In August 2005, Boston Globe estimated that between 8,000 and 9,000 Cubans had attempted to sail to Honduras in the past three years. Between 80 and 100 were never heard from again.
To date, Honduran immigration officials' approach to Cuban refugees has been arbitrary. Approximately 350 Cubans have arrived on the shores of Honduras this year, more than two times the number from 2005. Only three people have been deported to Cuba during the last four years and until now the Honduran government has given Cuban refugees permission to stay in the country for 15 or 30 days, enough time for most of them to proceed north to Guatemala, Mexico and US.
Honduras' Ministry of Immigration identified smuggling as one explanation for the recent increase in refugees during its July 10 meeting. Similar to the method used to smuggle Cubans into Mexico, Honduran immigration authorities believe smugglers transport refugees in speed boats to points close to the Honduran shore, then drop them off on run-down boats with the supplies necessary to reach the mainland.
There is no evidence that the 16 Cubans who landed on Roatan were smuggled here. A Cayman Net News report confirms that the boat that landed on Roatan landed on Cayman Brac on June 29 with 30 passengers. Net News received unconfirmed reports that 14 people jumped off the boat and swam ashore, where they were to begin the repatriation process back to Cuba. The boat was last seen on the north side of Cayman Brac at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday, June 30.
The Mexican and Cuban governments believe that smuggling rings are responsible for transporting Cubans the 180 miles to the Yucatan coast. Cubans pay between $3,000 and $5,000 to make the journey to Mexico. Although 61 Cubans were detained in Mexico during the first quarter of 2006, this may not accurately reflect the number of Cubans entering the country if smugglers are being protected by Mexican officials. U.S. Customs and Border counted 6,744 Cubans who entered the U.S. through Mexico between September 2004 and September 2005.
The week after the 16 Cubans landed on Roatan, the Honduran government began negotiations with Cuba to craft official policy for dealing with refugees, but nothing concrete was agreed upon. After 10 days of waiting in a hotel in Coxen Hole, the Cubans began to get restless. They were allowed to leave the hotel to collect money from family members living in the US, but they still didn't have the identification cards.
"It's like we're prisoners," said Anna. "I'm mortified," she said blankly, over and over again. But humane treatment plays a part in the Honduran governments' rhetoric in regard to Cuban refugees. Though Espinal ordered the Cubans to leave Honduras as soon as possible, he told La Prensa, "Meanwhile, they will receive humane treatment."
There are worse prisons than Coxen Hole's Los Cumbres Hotel, its garden densely planted with tropical shrubs and views of the ocean from the white tiled balconies. The refugees also received board and two meals a day, courtesy of the Roatan municipality.
Miguel thought the island immigration authorities wanted money. "I know what they want," he said with lowered eyebrows, rubbing his thumb across the pads of his index and middle fingers. As a former state employee, a delegate to Manzanillo's Municipal Assembly, Miguel can be charged with treason if he returns to Cuba. His wife thinks his position gives the group leverage with Cubans in the U.S. who want to criticize Castro. She believes that some Florida politicians would be pleased to help a government official who chose to leave the communist state in order to further delegitimize Castro.
Finally after 12 days of a bureaucratic limbo, the 16 were issued a 30 day immigration permit to remain in Honduras for 'Humanitarian reasons' by Honduras' director general of immigration. On July 17 the group boarded the Galaxy boat bound for La Ceiba. With money from family in the US and some friends they made on Roatan, the group continued their journey to Guatemala and the US. Roatan's Catholic community gathered Lps. 7,000 for their journey and gave them a letter of recommendation to Guatemalan and Mexican parishes.

ABOVE: Mounted US tourists snap photos of one of the Cubans washing at the edge of the water.

After six months of waiting and speculations, Bay Islanders have a new, Liberal party governor

Reporting for Duty
At the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa a swearing in ceremony of Arlie Thompson, Bay Islands Governor took place on July 7. The governor receives Lps. 18,000 monthly salary, has three paid secretaries and assistants, paid office expenses and accidental budget of Lps. 25,000 per six months.

In a ceremony at the Coxen Hole's governor's office on July 13, ex-governor Janice Johnson passed on the office keys and governor's stamp to the newly appointed governor Arlie Thompson. "I hope to have fulfilled my post with dignity," said the departing governor Johnson. Governor Thompson will be available in his office Monday to Friday, between 2pm and 4pm. Janice Johnson, Governor Arlie Thompson, Mayor Dale Jackson, Lorna Bodden, Mayor Alton Cooper, Mayor Perry Bodden.

Inspired by the desire to sustain their own healthy lifestyles, two entrepreneurial couples have opened modern gyms on Roatan in the past ten months.
First it was Island's Gym in Sandy Bay that started out as a private workout space for owners Drew and Mary Lynn Long, certified personal trainers and owners of three fitness centers in Southern California. When the couple arrived on the island in November 2004, they couldn't find anything comparable to the fitness scene they left in Los Angeles. "If we're going to have a place to exercise, we're going to have to build a place," Drew said.
The air-conditioned space is reminiscent of upscale, boutique gyms in the U.S. Its top of the line exercise machines and Drew's personal training sessions for $50 to $75 per hour, has attracted a following amongst the islands upper economic bracket.
Drew describes Island's as a self-service gym. There is rarely a person at the front desk, so members sign themselves in and account for any food and drinks they take from behind the counter. "Even though it's culturally not been the norm down here, as the stresses of every day life and diet are creeping in, people realize there is an antidote, which is physical exercise," said Drew Long.
Not long after another gym, this time in French Harbour opened its doors. Located in Jackson Plaza, Get Fit Roatan was opened by Gary and Ollie Thomas. Staying fit has always been an essential part of maintaining their family of seven.
This gym has more affordable membership rates and attracts a variety of local professionals. Guadalupe Bustamante of French Harbor has been exercising for years and became a member of Get Fit Roatan the day it opened. She used to walk for exercise, but now she takes advantage of the gym's machines, especially the ellipticals. "It's safer to work out here than walking on the roads," she said, referring to erratic main-road traffic.

Eventually, Get Fit Roatán will include a classroom for yoga, pilates and kickboxing, a juice bar and full service spa. "Right now it's just a box with exercise equipment," said Ollie Thomas. Two or three local trainers are always available for a consultation. The first few training sessions are free and afterward cost Lmp. 100.The four televisions recently mounted on the gym walls are just the beginning of the Thomas' wellness vision. In August they plan to spruce up the environment with new artwork, a classroom and a yoga library. Upon completion of the spa, which will offer manicures, pedicures, massage and skin treatments, in March 2007, the gym will start to charge full membership rates.
Still another alternative is open to health conscious Roatanians. For only $30 a month, West Bay's Henry Morgan Resort offers a monthly access to its gym and pool.
On Utila, Ocean Fitness, owned by Barbara Kempf, opened its doors on May 22. The 1,100 sq. ft. gym is located just below Gunter's Eco Marine Dive Center on the Sandy Bay Road. It has AC, fans, and offers eight cardio machines, five weight machines, three weight benches, and ample free weights to turn your flab into muscle or tune up your physique.
While working out on a stationary bike, or stair master, you can watch the boats in the harbor. There is also a juice bar, where you can replenish your electrolytes and satisfy your protein needs with one of Barbara's health and fitness shakes. In addition to monthly memberships, Ocean Fitness offers aerobic classes, yoga classes, personal training and dance aerobics.