February 23, 2006
The Bahamas: Scared of fidel castro
El Confeti brings us a story of two Cuban dentists currently being held in the Bahamas who are in a diplomatic limbo. The dentist's US visas had expired when they reached the Bahamas and fidel castro now wants them back.
So what does fidel castro do? He uses his number one tactical weapon: the oppressed masses of his island and threatens to unleash a mass exodus to the Bahamas:
There are unconfirmed reports that the Bahamas government has been warned that if its sends the two Cuban dentists, now being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, to the US, Cuba will, in retaliation, inundate the Bahamas with hundreds of Cuban immigrants.
You have to admit, the Bahamian government is caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they are being threatened by fidel castro to turn over two cubans or face an influx of people into an already struggling economy and on the other a Cuba without a fidel castro with a free market and the open tourism that brings would pretty much be a major detriment to Bahamian economy.
I wonder what side of the ideological line the Bahamas will ultimately land on.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 23, 2006 08:58 AM
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Comments
As much as it pains me, I expect the Bahaman government to take the expedient route. We seem to be in an era of shortsightedness.
Posted by: aelfheld at February 23, 2006 11:11 AM
Now how exactly will he "unload" the Cubans in the Bahamas? By boat like Mariel? By plane? Wouldn't that just show how many people are willing to leave, even to such a struggling place like the Bahamas for some freedom? Am I being naive?
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 23, 2006 11:26 AM
Ventanita,
fidel will never actually do it. He's just threatening with a influx, knowing full well that if it occurs, it will only reflect badly on him. I hope the Bahamas calls his bluff.
Posted by: Val Prieto at February 23, 2006 11:32 AM
I hope so too....it be interesting to see how he reacts
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 23, 2006 04:21 PM
Castro is simply expecting the Bahama government to comply with international law. As the dentists apparently were schooled in Cuba, they owe a debt to the cuban citizens. Perhaps they face prison time for violating Cuban law. It is not a matter of "Political" status. I don't see the US being concerned. BTW. How can you be sure that "Castro" himself made that threat.
Posted by: ndrobbie at February 24, 2006 10:43 PM
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