Thursday, November 08, 2012

Cayman allows boat with Cuban migrants to continue to Honduras

Posted on Thursday, 11.08.12

Cayman allows boat with Cuban migrants to continue to Honduras
By Juan O. Tamayo
jtamayo@ElNuevoHerald.com

A makeshift boat with 25 Cubans aboard was spotted near Grand Cayman
Island and was allowed to continue on its way to Honduras because it was
in good sailing condition, Cayman Islands officials announced Wednesday.

Immigration officials of the British-run islands about 125 miles south
of Cuba reported the boat carrying 22 men and three women was spotted
early Wednesday near shore in Gun Bay.

Following Cayman policy, the Cubans were allowed to motor on after
inspectors ruled the vessel was seaworthy and the passengers were well.
Cubans who fail those inspections are detained and returned later to
their home island.

The boat, about 28-30 feet in length and made of fiberglass, had two
diesel engines, a canvas sail and stabilizing outriggers made of inner
tubes held out on long poles, according to the Cayman government
announcement.

Cayman authorities often spot migrant boats that leave illegally from
Cuba's southeastern coast and hope to ride the prevailing winds and
currents to Honduras. From there, the migrants try to travel by land to
Mexico's border with the United States.

Twenty-eight Cubans were detained in Cayman Brac island in April after
their boat docked there with a broken rudder. They were later returned
home under a bilateral agreement between Havana and Cayman officials.

At least six boats carrying Cuban migrants have been spotted in Cayman
waters since the start of 2011, compared to none in 2010.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/08/3086764/cayman-allows-boat-with-cuban.html

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