By Peter Polack Sat, Jan 24, 2015 at 6:49 PM

Cuban boat with 29 persons aboard that included five women which arrived at East End dive resort this morning were directed to move on by a number of local immigration and police officials.

The vessel departed at 9:00 am.

The immigration officers advised that Deputy Governor Franz Manderson had ordered that no Cuban boat was allowed to land or receive assistance from local residents.

Attempts by local residents to provide fuel and water was prevented by the police officers present.

Local residents and visiting tourists at the resort expressed outrage at the position of the Cayman Islands government believed to be the result of pressure by the Cuban government.

Local activist Billy McLaughlin expressed the view that the Cayman Islands faced a backlash from tourists due to failure to help the Cuban vessels that pass through the Cayman Islands.

IMAGE: supplied