est. 2007

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Free Raul ‘Coronell’ Garcia, The Man With No Country

BU was asked by the family to publish the following message  extracted from the Free Raul ‘Coronell’ Garcia!! The man with no country Facebook Page to highlight the plight of Edilberto Coronell Munoz: – “Today makes 25 days that my uncle Raul Garcia is on a hunger strike at Dodd’s Prison, where they recently placed…

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Raul Garcia

BU was asked by the family to publish the following message  extracted from the Free Raul ‘Coronell’ Garcia!! The man with no country Facebook Page to highlight the plight of Edilberto Coronell Munoz: – “Today makes 25 days that my uncle Raul Garcia is on a hunger strike at Dodd’s Prison, where they recently placed him into solitary confinement e to the strike. I’m including a few links that tell the story” – Juan Garcia Jr

This is message from my aunt (his sister) and his current condition! My name is Elena Trillas and I am Raul Garcia’s sister. As of today, January 30, 2012 my brother has lost 22 pounds. He is beginning to sound weak and hopeless. To make matters worse the jail as decided to send him to solitary has punishment for his hunger strike. I will no longer be able to speak to him.

WHY THE HATRED TOWARDS MY BROTHER??? He paid his debt to society. He is no longer a criminal but an immigration detainee. Why throw him in a maximum prison and punish him because he is fighting for the freedom that he earned. People of Barbados, does it not scare you that the application of laws depend on the individual?

I know that my brother is not from Barbados. But despite being in jail for all these years he has done nothing but shed positive light on this country through his art. He has represented the island with an art display in New York. He’s won awards and all with paintings of BARBADOS. Of your beautiful landscapes and your beautiful people!!! He believed in the system. He believed in Barbados. No one is asking for anything other than what he has earned.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO LISTEN!! WE NEED SOMEONE TO HELP US OR HE WILL DIE…

Related Link: Miami man vows hunger strike until his death for his freedom in Barbados

143 responses to “Free Raul ‘Coronell’ Garcia, The Man With No Country”

  1. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    At Frank G (and ac too)
    That is wonderful news. Yes, as for the Christian Church of Barbados – a scandal. The Bishop of Barbados has still not come back to my priest friend about the issue – another scandal. Absolutely pathetic. They want the title – imagine, ‘Archbishop’ – but shun the work of Jesus. and so keep their precious finger-nails clean.
    Incidentally, my priest friend who is British and the only white working, if you can say that, Anglican priest in Barbados, thinks he has met Raul…some years ago at a service he held at Dodds and years before that when he was working unofficially with the then Chaplain, Canon Burke. He told me yesterday ‘Ah Raul is working on the principle that you can kill the body but not the spirit…..but I wish Raul would not take that precept too literally.’

  2. Blogger2012 Avatar
    Blogger2012

    why dont david commission take up this case, he ahs contact with cuba?

  3. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    clementpaynechambers@gmail.com

  4. ac Avatar
    ac

    well i did my part about two days ago with emails and contacts to US and other international Media , so far i hope others will gone in doing so and not be mouth pieces saying what should be done but ask yourself what can i do or should be doing based on the very fact that this is a Human being. A letter or two to your local respresentatives would also bring more heightened awareness to those who seemly would want to turn a blind eye.

  5. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    @ AC

    The politicians know very well what’s going on and have said…well, what? If this was Jamaica people would know what to do…and DO IT…and that includes the Church. We are, sadly, a nation of teeth skinners but good at church attendance.

  6. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    @ Balance

    Picketing the Cuban embassy…nice one. If you are serious, I’m ‘in’. You AC? (well I know what you’ll say). Anyone else?

  7. ac Avatar
    ac

    Picking the Cuban embassy is a good way of showing support only if it symbolic but it would need an overwhelming amount of people to make the message significant.Cuba stance on Drug dealers is zero tolerance and that is not going to change with Fidel at the helm.

  8. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Its a good start, but our boy from the PDC could not even get half a dozen people alongside of him to picket outside of the BL&P Headquarters over an ongoing situation which is affecting each and everyone of us.What make you think that any significant number of people will turn up outside of the Cuban Embassy? You are more likely to get more than enough to picket outside of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office. We are better at rocking our own boat.

  9. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    I will not be picketing the Cuban Embassy, because even while I am sorry for the silly man who PUT HIMSELF IN THIS PICKLE I don’t see why Cuba should take back drug trafficking rascals who have lived outside of Cuba for more than 40 years, that is since he was 10.
    Should Barbados take back every Bajan-born convicted drug trafficker who has lived outside of Barbados for more than 40 years? And if so why do Bajans complain when the Americans, the British and the Canadians deport to us the Bajan-born drug traffickers who have been convicted in those countries?
    If this had won a Nobel prize would people be offering to picket the Cubans to take him back?
    There are some people who have no love for their country unless their country is giving them something.
    Let me ask:
    What has this man done for Cuba?
    What has this man done for the United States?
    What has this man done for Columbia? Ok maybe the Columbian drug cartels earned some money offa him.
    What has this man done for Barbados?

  10. ac Avatar
    ac

    random what does this have to do with wehther Raul did or did not do something for any country. is that supposed to be a prequisite for his freedom? the man did his time all 25years of it now all that is being asked is that a country any country give him the privileged of immigrant status and that the government work with an organisation that would permit him to have decent housing facilities is that asking too much?

  11. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    Random Thoughts | February 1, 2012 at 8:13 PM |
    Cuba is wrong to deny reentry to its own citizens, even if the ar ecovicted criminals.

    Fidel and Roaul and company should be ashamed of themselves.

    Random Thoughts | February 1, 2012 at 8:22 PM |
    On the other hand it since it seems that he left Cuba in the 1950′s they may no longer regard him as one of thier own, but it appears taht he has a convicton for drug trafficking in the U.S. Maybe the Americans would like tohave him back to complete his sentence.

    Random Thoughts | February 5, 2012 at 1:25 PM |
    I will not be picketing the Cuban Embassy, because even while I am sorry for the silly man who PUT HIMSELF IN THIS PICKLE I don’t see why Cuba should take back drug trafficking rascals who have lived outside of Cuba for more than 40 years, that is since he was 10.
    Should Barbados take back every Bajan-born convicted drug trafficker who has lived outside of Barbados for more than 40 years? And if so why do Bajans complain when the Americans, the British and the Canadians deport to us the Bajan-born drug traffickers who have been convicted in those countries?
    If this had won a Nobel prize would people be offering to picket the Cubans to take him back?
    There are some people who have no love for their country unless their country is giving them something.
    Let me ask:
    What has this man done for Cuba?
    What has this man done for the United States?
    What has this man done for Columbia? Ok maybe the Columbian drug cartels earned some money offa him.
    What has this man done for Barbados?

    Random Thoughts is the perfect handle…..I swear your thoughts are as random as they can get. 🙂

    A better handle might be Poonka…..cause you all over de place on this one…thank god you dont smoke weed 😉
    ……..or maybe you should 😉

  12. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    While you are discussing this we should also discuss what has happened to this Bajan/American.

    http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/the-voice-of-hope/

  13. Snipes Avatar
    Snipes

    Why are you people jumping on our government’s back. We have laws which specifically state that upon completion of sentences former convicts are released into the custody of the immigration department for deportation. Why should we just release him in our society. When we set that precedent wouldn’t other convicts upon release claim the right to be freed in Barbados. I say, put him on a flight bound for Cuba with a one-way ticket. Let them deal with him on arrival.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Feel free to sign the petition:

    http://www.change.org/petitions/barbadian-government-release-raul-garcia-from-the-maximum-security-prison?share_id=VixgPYWMPD&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=share_with_facebook_friends

  15. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    :>

  16. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Techie how you is get those fancy smilies do ..?

  17. de hood Avatar
    de hood

    🙂

  18. de hood Avatar
    de hood

    @ BAFBFP

    just like I did above. 🙂 And here.

  19. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    @ BAFBFP
    D man corny nah >>>>>>o<<<<R
    I hear somebody from Barbados win D $8 million
    Ticket from Texaco Oistins….

  20. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Quoting ole onions “I hear somebody from Barbados win D $8 million
    Ticket from Texaco Oistins”

    Cheeze on bread, what I tell you that for? I shoudda know you can’t keep a secret.

    Cheeze on bread!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. old onion bags Avatar
    old onion bags

    You could lie…..tell who whaaaa

    it all pun the radio alll day looong ! NUFFFF nuff $$$$$
    $8,590,000.oo…cheeee

  22. frank Garcia Avatar
    frank Garcia

    @ Snipes
    Raul is no ordinary ex convict..
    He is an accomplished artist and has won many awards at NIFCA and other Art and Craft Exhibitions.
    He was entrusted to assist and represent the institution at prestigious functions such as Holetown Festival, Bridgetown Market, and the Art Exhibitions of Political Conference
    In 2008, having won the NIFCA Gold award, he achieved the privilege of selected invitee to the Prime Minister’s Award Ceremony. Raul Coronell was also among those inmates whose art was sent on display in New York in 2006.”
    He was among the reliable inmates in the rehabilitation group Mission Rehabilitation.

    He should not be in a Criminal facility 17 months after he completed his sentence.

    He, at this time has no country, this is the problem! The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is aware of Raul’s case. They have visited him and are working on finding him a country but this could take up to three years. Why cant he be offered a temporary immigration status. If this is impossible at the moment, at least have him transferred to a halfway house or a detention area/center with some privileges?

    Is that unreasonable to ask?

  23. David Avatar
    David

    Heard Brother Pilly lending his voice to this cause calling for the release of Raul.

  24. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    @ BAFBFP…..

    Colon + open bracket = sad face 🙁
    semi colon + closed brackets= smiling face/ raised eye brow 😉

  25. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    :p

  26. TheKnowledge Avatar
    TheKnowledge

    He is regular ex-con though.Hes not the first to have taken up painting or any other craft in prison.Some even supposedly find God -_- .This isn’t why he should be let go,all that matters is that he served his time,therefore at the very least he should not be in a prison any longer. Being the cynic I am, the only things that move me are the facts.That’s how I determine right or wrong.Save the emotion for the politicians 🙂 . Then again the pilot fellow had 2 character witnesses and it worked for him so it shows what I know huh. My solution is the same has Hants, a place for him to live from his family or supporters’ own costs and reporting to the authorities till he can be deported. We care that he reports, in case the man disappears and overthrows a government somewhere or something 🙂 We are responsible for him till we are free of him.

  27. Dorma Hoyos. Avatar
    Dorma Hoyos.

    Hi Frank, I want you to know I am all for your dad being released his story plight is heart wrenching,. I am glad the UN is involved. I am posting on his behalf. I know your family will support him here in Barbados. Let your father out his art is amazing he shows Barbados in such a beautiful way. He has a life worth living. What would Jesus do if he were here. Your father served his time., He was a model citizen even telling other prisoners that drugs were wrong. His talent is amazing let him out to paint he can sell his work, I want one of his paintings as I know we all take freedom at time for granted the problem with Cuban dissadents and defectors is they are not always welcome back this is communism, Please, I am American who divorced a Barbadian and in florida I saw a raft where some “Cubans ” made it to freedom , I cried. I also have Eastern European roots behind the iron curtain . I pray for the day he can hug his son his family his parents feel the ocean breeze on his face. And for anyone that made insensitive remarks you know bajans say God made Barbados and God is a Bajan well with some past remarks I have seen I would think that some people who made them were anything but Godly. Jesus died on a cross for our sins for saints and sinners. He paid dearly for his mistakes if this was to ever be on a locked up abroad segment it would be one of the worse scenarios……Many Bajans care…..Thank God for those that do.

  28. balance Avatar
    balance

    ac this is the last time i would be telling you and all who want to hear that the unbridled truth is that there is no law in cuba which denies citizens the right to return because of drug convictions somewhere else and even so the question is should a person be denied the right to return to the land of their birth? suppose barbados and the other caribbean countries refuse to take back their citizens deported from the usa or canada for criminal offences?and now mr commissiong is quoted in the paper as blaming the american government when he should be using his influence with the cuban regime to change that despicable law whch denies cuban citizens the right to return after staying out of the country for an unspecified period without permission. How would mr commisiong feel if such a law was in place in barbados?

  29. Kitty Avatar
    Kitty

    To the Family of Raul Garcia,
    Frank, I have met your father and is is a very humble person and I am praying for his release, I support you 200 %. , I would like him to start eating too.
    Something needs to be done about this or his blood will be on our country’s hands, I know this situation is a complicated one but, there was and always will be complicated situations in the past and future to come.
    Where are the Human right activists that so bombard our news when certain thing happen in this country?? Or is there nothing “$$” in this for them??
    ??
    How can we be so cruel

  30. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    😉

  31. BAFBFP Avatar
    BAFBFP

    Thnx Techie 🙂

  32. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    Np

  33. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    The simplest solution is for Raul Garcia to start eating again.

    But Raul Garcia is from a sugar rich Cuban plantation family who has long been accustomed to having his own way. In that regard he is not much different from Fidel and Rual who are from the same social class in Cuba. They too (the Castros) have been having their own way for 50+ years.

    Another solution is for the Barbados government to put him on a medical ward and to force feed him. If he has no compunction in forcing the Barbados government to do his will then the Barbados government should have no compunction in forcing him to do their will.

    Another simple solution is to let Rual Garcia die.

    We Barbadians have not refused to feed him. We have not denied him food or shelter, or clothing, or medicine or education, or religious expression. In fact we have provideded excellently for him for the past 15 years.

    If he dies that it is his will.

    We all have the right to life.

    We also all have the right to refuse to live.

    If other people can play hard ball we can play hard ball too.

    If he dies give his body to his family if they want it, if they don’t there is plenty of space in Barbados’ public cemeteries.

    There will be no blood on our hands.

  34. Kitty Avatar
    Kitty

    @ Random Thoughts,
    Who will it for a free man to be held in jail ?????
    We also have a right to our freedom, they are holding a free man in jail.
    You would not say so if it was on of your family members.
    But you are entitled to your opinion (“freedom of speech”), people just airing them mout and ain’t know what really going on.
    Barbados too small to receive any negative world wide press

  35. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    It always amazes me how people jump on their high and mighty bandwagons when these issues hit home.

    Explain to me how is this man free…

    Barbados doesnt have a detention centre for immigration, so he is being held at our prison where many others are also held on deportation and immigration matters.
    I could never understand a hunger strike. Is it to put blame on the authorities or to shame them…good luck getting that in Bim.

    Have to agree with Random Thoughts on this one.
    If Bim gets bad press for following the law….so what? Lots are running off their mouth also without realising that there are laws to be followed. Had this man respected our laws in the first place….all this would be null and void.

  36. Kitty Avatar
    Kitty

    FYI- his sentence ended 2 years ago, why is he still in jail??

    There is more to the mortar than in the pestle.
    I have facts, I just ain’t talking

  37. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    The fact that you are asking why he is still in jail and that you have facts make no sense to me.
    If you have all these facts that we dont, why not share them to prove that our Government is doing wrong.
    I am not just talking but I am yet to see where the GoB or the authorities are doing wrong.
    He did his time, yes but he is also under a deportation order. Where are you kept in Barbados whilst under a deportation order?
    Is it the fault of the Barbados authorities that no country would take him?
    It is a sad situation but the law is the law. What are they to do in the meantime?
    It seems that he and his family would hold Barbados to ransom for something, of which the authorities have no control. What will be achieved by a hunger strike?
    Maybe you are indeed correct, there must be more to this than is being told (on both sides), therefore in the absence of info (if any)…..we have to deal with what we know now.

  38. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Quoting Kitty “Who will it for a free man to be held in jail ?????
    We also have a right to our freedom, they are holding a free man in jail.
    You would not say so if it was on of your family members.”

    I would say EXACTLY the same if it were my son or my daughter, and they know it. But my sons and my daughters know because I have carefully taught them that they must obey the law, or suffer the consequences.

    Raul Garcia is NOT a free man. Raul Garcia is being held in immigration detention because he is is Barbados unlawfully.

  39. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Quoting Kitty “Barbados too small to receive any negative world wide press”

    Dear Kitty: A country or a person is never too small to stand up to bullies, and Raul Garcia is a bully.

    Appeasing a bully tends to lead to more bullying.

    And yes Cuba is a bully too, or otherwise they would long have taken back ths born Cuban.

    You will note that none of “those other countries” who you claim will criticize Barbados are willing to offer Rual Garcia refuge.

    Barbados should call the bluff of Raul Garcia and “those other countries”.

    If he won’t eat. Let him die.

    And yes I would say the same if he were my son.

  40. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    As always…..people will come out with their obvious agendas and biases along with the usual emotional bleeding heart rants….*sigh*
    The fact remains that Raul is being held in detention at HMP Dodds because of a deportation order against him because he was in Barbados illegally whilst running drugs. This order is the last part of his sentence for running drugs our country.
    Until he leaves Barbados, how can he be free when the last part of his sentence isn’t carried out.
    When he is deported and sets foot in another country, then he will be free.
    Just ask the many Bajans who are deported after crimes, where their freedom began.
    Getting a country to take him, rather than criticizing Barbados for obeying their laws seems like a better option.
    ……btw….dying from a hunger strike will not help the cause either.

  41. David Avatar
    David

    @Techie

    You have to accept that this is an issue which in every way you look at it is an exception matter.

  42. TECHNICIAN Avatar
    TECHNICIAN

    @ David…..

    I understand that and I hope others do too.
    All I am hearing is what Barbados is to do or not because he decides to go on a hunger strike.
    Before casting blame on our country, these bleeding hearts should first accept the law and stop with the asinine comments that he is a free man when clearly he is not!
    All I am reading and getting from these comments is that Barbados is doing something wrong, we are being unfair to a free man blah blah blah….
    So what if he is a great artist now?…is he the only one?….many have left prison a better and skilled person but it is the law and we shouldn’t bend it for anyone.
    I would rather take time and follow the law than to be hasty and follow emotion….only for this to come back and bite us in the ass later……there are others in Dodds who may be in the same predicament ……think precedence David.

  43. ac Avatar
    ac

    look techie this is an unique case in that he was sentenced to 20years in jail did his time .Now he has not been charged with any crime but is in maximum security prison awaiting for a legal status for a country to given Him status.What really is of concerned is the way he is being held as a nonimmigrant i think that is the heart of the matter! question being as an illegal immigrant should he be held in a maximum security prison?

  44. David Avatar
    David

    @Techie

    How Barbados can be blamed is the long time it has taken to find resolution to the matter which seems to be the cause of Raul taking the matter into his hands i.e. hunger strike.

  45. kitty Avatar
    kitty

    u have all the facts as well, read the story !!!!

  46. Snipes Avatar
    Snipes

    1. Mr. Garcia arrive on a Colombian passport using a different name.
    2. Mr. Garcia or whoever he is got caught with cocaine and sentenced to 15 years.
    3. Upon his release from prison he is released to immigration for execution of a deportation order for repatriation to Colombia.
    4. Upon this realisation, he suddenly says that he is a Cuban.
    5. Immigration seeks to ascertain his true identity while he remains in detention.
    6. After being held in the detention area at the airport for a while, he is returned to Dodds because the facilities there are not designed for his prolonged detention.
    7. Efforts are made to have Cuba take him: NO they say.
    Colombia: NO; And the USA which previously had a warrant for his apprehension on drug charges, suddenly are no longer interested in his arrest.
    8. “Mr. Whoever he is”, goes on hunger strike to force GoB to release him or deport him.

    Why are some of you people on my government’s case? Doesn’t our laws count for anything any more? Why should we ignore our laws because of this “could dear” factor? If you set a precedence by releasing him freely in our community, what is there to stop other persons from demanding the same treatment upon release from prison and faced with deportation?
    People leave the emotions out of this and take the rational approach.

  47. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Rual Garcia is free to end his hunger strike. Nobody in Barbados is stopping him from doing so. He is free to die also, but note that nobody in Barbados has tried to or wishes to take his life.

  48. Random Thoughts Avatar
    Random Thoughts

    Some people here are behaving as though this man is some sort of political prisoner being unjustly held by Barbados.

    He is not.

    He is a convicted criminal.

    A convicted criminal unwanted by his birth country and by his adopted countries.

    A convicted criminal who is trying to force the hand of the Barbados government.

  49. David Avatar
    David

    This is a cry to the BU family et al to call your MPs, send emails and letters to the AG, PM, President of the Bar. We need to have this matter with this gentleman resolves, it is acting as a distraction at this time.

  50. Legalese. Avatar
    Legalese.

    This Garcia matter requires the most careful consideration lest we open a can of worms that may be difficult to close. Let it be understood that Garcia’s problem is now one of his IMMIGRATION status ; the land of his birth has disinherited him and his adopted homeland does not want him. He is NOT incarcerated here in a legal sense as that term is usually meant to refer to an imposition of prison confinemet BY A COURT. Garcia has served the sentence imposed upon him by the court and is therefore free to go . The question in the present circumstances is , GO WHERE ? We do not have the kind of holding facility here in Barbados to deal with persons who find themselves in the predicament of Mr Garcia . That being the case what do we do ? He certainly cannot be left to roam the streets , human rights notwithstanding. This matter is a nightmare for our immigration authorities .
    It is beyond my limited comprehension how a country can ” disown ” its native son as Cuba has done. We here have no such options when the USA packs our nationals back here after deportation . What then must be our attitude in respect of this man who has created a most heinous crime against our State and is now AN UNWELCOME VISITOR ? Our authorities deserve to be given the opportunity to carefully think this one through. Good luck to them.

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