Bridgetown.
Principal Crown Counsel in the Solicitor General's Chambers, Donna Brathwaite has accused
convicted Cuban drug runner Raul Garcia of deliberately the progess which would have seen him deported to a another country. Brathwaite made the charge before Justice Margaret Reifer in the No. 6 Supreme Court yesterday.
According to Brathwaite, several attempts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to convene a meeting via Skype fell through because of Garica's actions.
Brathwaite told the court the UNHCR sent a letter to the Chief Immigration Officer which would have seen Garcia being sent to a third country, if it had been accepted.
The Principal Crown Counsel the UNHCR letter showed it had conducted an enquiry into Garcia's situation before the writ of habeas corpus had been filed on his behalf.
"It is our submission that although the defendant (the Chief Immigration Officer ) remains committed to the process, it is the claimant (Garica) who is deliberately fustrating the process", Brathwaite said.
"He deliberately thwarted the opportunity which would have led to him being released and sent to another country, other than Barbados, to live", the Principal Crown Counsel said.
She submitted that all avenues had not yet been exhausted and it was not unreasonable for the claimant's detention to continue in the meantime.
"There is nothing to prevent the Government if Barbados from further diplomatic discussions to see if an exception cannot be made. Garcia continues to be a holder of a valid Cuban passport. We continue to matain that the period of time it takes to enable the minister responsible for immigration to carry out the process remains reasonable Brathwaite argued.
She told the court that Garcia's detention was neccessary on the grounds of national security and public order.
The case continue tomorrow afternoon.
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