Caribbean leaders have strongly dismissed U.S. accusations of Cuban labor exploitation following the United States’ recent announcement to impose visa restrictions on Cuban officials linked to a controversial government program sending medical professionals abroad.
The U.S. announced the move late last month, accusing Cuba of running labor export programs, including its medical missions, that “enrich the Cuban regime” and exploit Cuban workers through forced labor. The U.S. further claimed that those involved in these programs are complicit in human trafficking.
However, Cuban authorities have vehemently rejected the U.S. stance, with Cuban officials labeling the accusations as “falsehoods” driven by the personal agenda of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, a Florida senator and the son of Cuban immigrants, has long been a vocal critic of the Cuban government. Cuban leaders argue that the U.S. actions could have negative repercussions for millions of people who benefit from the island’s medical programs.
Since the 1959 Cuban revolution, Cuba has deployed its medical personnel globally, providing aid in countries grappling with public health crises. Cuban doctors and healthcare workers have been instrumental in combating diseases like cholera in Haiti and Ebola in West Africa. These medical missions have also become a significant source of revenue for Cuba, particularly as the island faces a severe economic downturn exacerbated by the U.S. embargo, which remains largely opposed by the international community.
In response to the U.S. accusations, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley expressed his defiance at a hospital event, rejecting the “human trafficker” label. “We hire technical people who we pay top dollar,” Rowley said, adding that he was willing to forfeit his U.S. visa in protest.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves also defended the program, highlighting the importance of Cuban medics in his country’s healthcare system. He pointed to the critical role that Cuban-run dialysis programs play in treating kidney failure for at least 60 patients in the island nation. “If the Cubans are not there, we may not be able to run the service,” Gonsalves explained. “I will prefer to lose my visa than to have 60 poor and working people die.”
Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the value of Cuban medical personnel in her country. “The presence of Cuban medics is of immense importance to our healthcare system,” she stated, referencing the 400 doctors, nurses, and medical technicians currently working in Jamaica.
In the Bahamas, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell also publicly supported the program, asserting that his government adheres to international best practices when recruiting foreign labor.
As tensions continue to rise between the U.S. and Cuba, Caribbean leaders are standing firm in their support for Cuba’s medical missions, stressing the program’s vital contribution to regional healthcare.
Related topics
