Graeme Hamilton. National Post. Tuesday, April 11, 2000
HALIFAX - Two Cuban men who stowed away on a Halifax-bound ship in hopes of finding a better life were dispatched home yesterday without even touching Canadian soil.
The men, in their mid-30s, told immigration authorities they had come to Canada looking for work, and did not fear reprisals if they were returned home, said Ron Heisler, provincial manager of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
"They basically advised they were coming here to seek employment and a better economic way of life, and they had nothing to fear from their government. They were ordered to remain on the vessel," Mr. Heisler said.
The container ship, the Melsi America, was scheduled to sail for Cuba late yesterday.
The men were discovered in a container three days into the ship's five-day voyage from Cuba, Mr. Heisler said. He said the ship encountered rough seas on the trip and the men were fortunate not to be injured or killed.
The captain radioed ahead to advise Halifax he was carrying stowaways, and he was told to detain the men when the ship approached port to prevent them from escaping. The ship arrived in Halifax harbour on Sunday.
The men were advised to apply for a visa when they returned to Cuba, but Mr. Heisler acknowledged they have little chance of being accepted under normal immigration channels. They were seeking work as labourers.
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