Canada has called in Cuba's envoy to voice concern at the detention of
seven Canadians in the Caribbean …
Wed Jul 28, 7:28 pm ET
OTTAWA (AFP) – Canada has called in Cuba's envoy to voice concern at the
detention of seven Canadians in the Caribbean nation, warning Havana it
could lose tourists its economy needs, the foreign affairs ministry said.
Peter Kent, Canada's top diplomat for the Americas, said Ottawa called
in Havana's representative in Ottawa to a meeting Tuesday on Canadians
now detained in Cuba, including Cody LeCompte, a 19-year-old Canadian
man who has been unable to leave after a car accident in April.
Seven Canadians at the moment are either detained or unable to depart
from Cuba, a diplomatic source said.
"While aware that Cuban law allows for a lengthy period of
investigation, Canadian officials expressed their concern that the
investigation into this matter is taking so long," Kent said.
"Canadians have long appreciated Cuba as a tourist destination. The
delays faced by Canadians awaiting resolution of such cases could affect
the choice by fellow Canadians of Cuba as a tourist destination in the
future," he also warned.
Canada is the chief source of tourists in Cuba, ahead of Italy and
France. Tourism is Cuba's top hard-currency earner.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100728/wl_canada_afp/cubacanada_20100728232843