At least two Caribbean leaders have spoken out against a new US policy aimed at cracking down on Cuban medical missions in the region.
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and his Trinidadian counterpart Dr Keith Rowley are standing firm against US allegations that the medical missions from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations amount to “forced labour”.
“I will prefer to lose my visa than to have 60 poor and working people die,” said Gonsalves, responding to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion that Cuba exploits its medical professionals.
The 60 people he was referring to are patients currently receiving dialysis treatment from the trained Cuban professionals in St Vincent.
Prime Minister Rowley on Monday expressed similar sentiments.
“I just came back from California, and if I never go back there again in my life, I will ensure that the sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago is known to its people and respected by all,” he stated.
“We rely heavily on health care specialists whom we have obtained from India, the Philippines, and mainly from Cuba over the decades.”
According to Dr Rowley, those medical professionals are paid the same as their local counterparts.
Expanded visa restrictions announced by Rubio target individuals and immediate family members of individuals tied to the programme that sends Cuban workers overseas. The US has already imposed restrictions on several people, including some Venezuelans.
To date, there has been no official response from the Government of Saint Lucia to Rubio’s pronouncement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cuban medical brigade deployed over 100 medical professionals to assist in management and care in Saint Lucia.
Cuba has also provided medical missions to Saint Lucia to assist in eye care, while several Cuban medical professionals operate at the island’s health care institutions.
Reports indicate that Cuba has 24 180 doctors working in 56 nations across the Caribbean and beyond.
Earlier this week, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, told the Associated Press that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers recently met with US Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone in Washington, DC, to discuss the issue.
“The US is a strategic partner to CARICOM, but this very important issue has to be dealt with at the level of heads of government,” Todd said.
According to a report by the Miami Herald, Rubio plans to visit the wider Caribbean later this month. Claver-Carone is also expected to travel to some English-speaking Caribbean nations.
Good ridings, I love it stand up to the US who the hell they think there talking to Ralph and Rawley good job…Let me hear from PJP.
@ BULL SHITT.
They are talking to the powerless countries in their hemisphere. There is nothing that can be done about what the bully to the north imposes. Are you ready to endure economic collapse and hardship if we don’t acquiesce? You will be the first person voting politicians out if it comes to that.
Caribbean counties will defend that Cuban doctors are not forced labor because they get paid less than a local doctor so they can say “my medical services is good that’s thanks to me being in power vote for me”. It’s normal to see Cuban doctors that work trough the Cuban government asking for money because they can’t even pay their rent ( rent that they government tell them where they have to rent because is there the hospital bus pick them up. They can’t get a cheaper rent and save money because the bus won’t go and get them) Caribbean countries if u wanna have the Cuban doctors because they are good and not because they are cheaper give them papers and allow them to work without the Cuban government taking their money. Keep in mind that After u pay this doctors they have to pay the Cuban government and try to survive. That’s the reason why so many finish their mission with the Cuban government and go back to this country where they was already because they are already registered (and it’s easier to work as a doctor ) and work for privates or anybody that give them a job because the situation in cuba is not good and like this they can help their family. Caribbean countries or anybody with Cuban doctors u don’t want it to look like it’s slave u have give the doctors the chance to work for u direct without the Cuban government taking their hard worked money. Many people don’t see it. But this doctors are suffering not because of the work or nothing else they will work and be happy to support their families but if u make less then the rest and from that u have to pay whatever the Cuban government ask u for without being able to negotiate thats slavery google the definition.
I’m a Cuban doctor working on this situation and it’s sad “We are slaves” sorry to say but it’s better than working in cuba in the conditions the government put u on. U can’t talk or u get shouted down that’s y my name won’t be here. I’m just talking for the Cuban doctors working on the mission.
@me perhaps your government will not allow the countries where you work to grant you residency. This could be a very complicated situation. I need to understand your selection process for outside travel in the first place. I will therefore conduct my own research.
Having said that, I think the US leadership is seriously out of order to threaten taking away visas of leaders in the Caribbean islands based on this issue.
Some of those who live in the US will never understand the healthcare plight of those who reside in the Caribbean. Some in the US have never trace to third world countries ..they will NEVER understand.
WHY ..because they get their needs met by presenting to emergency rooms in the US at tax payers expense even when they don’t have private insurance. The law is no one gets turn away ….
.I agree with Motley, Gonsalves and Rowley don’t allow yourselves to be intimidated/bullied by the US ..don’t back down and don’t bend down. I wish some of the other Caribbean leaders would have the same backbone …but I guess they are being held hostage by this threat of taking away their visas. God help