Mom of teen held in Cuba nearly broke — Young man was accepted into Sault College

Fair warning....with Harper & his Klan running things ; You will get absolutely no help with any problems you may have while in a foreign country

Someone born in another country who attained Canadian Citizenship a month ago, would get more help from Federal Conservatives than a Canadian born citizen. Probably because they make up a voting block, that these crooks count on to get elected, most Canadians that I know, don't even vote anymore because the corruption in Government. "POOR CANADA"!!!

That is is why you do not go to Communist countries like Cuba & North Korea.

Remember Cuba is run by a Dictator !

if he's engaged to a Cuban why don't they just live in Cuba? if they let him back into this country he'll take his cuban "financee" with him.

shame of the government for not coming to the aid of this family. A representative from the appropriate arm of the law should be there. Is there a Canadian Embassy in Cuba? Is that how we treat Cubans on holiday in Canada? i.e. Keep the whole family here (or even one individual) in jail for a year or until he can prove the accident was an accident. Don't they have accidents in Cuba? Maybe someone could advise the officials in Cuba that if a Cuban, immigrant or on holiday, has the same problem while in Canada, the same treatment will apply.I think this is cruel and unusual punishment for this family and they (all of them) should be returned to Canada at the expense of the government. Why can't the top guns in Ottawa handle this for heaven's sake.

I have travelled the globe and this story is not the first I have heard about it. In Cuba, Mexico and even the United States, when renting a car, you MUST buy their auto insurance. This has nothing to do with Cuba being a communist country. It would be the same if you had an accident in the States or Mexico. This is well known to those who travel often. I have been to Cuba many times and its a beautiful country. Forget the BS you hear from the States as they have a gripe with them for the last 40 years and make the country seem aweful because of political differences.

there are two sides to every story so lets hear the other side. And forget about help from these crooks in Ottawa, you're Right ... they will do MORE for a foriegnor than a natural born Canadian. What a shame

Alvis, slow down when you read, and slow down even more when you type
It was the cousin's fiancee

I don't know about you guys but your travelling group rep tell you it's not a good idea to even rent those mopeds 'cause than you are liable for any damages and they will use it to extort you even if you really did not cause any scratches. Now why would someone rent a car I don't know? That is why I prefer to travel in the states.

I first read about this last week while in S. Ontario. Here is my suggestion to the mother.
She should start a website stating the above info, especially
... "Cuban law dictates accidents be treated as a crime when a tourist is driving and a local is seriously hurt. That means Cody is guilty until he can prove otherwise.
and also
... " While he hasn't been charged with anything, the Simcoe teen faces up to three years in a Cuban prison

In her website, she should ask Canadian respondents to state what Central America countries have been visited by their families in the last 3 years, and how no one in that family will visit Cuba in the next foreseeable future, until situations like this are resolved in a more democratic manner.

I will give her a start. I have a son who vacationed in Costa Rico last year. I have a daughter who vacationed in Mexico this year. I paid for the majority of these trips. Based upon what I read in the Toronto Sun last wekk, and what is repeated in the article above, NO ONE FROM MY FAMILY WILL VACATION IN CUBA.

If, enough people responded to a website, complete with names & addresses, then, and only then, willany pressure be put on the Cuban gov't.

It is beyond me, that people travel to foreign countries without knowing the locale laws then expecting their governments to step in and "do something" when things don't go their way. They had enough money to go for a nice holiday in Cuba but, not enough if they got into trouble. To quote a famous little girl, "This isn't Kansas anymore, Toto!" and yes, "There's no place like home!" Leave Canada at your own risk!

Hugo is right about a new canadian would have been helped immediately by our government! Whats wrong with our government? He did not break the law, he was involved in an accident unless of course he had no license which obviously is not the situation or he would be in jail. What this means and more Canadians need to be made aware of it is that if you find yourself in a situation in Cuba where you need legal help or a court date expect to lose your passport until the problem is rectified scary thought that our government will not even check the situation out on behalf of a regular citizen. I will never go back to cuba if these circumstances are proved close to exact. why has our government not warned us about such happenings in this beautiful tourist spot that canadians love to visit?