Caribbean nations are voicing strong objections to a new initiative by the United States aimed at curbing the influence of Cuban medical missions. These missions play a vital role in delivering healthcare across the region. Recently, Hugh Todd, Guyana’s foreign minister, highlighted the significance of these missions to the Associated Press. Todd noted that representatives from a 15-member Caribbean community, known as Caricom, held discussions in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone. This meeting comes in response to threats from the U.S. to restrict visas for those associated with Cuban missions, which some U.S. officials have branded as a form of “forced labor.”
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Todd emphasized, “The U.S. is a strategic partner to Caricom, but this critical issue demands the attention of government heads.” With approximately 24,180 Cuban doctors serving in 56 countries, their contributions have been invaluable, particularly in the Caribbean where healthcare resources are often scarce.
During a media briefing, Jamaica’s foreign minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, underscored the essential role of Cuban medical staff. Jamaica itself has benefited from the services of more than 400 Cuban medical professionals. Smith reiterated that these professionals, which include doctors, nurses, biomedical engineers, and technicians, are integral to the island’s healthcare system.
In a show of solidarity, some prominent leaders in the Caribbean, such as the prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have publicly denounced the U.S. policy. They indicated they would willingly sacrifice their U.S. visas in defense of the Cuban medical missions. St. Vincent’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, passionately declared, “I would rather lose my visa than watch 60 impoverished and hardworking individuals perish.” He stressed the indispensable nature of Cuban doctors, who are critical providers of care, including life-saving dialysis treatments, in his nation.
Likewise, Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, expressed his willingness to relinquish his U.S. visa if necessary. Addressing the public, Rowley remarked, “Having just returned from California, I can confidently say I would not miss going back. The sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago must be acknowledged and respected.” The crowd reacted with applause as he spoke of the importance of Cuban and other international health professionals to his country’s medical landscape.
Rowley addressed accusations from the U.S. about exploitation, stating that these professionals receive equal pay to their local counterparts and decried the American assertions as a matter of perspective. Adding to the controversy, last month Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rodríguez accused Rubio of advancing a personal agenda over the broader interests of the United States, labeling the visa restriction as an “unjustified aggressive measure.”
