The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) is analyzing the legal appeal against the sanctions imposed on 124 Dominican fishermen and three captains arrested in Cuba and handed over to the Bahamian authorities. The fishermen were sentenced to six months in jail and fined US$52,000 each, while the captains of the boats were sentenced to one year in jail and fine US$92,000 each.
A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Relations says that a legal team is studying the case and will be making recommendations for a defense. In addition that a commission headed up by the Vice Minister of Foreign Relations for Consular and Migratory Matters, Marjorie Espinosa, would go to the Bahamas to follow up on those detained to ensure they had appropriate prison conditions as they have already receiving medical assistance organized by the local Dominican diplomatic corps.
Mirex said that in order to prevent illegal fishing and the involuntary entry into foreign waters they have agreed with the Executive Board of the Dominican Fishing Council (CODOPESCA) and the Association of Fishing Boat Owners of Puerto Plata on a Special Collaboration Agreement to install a Satellite Monitoring System in fishing vessels, which would enable the Dominican Armada to track them and warn them if they were approaching foreign waters.
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Mirex
24 October 2018
