‘Cuban refugees posing threat to our security’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is concerned about Cuba’s absence from the 2022 Summit of the Americas, saying sanctions on the island nation have sparked desperation among residents posing an “existential threat” to the national security of The Bahamas.

The situation, Mr Davis said, has left the country to grapple with irregular migrants from Cuba.

Mr Davis and a delegation are attending the Summit this week in Los Angeles. “We have to appreciate that Cuba is at our doorstep,” Mr Davis said yesterday. “We have to appreciate that as long as these embargoes and blockades and sanctions exist against Cuba, what it does is it hurts the population and it increases the misery of those people. Hence, the desperation to leave and so we then are faced with the irregular migrants coming from Cuba into The Bahamas, which is an existential threat to our national security.

 “Why, because there is a very huge power lobby in South Florida in respect to the regime in Cuba and as we move to live up to our international obligations of repatriation those in South Florida do not accept that we have that obligation and as you recall our consulate was stormed several years ago and so it’s a threat to our Bahamians who have travelled to South Florida and we do that in droves every year.

 “So, I don’t want our citizens to be exposed to tensions between the Cuban block in South Miami and our obligation to repatriate Cubans who might find themselves in our waters and in our country and our obligation to repatriate and so that is the threat that we need to address and address on an urgent basis.”

 Mr Davis also said his focus while at the Summit will be climate change and The Bahamas’ “green” future.

 “For us and for me my emphasis in this regard will relate more to our green future because as you are aware climate change is real.

 “We are one of the most vulnerable countries in the world and we’re still not seeing action matching words that find themselves on these various documents and declarations and for that matter we have made an intervention that is causing some concern here that we need to have easier and equitable access to climate funding. We have made a submission and intervention in that regard.

 “It has not yet gotten full acceptance by some of the states that are here and we intend to if at the end of the day it’s not accepted to put a footnote to what we believe should be the position in respect to access to climate funding.

 “Health and recovery and resilience: the Minister of Health (and Wellness Dr Michael Darville) is here and he’s engaging with his counterparts to discuss those issues and again at the end of the day climate change is the subtext to those issues.

 “Talking about the strong and inclusive democracies, I may make an intervention in that regard as well because if we are not inclusive, if we are not talking and dialoguing, we will have tensions and you will have this coalition of aggrieved nations that will not augur well for a cohesive hemisphere.”

Comments

JokeyJack says...

I guess with a brighter skin than the other migrants from down south they would pose a "threat" to Bahamians. No action on those other set though. Cutting down our trees for coal, and no enforcement.

Posted 9 June 2022, 9:39 a.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

**Cuban** refugees are an existential threat??? The Haitian migration problem is an existential threat

Posted 9 June 2022, 4:07 p.m. Suggest removal

ScubaSteve says...

For the past 5 decades or so, the US policy on Cuba has been one of the most ridiculous and ineffective in the history of US foreign policy. Has it worked? Has it caused so much suffer and pain to the Cuban citizens that they have finally revolted and removed the communist regime? No, no, and HELL no. It hasn't worked and it won't work. The fact that my country continues with this idiotic policy blows my mind and defies all logic.

Posted 9 June 2022, 4:29 p.m. Suggest removal

ScubaSteve says...

Furthermore, one of the largest trade partners for the US is China. Last time I checked, both China and Cuba were communist countries. Why is it that I can this afternoon book a two month long vacation trip to China, but I can't book a weekend trip to Cuba? Why is it that 75% of all the goods I purchase are manufactured in China, but I can't buy one thing from Cuba? This also applies to Vietnam. Many of the clothes I buy from the Gap, Banana Republic, etc are made in Vietnam and I am completely FREE to vacation in Vietnam too!!

Posted 9 June 2022, 4:31 p.m. Suggest removal

jamaicaproud says...

These are great questions, wonderful observation.

Posted 9 June 2022, 4:41 p.m. Suggest removal

hrysippus says...

The sanctions imposed on Cuba by the US government was primarily done by Republican administrations to garner support from the active and vocal Cuban exile community in Florida. President Obama relaxed the sanctions, President Trump re-imposed them, as did President Bush the younger. The Cuban refugees who reach the Bahamas are mostly all only passing through on their way to the US, or so I would imagine. Wet foot, dry foot.

Posted 9 June 2022, 5:13 p.m. Suggest removal

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