Cuban Dentists To Be Released To US?

February 21, 2006 – 08:39
Cuban Dentists To Be Released To US?

The United States is confident that the Bahamas will release the two
Cuban dentists held at the Carmichael Detention Centre to the US, and
not to Cuba.

Answering the question deferred to him by Florida Governor Jeb Bush
during his visit to the Bahamas yesterday, US Ambassador John Rood said
that the US is not entertaining the possibility of losing the two
dentists to Cuba.

"We're going to focus on a positive outcome. We really believe there
will be a positive answer," Mr Rood said.

The Bahamas has found itself in a difficult situation over the fate of
the two Cuban dentists who are being held at the Detention Centre after
being picked up by the US Coast

Guard in Bahamian waters more than 10 months ago: The two men, David
Gonzalez Mejias and Marialys Darias Mesa, were caught in their attempt
to leave Cuba by way of the "visa lottery" held annually by the US.

Although the men won their visas in the lottery; Cuban president Dr
Fidel Castro reportedly would not let them leave the country because
their medical training made them "too important to spare," according to
the Wall Street Journal.

Immigration and Labour Minister Vincent Peet told The Tribune last week
that both Cuba and the US want the men, and that the Bahamas has to
review the matter thoroughly before making a decision.

During his first official visit to the New Providence yesterday,
Governor Bush had a chance to discuss the matter with Prime Minister
Perry Christie in a meeting at the Cabinet office.

Said Mr Christie of the meeting:
"With respect to the Cuban detainees. We've had frank discussions on the
challenges ahead. The governor reinforced what we know to be a strong
relationship between the USA and the government of the Bahamas - that
already manifests itself in the sharing of American resources assisting
us to protect the territory and integrity of the Bahamas and any
concerns associated with that," he said.

The prime minister said that both parties have in respect to "the way
forward matters of immigration and detainees" agreed on establishing "a
better and stronger relationship which will enable us to make decisions
much more quickly to the benefit of both countries."

"The governor left the expectation on the table that the Bahamas
government would address aggressively this concern of the continued
detention of the two detainees and he has the assurance from - us that
as we speak we are in the process of trying to bring the matter,
hopefully, to a conclusion in the best interest of all concerned and
consistent with the national interest of the Commonwealth of the
Bahamas," he said.

At a press conference held later in the day at the Ministry of
Education, The Tribune asked Mr Bush how the US would react if the
Bahamas decides to return the two dentists to Cuba.

The governor declined to answer to the question, deferring it to
Ambassador Rood.

"The governor had a very great discussion with the prime minister
expressing what he has heard from the families (of the dentists) in the
States. I shared my thoughts and the prime minister shared his thoughts,
and we heard his statement, and he is confident that we're gonna have a
solution that is satisfactory to all," he said.

Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Clubs luncheon at the
British Colonial Hilton yesterday, Governor Bush said that it is
important that the Bahamas and Florida do not take their close
relationship for granted.

"Let's face it what does Cuba have to offer the Bahamas? Democracy, rule
of law - which is your hallmark, a growing economy, what do they offer?
Perhaps sending their enslaved people to a free country. It's shameful.

"I frankly think that there are tremendous opportunities to enhance the
relationship (between the US and the Bahamas) and thereby eliminate any
worries about new relationships," the governor said.

Source: The Tribune - Nassau, Bahamas
http://www.bahamasb2b.com/news/wmview.php?ArtID=7090