Guantanamo Uighurs Make $51,000 a Year Each
It has been revealed that the four ex-Guantamamo refugees are being paid $51,000 a year each for their work as groundsmen at the Port Royal Golf Course.
The Chinese nationals were granted employment at the Government owned golf course soon after their arrival.
The Government Labour Force Survey conducted a few weeks prior [during 13 - 19 May 2009], showed there were over 1,700 unemployed Bermudians in that timeframe, with 1,139 being male, and 781 being black males. [PDF report]
Assuming a work week of 37.5 hours, their pay equates to approximately $26.15 per hour, or an estimated net take home pay of $840 per week.
The four men [Khaleel Mamut, Abdulla Abdulqadir, Salahidin Abdulahat, Ablikim Turahun] were released from the US detention centre at Guantanamo and resettled in Bermuda in July 2009.
The Uighurs landed in Bermuda at around 6am on July 11, 2009 on a private jet, with Bermudians being made aware of their arrival approximately five hours later that day.
Enjoying freedom. Photo: Justin Maxon/The New York Times
The four men are part of a group of Chinese nationals handed over to American forces in Afghanistan, but found years ago not to be “enemy combatants” and cleared of any and all charges. They were not repatriated to China due to fears of their safety upon return.
Controversy erupted after Premier Dr. Ewart Brown’s decision to accept the Uighurs without first consulting Cabinet or Government House.
There were numerous protests locally, and the British Government expressed its displeasure, stating that due to Bermuda’s status as an overseas territory they should have been consulted on the move.
The fact that only Dr. Brown and one Cabinet Minister [David Burch] were involved in the decision making resulted in accusations of “autocratic behaviour” from fellow elected Members of Parliament.
Dr. Brown survived a vote of “no confidence” after Parliament rejected the resolution in a 22-11 vote after a marathon 14 hour debate, which went through the night.
Bermuda’s acceptance of the former refugees was applauded by various international human rights groups.
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