Refugees' Raft Still On Beach Week After Arrival
POSTED: Wednesday, December 8, 2004
UPDATED: 1:33 pm EST December 8,2004
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Condominium residents on Fort Lauderdale Beach say a makeshift raft that ferried 10 Cubans to freedom has turned into a hot potato.
A week after the Cubans arrived, the deteriorating vessel remains.
Watch A Video Version Of This ReportIt seems no one wants to clean it up. Fort Lauderdale city officials say it's not their problem, talk to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard says don't look at them, it's not their responsibility either. Meanwhile, beachgoers and condo residents just want the eyesore removed.
"It's a danger for the kids because there are sharp objects there's metal rings, there's nuts and bolts, there's wires that are sharp," said resident Ken Carpenter.
"Well I think someone should, obviously, pick it up and get it out of here. It's got rusty nails, etcetera," said resident James Aeneerson.
Aeneerson also said he didn't know who to contact about the abandoned raft.
"I don't know who -- immigration, naturalization, the police?" he said.
Local 10 News is talking to the Coast Guard about the mess. Stay with Local 10 News to find out how this problem is resolved.
JUST FOR FUN: Who Do You Think Should Remove The Raft? Copyright 2005 by
Local10.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.