Cuban migrant arrested, baby taken into care
(CNS): Javier Freites, the man who appears to have led the standoff between the Cuban migrants and local authorities last week, has been arrested, officials have confirmed. The Cubans were removed from the MV Bulk Freedom, the ship that had rescued them out at sea, late Thursday night. However, Customs and Border Control stated that Freites, the father of the baby who became unwell while aboard the vessel, was obstructive and sustained minor head injuries when officials boarded the boat to take the child to the hospital. Freites was also treated in hospital before he was taken to the detention centre. Since then, he and his wife and the other members of the group involved have all been placed in quarantine while the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has taken custody of the baby.
The situation lasted almost four days and officials said it included intense negotiations with, and monitoring of, the migrants as well as communication with the ship’s captain and owners before the stand-off was resolved. But notwithstanding the injury sustained by Freites, it was concluded without any serious injury to the migrants or the ship’s crew or with any property damage.
In a statement about the chain of events, the CBC explained that because of the risk to the health and well-being of the baby, the authorities obtained a court issued emergency protection order and warrant under the Children Act on the evening of 8 April.
“This court order authorised the immediate removal of the infant child from the MV Bulk Freedom to a place of safety. Following a brief tactical intervention, the infant was removed from the ship and immediately upon arrival at the George Town Seaport, the infant was taken to and treated at the George Town Hospital” officials said, adding that this was when the child’s father was injured.
After he was arrested, Freites was treated and released from the hospital. He was then taken to the RCIPS Detention Centre before being released Friday and then transferred to the government quarantine facility where the other migrants have been held after they voluntarily left the vessel.
Officials said they will now be processed and while this incident may become a factor in the consideration of their asylum applications, their applications have not already been denied, officials said in response to claims some of the migrants have made.
The law enforcement agencies thanked the captain of the Bulk Freedom and his crew for their support in bringing the situation to a positive end. The welfare and safety of the crew were kept in mind at all time, CBC officials added. Once the migrants had disembarked the captain needed no further help and was back at sea very shortly afterwards, headed to the Panama Canal, where it has since arrived safely, CBC said.
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Category: Border Control, Crime
I understand they did this the wrong way, but are we not a Christian nation? Or does that only work when you’re trying to deny marriage to two loving consenting adults?
Always making excuses. These people are chasing money. Send them home. They don’t want to be here so why are we doing hand springs.
Even Christians have a breaking point.
– They endangered their child attempting to flee Cayman.
– Their boat broke down and were rescued. Instead of being thankful they held up the boat that rescued them and made demands.
– Their baby got sick, they refused help of food, water and baby supplies from the police.
– They did this to bring bad publicity for Cayman and to “show the world the situation in Cayman”
Put these idiots on a plane straight back to Cuba.
Christians have like 10000 breaking points. And they all revolve around nothing that concerns them.
So when do we get to reunite them with their homeland?
I think the CIG should make an example of these people. What they did was inappropriate and put thier child in a danger. I doubt they will ship them off to Cuba as they are asylum speakers, but some form of punishment is needed.
You love making examples, don’t you? Out of young and vulnerable who have no money to defend themselves.
Who besides Skylar Mack and Vanjae Ramgeet was prosecuted for breaking quarantine rules? Yeah, so I thought..
They hijacked a ship! I’m all for refugees and giving people asylum but in this case they do not deserve to stay here!
No, they didn’t. They just refused to get off it.
They refused to get off until the ship took them to the USA. They had to be removed from the ship. It might not be a sensational highjacking like in the movies but it was still an extremely serious offence.
@2:03: for all intents and purposes…..they did hijack the ship.
By demanding it take them to a destination other than its own and refusing to disembark, they caused serious interruption to that business.
They should be charged with EVERY single offense they committed…..from child neglect to terrorism.
Oh dear, I’m not confident about this poor child, now that he’s in the hands of DCFS.
I’ve dealt with DCFA many times, and have seenup close the frequent shocking lack of professionalism, Ive known them make life-ruining mistakes in custody trials. I even know of actual bribery requests from one of them to my friend who was going through divorce case here. They are pretty much all 7th Day Adventists, and are committed to their values as being superior to typical “Western” ones.
Thatsaid, they have a couple good of eggs,and some well-meaning staff.
But they are the LAST people’s hands this poor child’s future should being left in.
They answer to no one.
Those 6 down votes…what’s that about? You don’t care about people losing their children in custody battles due to DCFS? You’re not even curious enough to reply to the comment with questions? If people knew what goes on, there would be a lot of publicity.
But who the hell cares eh? Depressing.
Send them all back. Daddy and all. Ungrateful people.!!! Cuba is better than Cayman it would seem.
So they’re at a hotel now, after causing an international incident.
You would rather keep them in cages?
Yes.
the golden rule states that when you wish something upon others, you also wish it upon yourself
Monster
When you choose to behave like an animal, you deserve to be treated as such.
1:56 – But does that apply to your homophobic woman beating leaders?
No. Criminals should be in prison. Prison windows have bars – not extensive views.
Easy solution send them all back to Cuba….end of story