Cuban refugees boarded, clothed in Charlottetown

www.journalpioneer.com Feb. 7, 2003

by JIM BROWN, Journal Pioneer CHARLOTTETOWN — They left friends and family behind to start a new life in Canada, in the middle of a bitterly cold winter.

They are four Cuban sailors — three men and one woman, who escaped from their vessel, the Southern Ice, when it was docked in Summerside harbour for nearly three weeks in January.

Joe Byrne, youth co-ordinator for the Diocese of Charlottetown and member of the Association for Newcomers, says the four defectors, who travelled to Charlottetown in bitterly cold weather, are hunkering down for a potentially long wait before getting official refugee status.

Four Sri Lankans, who came into Canada last October and made their way to Charlottetown, have yet to earn their status.

Byrne isn't sure whether they are still in Charlottetown.

In the meantime the four Cubans are busy searching for lawyers to represent them and help them with their applications to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

"They need four lawyers", one for each person, said Byrne.

They are currently receiving emergency social assistance while they await word on their claims.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this (application and hearing) took five to six, or perhaps eight months," for a decision to be reached, said Byrne.

At least two of the defectors have left spouses and children behind, and are desperately seeking ways to bring them to Canada.

They are reluctant to talk about their experiences for fear of reprisals against family and friends in Cuba, said Bryne.

But at least they have the support of many Charlottetown residents, who generously donated food and winter clothing, he said.

Earlier published accounts reported conditions aboard the Southern Ice had steadily deteriorated and that there complaints about long hours of work and problems with pay.

Nancy Cairns, agent for the Southern Ice, says her third contract definitely wasn't the charm. Cairns, who lives in Stanley Bridge, took over the business from her husband, Harold, who passed away recently.

"I'm definitely learning the hard way. It's been very interesting."

The Southern Ice, which was berthed in Summerside for 19 days in January loading 5,450 tonnes of tablestock potatoes destined for Venezuela, was stuck in harbour for much longer than planned because of foul winter weather, including high winds.

Cairns was responsible for nearly everything the crew needed while the boat was docked, including arranging, if necessary, medical and dental visits, food supplies and legal services.

"It was my third ship, thank goodness it wasn't my first," she joked. Her husband had warned her that defecting crew members weren't that uncommon in the business, but it still came as a shock when it happened to her.

"There's absolutely nothing you can do" when it happens, she said.

Fortunately, other members of the crew could fill in for the missing sailors and the ship was able to continue to its destination when the weather improved. The ship was expected to pick up more crew members in Venezuela.

"I don't think it had anything to do with the conditions on the ship," said Cairns, who visited the ship nearly every day when it was berthed.

"The ship was always clean," she said.