Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said yesterday the Cuban government has indicated that it will allow two Cuban men to return to The Bahamas to testify in a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) hearing into alleged abuse at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre last year.
Earlier this year, Bahamian officials requested that the men -- Yordan Cantero and Alexander Vazcuez -- be given permission to return.
They were previously detained at the center.
"The letters rogatory have been delivered to the Cuban government and we think it is just a short time before it's resolved, which we expect to be that the witnesses will come to The Bahamas," said Mitchell at a press conference.
Asked how the matter will proceed once the Cuban men arrive, Mitchell said, "I want to be careful how I prescribe what a tribunal does. My understanding is that the tribunal has adjourned sine die for this particular matter to be resolved.
"The foreign affairs component of it is the transmission of the letters rogatory in order to resolve the issue of the production of the witnesses, and we have done that.
"I believe the Cuban government has indicated that they are in a position to comply, and so we expect it to be resolved."
Mitchell was unable to provide timelines on when the two Cuban men would travel to The Bahamas or when the hearing could resume.
However, he said he expects the matter to proceed soon.
In February, Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas Ernesto Soberon Guzman said the men will be able to testify "one way or the other".
He said it is important for them to tell their version of the story.
It is alleged that several Cuban detainees were severely beaten at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre after they attempted to escape from the facility last May.
So far, 23 people have testified in the hearing, according to attorney Wayne Munroe, who represents five marines accused of abusing the detainees.
His clients deny the allegations.
Carlos Pupo, a former detainee who alleged that he was abused, testified last December, according to the attorney.
He said Pupo testified that he was beaten from 3 a.m. to sunrise.
A RBDF officer, who is also a lawyer, is marshalling the evidence.
The hearings are closed.

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