Kayode Komolafe About 22 years ago, the deeply human story of a five-year old Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, caught the attention of the whole world. He was the subject of an intense diplomatic row between the governments of Cuba and the United States. Gonzalez lost his mother, Elizabeth Rodriquez, in late 1999. While attempting to leave Cuba in a boat, the woman drowned. Elian’s father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, remained in Cuba while the accident happened. The poor boy survived the accident and he was found by fishermen in an inner tube floating on the sea. The fishermen kindly handed Gonzalez to the States Coastal Guards to be taken ashore for proper care. After the boy was discharged from the hospital, the U.S. immigration granted him a temporary deferral and handed him over to his great uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez in Miami, Florida.