(No. 240 – July 28, 2010 – 5:45 p.m. ET) The Honourable Peter Kent, the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), today issued the following statement:
“The Government of Canada called the Cuban government’s representative in Ottawa to a meeting yesterday to raise the issue of Canadians currently being detained in Cuba, including the case of Cody LeCompte, the 19-year-old Canadian man who has been unable to leave following a car accident in late April.
“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.
“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.
“Numerous calls have been made by consular officials to the LeCompte family and to Cuban officials in Havana seeking expeditious treatment of this case.
“At the African Union Summit last week in Uganda, Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I met with senior Cuban officials and raised LeCompte’s case directly.
“The Government of Canada will continue to offer full consular assistance to Mr. LeCompte and his family until this matter is resolved.”
Visit Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Travel Report Cuba.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Meredith McDonald
Senior Communications Adviser
Office of the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
613-944-7013
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
