Call for Help: Canadian prisoner in Cuba denied medical care for months despite begging Cuban prison officials to let him see a doctor

 Sister asks "what is the Canadian government waiting for? body bags?"

Canadian born citizen Benjamin Tomlin not receiving adequate care.

Canadian born citizen Benjamin Tomlin jailed in Cuba was able to make a call out of prison begging for medical care denied him by Cuban prison officials.  His sister Caroline Simpson who has been campaigning for his release made it available and in the e-mail with the audio declared: "This is appalling,  my brother has been begging to see a doctor for months,  why isn’t the Canadian government doing anything to bring the prisoners home while they will be safe. What are they waiting for? Body bags?"

Ms. Simpson added that "this has become a humanitarian cause now, these Canadians need to be returned home before it is too late. We can no longer wait for political niceties and formalities we need to save these men’s lives NOW because they are in serious danger." 

 

"The Cuban government is not respecting the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) that under rule 24 states:"The provision of health care for prisoners is a State responsibility. Prisoners should enjoy the same standards of health care that are available in the community, and should have access to necessary health-care services free of charge without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status," in the case of Benjamin Tomlin, who is suffering great pain, cysts, and deteriorating health. Friends and family are concerned about his health and fear for his life, because he has not been provided adequate medical care for months.

Benjamin Tomlin has been detained in Cuba since August 2018 when he was charged with sexual misconduct. On March 29, 2019, following a trial which stripped the defendant of his basic human right – the right to fair and equitable hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal – he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

On August 28th, 2019, the Supreme Court of Cuba rejected his appeal, the same day that various Canadian newspapers and media, including CBC News, published articles about Mr. Tomlin’s incarceration in Cuba.

Beginning with his arrest through to his trial and sentencing, Benjamin Tomlin’s case has been plagued with judicial irregularities. Tomlin's rights have been consistently violated since his arrest: he was prevented from speaking to his lawyer; refused consular assistance; and was forced to sign documents, under duress, that he did not understand.  Benjamin Tomlin continues to maintain his innocence and claims to be the victim of people who robbed him.

Benjamin Tomlin’s Chronic Pain and Lack of Proper Health care in a Cuban Prison

In 2005, Benjamin was in an accident from which he was expected to be a quadriplegic. To the surprise of his doctors, he was able to regain movement in his limbs but continues to this day to experience severe chronic pain and transient paralysis for which he had stayed medicated following the accident. In addition, Mr. Tomlin was also diagnosed with poly cystic kidney disease in his mid-twenties.

Mr. Tomlin is presently in excruciating pain as the required medication is not being provided to him. His physical health is deteriorating, not to mention his mental health. Although friends and family do what is in their power to ensure that the medication gets to his Cuban prison, it is being stolen by the prison guards thus it rarely gets to him.

Most recently friends and family have been informed that in addition to chronic pain from his accident and his worsening mental health, Benjamin Tomlin is now experiencing symptoms of his poly cystic kidney disease. He has been extremely ill and was unable to move from his bed for several days due to excruciating pain. He requested medical attention but was told it was unavailable due to the current fuel crisis in Cuba.

Furthermore, he was subject to a disciplinary hearing before the prison colonel for “disrespect” for having insisted that he receive medical attention.

Video of audio received on September 15, 2020: https://youtu.be/8xTAkQjUs_Y