Boat carrying Cuban migrants capsizes off Brac coast

| 31/10/2024 | 13 Comments

(CNS): A vessel carrying four Cuban men capsized off the coast of Cayman Brac at around 8:30am Thursday morning, officials have confirmed. One man swam ashore, but it’s not clear if the other three men were rescued or made it to safety under their own steam. Border control officials said the migrants did not require medical attention and were being processed this evening in accordance with existing protocols. Parts of the vessel had washed ashore.

The latest arrival of migrants came just nine days after Customs and Border Control held a Multi-Agency Mass Migration Committee meeting to discuss concerns over the recent developments in the Republic of Cuba and other regional countries.

Cuba is currently suffering from severe economic challenges and has been experiencing rolling and extending power outages over the last few weeks amidst an energy crisis.

The meeting, chaired by CBC Director Bruce Smith on Tuesday, 22 October, was a proactive measure to discuss plans to mitigate and manage the mass arrivals of irregular migrants.


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Category: Local News

Comments (13)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Feed them at least.

    OCTOBER 30,2024
    UN General Assembly condemns the US economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year.
    The vote in the 193-member world body was 187-2, with only the United States and Israel against the resolution, and one abstention.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    CI Coast Guard motto: “To Save Lives & Protect Our Borders”

    0 for 2.

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  3. Does it make a difference says:

    Poor reporting where off shore on the Brac, others can be alerted to be on watch? but North E/W shore? South E/W Shore? any follow up?

  4. Anonymous says:

    How do any foreign tracked boats sneak into our Economic Zone, and then within 12 miles of shore with all the 100nm radar, hardware, equipment, and agencies we have amply funded? This boat should have been a noted blip on tracking systems for many hours before it got anywhere near land. The interdiction boats are supposed to use that time to prepare, launch, and be out there waiting for them. That’s what we are paying for. Why isn’t that happening?!?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Where exactly is this 100nm radar you speak of?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Physically, this premium Furuno Marine radar is hard-mounted to the T-tops and top decks of every marine vessel we purchase. The NXT Doppler features Target Analyser, Fast Target Tracking, Auto Target Acquire, with RezBoost with Beam Sharpening, Rain Mode, Bird Mode. We didn’t skimp on all these deluxe hardware and software options. We are paying a full-time Coast Guard and CBP to have this stuff switched on. There are also two police helicopters, and probably many drones.

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      • Anonymous says:

        OP thinks the weather radar a) has a 100 mile range b) is capable of detecting surface targets, let alone small non metal craft with zero radar signature and c) is actually working.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The CINWS radar has a 250 mi image range, and it seems to be working at the moment. Completely different system and purpose.

    • Anonymous says:

      Here’s the problem. The Cayman Islands have agreements with Cuba regarding repatriation of migrants, and the conditions which surround them. The Cayman Islands end up paying quite a hefty sum for each repatriated Cuban migrant.

      I believe the current protocol is to monitor, and if they come ashore to arrest and repatriate. I am in favour of legislation that would restock their stores — food, fuel, water — and allow them to continue their journey. That legislation doesn’t currently exist. If it did, it would certainly be much, much cheaper than the arrest-and-repatriation standard.

      What do you want CBC to do? Intercept them and sink them? So they are out there “waiting for them.” Now what? Wave their arms, and scream “volver a Cuba!”???

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      • Anonymous says:

        Like you say, these are humans going elsewhere. Give them the option of continuing with humanitarian supplies and a good heading or allow those not having fun to come aboard for repatriation. That could be done miles from landfall or reef capsize. Also, these radar blips might not be Cuban refugees at all. We should expect our services to be scrutinising international target returns long before reef or shore.

      • Anonymous says:

        That isn’t a solution. If anything it would just encourage more to risk the dangerous journey. Plus Cayman isn’t the charity of the world. That fuel, water and food will cost us. Charity starts at home and we should be helping our own people in these financially difficult times.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I disagree. Would you be surprised to think that we pay between $20,000 and $40,000 PER person to repatriate these poor souls? They want to make a go for it. Many of them don’t make it. I think we can provide fuel, food, water and even the occasional repairs MUCH MUCH cheaper.

          Some of the hard-hearted folk complain, “We’re just a regular stop now!” Well, I hope the hell we are. There, but for the grace of God goes any of us.

          I encourage everyone to have a personal and private conversation with your favourite CBC employee, and find out the truth.

      • Anonymous says:

        With the conditions in Cuba I guess there will be many more going aground or capsizing. Watching videos of how they are living over there is heart wrenching. I remember hearing stories of how good it was in Cuba before all the communistic rubbish. They are barely surviving.

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