, I like it, its fun reading the comments, the differing opinions, arguing your point etc...and its a lot less stress than my real job!

Anyway..I haven't seen the video but from what's been described I'd probably agree it was a fake. For weeks as this story unfolded I completely dismissed it because ...well, it's obviously fake ..anyone can see that. I didn't even comment previously...no need

**but** for the first time I am hearing that someone may have actually been in hospital for 3 days??? What is that? It's the first time I'm hearing it...why? Ok maybe I missed the report...but that's serious, that has nothing to do with a fake tape

Imagine if worldwide they start reporting that the Bahamas is TORTURING political refugees? Because that is exactly how it would be characterized. And don't say the states does it ..we're not the states we don't have the leverage, we're a tiny little island depending on worldwide visitors in order to feed ourselves.

I,M not so sure if the tape is the issue ,its sending them back to Cuba if Panama would have taking them ..As a former bad guy that has been arrested a 'few' times and been to Fox Hill the police beat the sh##t out of people ..once in 2003 they had me in the van all night telling me i could "buy out " as they rode around whipping the snot out of young guys w/ tamarind switch telling them carry there ass back over the hill ,,i was not a nice fellow and the violence even shocked me ,,,

i think now its more about they could of went to panama ,,and considering 90% of our guest come from the U/S ,,who is it most practical to appease ??

send the pretty gals first ,lol,,,done a bunch of them living behind standard pluming ,working for T Wells ,,,,,,,,,,,,,they even get club now ,Tynum ,,murphyville done gone latin

So what does Marco think the Bahamas should do with them?

This could've been done to build relations with the Cuban government in respect to letting some of the Bahamians that is jail over there out.

Send ALL ILLEGALS BACK TO THEIR OWN LAND. P E R I O D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But has anyone accused the Coast Guard of torturing Cubans?

I dismiss the fake tape and repatriation wet land/dry land policy etc, I'm solely concerned that someone may have actually been beaten and beaten badly.

Again with the the *look at them not me*. It doesn't make it right...it doesn't help our case to anyone but a few thousand Bahamians...

Do you read what you write? You get very angry when people respond to what **you** say. I'm almost certain I read in your first post the words "*Coast Guard*" and in your 2nd "*also the Coast guard don't oversee any immigration detention centers? Who knows what those drunks would do if they did*"....

I won't resort to the childish name calling....

We are both wrong. Proud and Loud made the first post. So I leave that there.

I dont consider myself an apologist, I can jump up and down just as well as the next person when there's something to jump up and down about. In this instance **if** someone was **beaten** while in custody..there actually is something to apologize for. Sigh...*not a damn thing to do with my country...* ...I wonder what percentage of our visitors reside in Florida...what percentage are *apologists* or tree-hungers by nature...would be interesting to know.

They are doing it because they are leading a world power and we are a tiny little island. They know it...

Did you see Perry Christie's statement this morning? Even he realizes that the Bahamas is not an island entire of itself. Did you read Amnesty International's statement? I cannot think that you would classify their concerns as pathetic or something that doesn't concern this country...

It is ironic that everyone else is an idiot or totally clueless except you?

Far from a fact my friend. It is just a clumsy, transparent and unskillful debate trick!

none of us know for sure if detainees were beaten or not ,,,,and i,m not talking about the video ,,,,,,,,,,,The U/S embassy and higher ups in PGC cabinet know ,,,,,

how are you going to sue them for racism ??and hatred is an opinion you can,t sue for that ,,plus if one detainee got pushed or roughed up your whole case falls apart ..oh yeah lets sue U/S senators ,,one of which chairs the commitee on foreign affairs ,,,,,that my friend is pure crazy talk ,,w/ the violent robbery of the embassy official ,a elderly lady on her way to church ,the U/S customs officer and familys robbery on the beach we our inches away from a travel advisory ,,yes it happens in the U/S ,,but they don,t have to travel here ,,remember when we wouldn,t send 90 to the U/S, the U/S put one immigration officer at the airport and backed up the whole thing w/ tourist missing flights and complaining ...and then who signed the order to send him ,one Fred Mitchell,,,,.when 90% of your revenue comes from another country they dictate the terms not you !! thats reality my friend

The government has now admitted that the detainees were beaten. Their position now is that they were not beaten by the "Bahamas Government". What utter nonsense as if the Bahamas government has hands.

give me a couple of good grands and i,ll get you a work permit for a martian ,,,,

Rubio wears the same shade of lipstick as Wilchome ,,just Wilchome uses a little more gloss,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lmao

Anyone know what a dirty sanchez is
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p…
Thats what he is trying to do to us.
Ba$+a&d0.
GRB

I just wish people would obey the law and then none of this would happen... the people would not be in position to get beaten by nobody...police or detention officers... let's just obey the laws of the land as it pertains to immigration and everything else...

Agreed. Pointing fingers and saying "but they're doing it too" is not acceptable....

funny thing we are involved in people smuggling ,,i live on a family island in the south ,,we know who runs the people and drugs ,,

What were Rubio's thoughts on the murder of Travon Martin? no outrage, no comment for for a citizen of the United States?

But pleanty to say for Illegal Cuban migrants?

SHUT UP RUBIO!

I,m sure if Rubio reads your post he will feel properly "put his place " and not speak again ,,,Boy you told him ,i,m sure if you could do it verbally it would be at an incredible volume w/ all manner of face contorting and chicken necking ,,,lmao

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