By Brent Fuller, brent@cfp.ky
Sunday 22nd April, 2007 Posted: 23:07 CIT (04:07 +1 GMT)
Dozens of Cuban migrants were allowed to block the streets of George
Town during a late morning protest 14 April after escaping from a
minimum security detention centre.
The detainees, who numbered about 30, had also not notified the Royal
Cayman Islands Police Service or requested a permit for the demonstration.
None have been charged with any crimes. They also agreed to return to
the detention centre that day only after being allowed to speak to the
media.
Several Cuban migrants, during interviews with the Caymanian Compass,
said they did not intend any disruption or harm to residents and
visitors of Cayman. They simply wished to get their message out.
Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan said he spoke with Chief Immigration
Officer Franz Manderson and RCIPS Chief Superintendent John Jones about
the situation shortly after the escape.
"We were all in agreement that a softly, softly approach to these
individuals was the best way to go," Mr. Kernohan said. "We do not use
force lightly…and we use it in a proportionate way."
Mr. Jones also noted that there were cruise ship visitors and other
tourists along Harbour Dr. that morning who witnessed the event.
"It wasn't the case that we were worried about the image, but needless
to say, there were a lot of visitors…in the vicinity," Mr. Jones said.
"Even if there hadn't been any visitors in there, our view is that we
could resolve it peacefully without anybody being injured."
"If we wanted, we could have taken a firm hand…locked them all up in a
great show of force," he said. "We live in a democratic society; there
is freedom of speech; and whilst we prefer that anybody protesting would
give us early notice…I think were talking about in the region of 20 to
30 people."
Mr. Jones was asked during a media briefing last week whether a group of
migrants who escaped from a detention facility are considered 'free.'
"I think you'd better pose that question to Mr. Manderson," he said.
Mr. Manderson has previously said the detention facility in George Town
is not a prison, and that Cayman Islands Immigration officials would
prefer to keep it that way.
After three escapes within the space of ten days, he said security had
been increased at the centre.
"Obviously, if they keep escaping, we'll have to rethink our way of
dealing with things," Mr. Manderson said shortly after Saturday's
breakout–turned–rally.
While the Cuban migrants gave a spirited demonstration in the streets of
George Town 14 April, it was a peaceful protest. Mr. Jones said there
were no incidents involving the police, other than the closure of some
streets to vehicle traffic.
"There was some delay in the traffic, but probably no more delay than
people encounter when there's a lot of cruise ships in the bay," Mr.
Jones said.
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