Cubans put to work dismantling boat

| 06/06/2016 | 18 Comments
Cayman News Service

Cuban vessel that arrived 6 May being dismantled on 3 June 2016

(CNS): A Cuban migrant vessel beached in South Sound was removed at the weekend with the help of some of the Cuban migrants themselves. The boat was abandoned at the shoreline one month ago when the people on board were taken into custody because it was unseaworthy and could not carry them any further. While it had become a concern for residents in the area, officials had said it was proving challenging to remove. Nevertheless, work to remove it began began Friday.

A group of four Cuban migrants were selected by the Department of Immigration to dismantle the vessel using tools and equipment supplied by the Public Works Department, officials said.

Around 80% of the vessel had been dismantled and removed from the beach by lunchtime Friday and the rest was expected to be gone by Saturday.

The boat arrived on 6 May with more than 40 migrants on board but it had begun taking in water and the migrants were forced to end their journey here and face deportation back to Havana.

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Category: Environmental Health, Health, Local News

Comments (18)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I have photos from this morning. It has NOT been cleared completely. What was left of it after the weekend wave activity is everywhere. Screw filled wood all over.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Very disturbing way to treat those who might be claiming asylum. It appears to be contrary to Article 4 of the ECHR.

    • Anonymous says:

      Its possible they just wanted to be helpful and volunteered to have a day out of detention. Doesn’t look at all disturbing. You just have a thing about ECHR. While I’m thinking about it, we need to get the police bigger tasers.

  3. Anonymous says:

    This is baloney! The engine block is still there and a lot of the wood is still floating around. The waves this weekend have done an amazing job of breaking this up and further strewing the trash from it all along the beach. There are so many pieces of wood with screws sticking out that you could probably build another boat.
    Dozens upon dozens of water bottles, hypodermic syringes, shoes, torn rope, lots of bits of Styrofoam, plastic wrappers of all types etc.
    All the floating detritus actually makes it very dangerous to go in the water in that area.
    And you people quit complaining about someone taking their child along for the ride!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      I was thinking the same thing about those moaning about bringing a kid along.. Maybe those people should take their children with them more often!
      I do not see a problem with this.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Why do people bother complaining about little things like that when a gallon of diesel and a box of matches cost less than $5?

  5. Al Catraz says:

    They got lunch!

    “Around 80% of the vessel had been dismantled and removed from the beach by lunchtime Friday and the rest was expected to be gone by Saturday.”

    Presumably on Saturday the offer was “no lunch until it’s all gone.”

  6. Deb says:

    excellent work CIG. Years ago we would have engaged the expensive private sector to do this. Let’s get these Cubans home where they belong

  7. Jotnar says:

    An entire public works department, an Immigration department, and the DoE – a month, and all that happened was the removal of the empty plastic fuel cans. Four Cubans, including a child, and its gone in 48 hrs. Perhaps we should keep them instead of sending them back to Cuba.

  8. Anonymous says:

    It isn’t even all gone yet… The engine block is still sitting there in the water surely leaking contaminants into the sea.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I hope they got paid or something. Otherwise this “Christian” country is doing slavery.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Disgraceful that it took the general public to start complaining before something got done about this!!!!

    There should be some consequences for those Gov Depts who should have dealt with this swiftly I know – wishful thinking of a private sector employee who has to fear job loss if not performing………..

  11. GR says:

    I hope these labourers had the necessary work permits/contracts to perform this work.

  12. Anonymous says:

    So they had to use a child to help with this matter?

  13. Anonymous says:

    Slave labor, love it! Reminds me of the good ol days.

    I have some trees in my yard that need trimming can we please have them do that too?

  14. Anonymous says:

    Looks like someone is reading the comments on CNS. Thank you for finally getting it done and you’re welcome for the suggestion on using the Cubans to do the job.

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