Message to Caribbean Leaders.
Let’s Be Strategic, not Reckless in our Approach to the U.S.A Revoking Visa of Grenada’s Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall, A Warning, Not a War.
Let’s pause before we paint this as a simple U.S. bully move. Maybe it is a bullying move, but we must recognize a more complex truth: many of the complaints about payments, raised in Washington or at the regional US embassies, are coming not from adversaries, but from the Cuban doctors and nurses themselves. If they’re flagging issues about withheld pay or unfair treatment, we must listen.
Here’s where Caribbean diplomacy must sharpen its game:
Be Smart, Not Defensive
Don’t reflexively cast every U.S. action as imperialism. Acknowledge that Cuba’s medical brigade program faces legitimate scrutiny, not from adversaries, but from its own mefical professionals.
Let’s Be Nuanced, Not Emotional
Criticisms may stem from workers feeling exploited, not from geopolitical manipulation. Let’s differentiate between the U.S. policy effort and the real voices of Cuban healthcare workers seeking fair treatment.
Be Pragmatic, Not Estranged
Washington’s move is unmistakable, but we don’t have to escalate to brinkmanship. Caribbean governments need to engage both Cuba and the U.S. with proposals that protect medical access while demanding transparency and fair compensation for professionals.
Support Healthcare, but Uphold Human Rights
Cuban doctors serve critical roles in our hospitals and communities. That’s undeniable. But solidarity cannot be blind. We must ensure their rights are safeguarded and that they are treated fairly under the terms agreed.
In short: Yes, the U.S. may be leveraging visas as political pressure, but we must not fall into a trap of reactionary rhetoric. Let’s stand by our healthcare partnerships, with our heads and hearts firmly engaged, drawing the line between solidarity and pragmatism.
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For the most part I agree with Ambassador Jonas. But Caribbean Governments already met on this issue and so their approach should have been a joint, collective and a shared one. The truth is, with the exception of the Bahamas and I believe Jamaica who have already taken steps to reverse the position where the entire salary is now paid to the Medical personnel and then leave it up to them to pay their government, we really have not heard from other Governments on exactly where they stand. So the Grenada situation might be the only such one or there might be more waiting in the pipeline. The Grenadian Finance MINISTER, PM Ralph Gonsalves and PM Mia Mottley seem to have been more vocal about their stance towards possible visa denial than other leaders. Barbados is not a part of this Cuban Medical Brigade. Caribbean governments though must take a joint approach to this but like most things, every man for himself.
For the most part I agree with Ambassador Jonas. But Caribbean Governments already met on this issue and so their approach should have been a joint, collective and a shared one. The truth is, with the exception of the Bahamas and I believe Jamaica who have already taken steps to reverse the position where the entire salary is now paid directly to the Cuban Medical personnel and then leave it up to them to pay their government, we really have not heard from other Governments on exactly where they stand. So the Grenada situation might be the only such one or there might be more waiting in the pipeline. The Grenadian Finance MINISTER, PM Ralph Gonsalves and PM Mia Mottley seem to have been more vocal about their stance towards possible visa denial than other leaders. Barbados is not a part of this Cuban Medical Brigade. Caribbean governments though must take a joint approach to this but like most things, every man for himself.
@ Audley Phillip,
Both you and the writter have not addressed the problem. To do so requires the type of thinking not found in these parts.
Motley can say what she wants; and she is known for being outspoken. Barbados don’t have the Cuban Medical brigades, so she will not loose here visa for that reason.
The PM of Jamaica Holliness stated the Cuban Brigades are necessary.
Ask the question why is it that when University London created University of The West Indies, the first Professional school was the Medical School and we still need the Cuban Brigade.
What is wrong where the Eastern Caribbean is dependent on the Cuban Medical Brigade?
I agree with Ambassador Jonas for the most part, but this is an issue that should have been dealt with collectively. CARICOM leaders already met on it, so the response should have been united, not scattered.
From what I understand, only The Bahamas and maybe Jamaica have made changes so far, paying Cuban doctors directly and leaving it to them to send money back home. For the rest, we really don’t know where their governments stand. That’s why the Grenada case looks like the first of its kind, but it could easily be the start of more to come.
We’ve mainly heard strong positions from Grenada’s Finance Minister, plus PM Gonsalves and PM Mottley. But Barbados isn’t even part of the Cuban medical programme, so their role is more supportive than anything else.
At the end of the day, Caribbean governments need to face this issue together. Instead, like too many things in the region, it feels like everyone is just looking out for themselves.
Jonas makes a fair point. Too often we jump to shouting ‘imperialism’ without looking at the real issues on the ground. If the Cuban doctors themselves are raising concerns, we can’t just brush that aside.
@audelyphillip: you are grossly misinformed.
Barbados and the Cuban government signed an agreement in 2022 establishing a permanent presence of Cuban medical staff on the island.
This subject highlights the dysfunctionalism of CARICOM and other Caribbean institutions
Lord thank you.. someone is seeing this issue differently.
The Cubans Doctors are not the issue, is the way they are treated with the labor conditions they are facing while working in the Caribbean.
– Cuba Government don’t allow those doctor travel with their spouse/children while working here.
– Cuba Government obligate them to hand over more than 50% of their salary.
– Cuba Government Ban those doctor for 8 years to return to Cuba if they refuse to keep working, plus take all saving they have in Cuban bank.
– Cuba Government don’t allow doctors to drive, engage in public/private festivities, engage with locals and live with them, follow a curfew in the place they stay. They have in the brigade lot of “snich” to inform what they call “Lack of Professionalism” and send them back to Cuba if they breach one.
– Cuba Government send in the Brigade a “Boss” to control all activities those doctors do. Most time that Boss keep the Doctors passports while they are working here alleging “Immigration procedures or keep it in better place so doctors don’t lose them”.
– Cuba Government give as excuse that Money they took is being use to help “Cuba healthcare”, but that is a manipulative narrative to justify the seize of huge % of those doctors salary. In some countries they seize over 85 % of doctors salary.
= Nobody of the Caribbean will accept those working conditions, there is no way any Caribbean Doctor will go to other country and be obligated to pay their government over 50 % of their Salary. Or accept not to travel with their family.
Think about it fellas.
Yeah? But since when America cares about how Cuban doctors are being treated? Is pure bullying by America and trump. The Caribbean needs to get together and strategically plan for this. Personally, going to America should not be a priority . Caribbean governments should come up with a creative plan to reciprocate this move. Send a clear message that Caribbean governments and people will not be bullied. Isolate America become more self soficient and increase relations with everyone else directly except America.
Why is this a USA issue? They have blockaded Cuba and made the Cuban people suffer for 7 decades. And don’t tell me this is a human rights issue. There are no human rights under Trump as human rights and the law are trampled by Trump. There is no due process. And not to mention the gerry manerding of electoral districts and the marginalization of black and brown people. The USA has no moral or legal authority to speak on these issues. It only suits their political agenda to close another economic door on Cuba. Why doesn’t Trump deal with the bigger issue of the murder of the brownskinned Palestinians, women and children, by the white Israelis?
@ Audley Phillip: Please note that Ralph Gonslaves is not the Finance Minister of Grenada. But rather of St. Vincent & The Grenadines. Decon Mitchell is the PM: of Grenada. Nonetheless, is seems as though the USA has embarked on retrenchment; with cause and effect as it relates to the Cuban Medical Bregade efforts in the wider Caribbean. This is designed to deny Cuba necessary foreign exchange by trade and embargo. Thus, pulling all strings: the effect has an indelible impact on the other Caribbean Islands; who by the facts of past colonial practices have been unable to develope their physical infrastructure and social benefit programs; to meet their population growth demands. The fact that they find it imperative to engage the Cuban Medical Bregade; to fill the medical needs of their population, it indeed a telling testimony to the fact of the. US intention; to keep development and expectations of Caribbean people subpar, as not compatible to European’s Americans standards. What is more telling, is the view that the USA have decided to not place any significance to the fact that, the Caribbean Archipelago is indelible it’s third border and in its sphere of influenced by proximity and cultural norms: forever to be so entwined for protection of the US mainland. The protection can be viewed as part of conciliatory reparation, for the harm visited and effected on the demographics; by the former enslavement, experience by the hands of the Europeans War Lords on people they brought to this hemisphere against their will. This would be a true form of solidarity, respect and goodwill intentions.
The U.S. has framed visa revocations of Caribbean officials as a response to alleged labor exploitation in Cuba’s medical missions, but for the Caribbean, these partnerships are lifelines that fill critical healthcare gaps. While every nation has the right to control its visas, punishing Caribbean leaders for sovereign agreements feels less like fairness and more like coercive pressure. A balanced Caribbean response would be to stand firm on sovereignty, acknowledge and address any genuine worker welfare concerns, and invite the U.S. to collaborate on building fair, sustainable healthcare alternatives—ensuring that citizens’ access to care remains the central priority.
@Barbuda Jaime. Do your research before you speak. Barbados was greatly assisted during Covid by a Cuban medical brigade. Meanwhile, the USA under Trump banned the export of vaccines. This is only an issue because the US wants to punish Cuba and grind it into the ground. America is only ever concerned about America and this has become patently obvious under Trump. We should always remember the words of the great Nelson Mandela. Don’t assume that your enemies are my enemies.
This was his answer to why he praised Castro, Gadaffi and Arafat. He pointed out that to the white world he was a terrorist. The white world supported apartheid. But Cuba, Libya and the PLO offered tangible support to the Freedom Fighters. We cannot and must not turn our backs on our friends.
This secondary sanctioning by the US, in addition to imperialism and bullying. They are using the visa issue to sanction countries that are breaking their sanctions against Cuba. They don’t care about Cuba and Cubans. They are trying to cripple the country with sanctions because they don’t like their system of government, which is the same as China, and the Caribbean countries via the Cuba medical programme is benefiting Cuba with desperate foreign exchange currency contrary to the US sanctioned-intent to cripple Cuba.
Why is America so Bent of Defending the Doctors( don’t get me wrong.The Doctors should be paid their full salary and not to ghe cuban Government) America is thd Reason all the Povertu and hardship taking place in Cuba with these years if EMBARGOES Placed on Cuba. America playing Police in everybody’s country.The most cortupt, Racist country in the world is America.America care so much about cubsn Doctors, why Bar them from making life is America insted of the White south Africans and the Ukraines. Is time the world Isolate Trump and America
@ Truth Seeker, Go to the head of the class. Mass genocide taking place in Gaza with America blessings. America owes Antigua and Barbuda hundreds of millions of dollars re: internet gaming case won at WTO… Dean Jonas wheel and come again.
Fuck Trump and his sick hateful Administration, they want to destroy Cuba further. He isn’t better than what Castro is accused of being. He certainly was not as intelligent. Trump is an awful excuse of a man
@ OTTO
The issue here is not whether or not Barbados uses Cubans. No split hair or split hair hairstyles
Here’s where Caribbean diplomacy must sharpen its game:
As the writer Jonas stated “Be Smart, Not Defensive
Don’t reflexively cast every U.S. action as imperialism. Acknowledge that Cuba’s medical brigade program faces legitimate scrutiny, not from adversaries, but from its own medical professionals”.
With regards to doing homework.
To begin with; I’d say Donald Trump is a piece of shit. I have witnesses it closed up before his Apprentice days.
New York Liberal made Donald Trump.
Donald Trump was considered among the Bridge & Tunnel iutter boroughs hicks when New York DA Morgenthau who was at that time a liberal Manhattan DA invited Donald Trump be part of the liberal high society.
The very people who dislike him now in the liberal media, are the same people and organizations promoted him. The same very people who gave him visability. He is a racist gangster that outfoxed them. BTW.
Many of those characteristics are embedded in Caribbean culture and politics.
Marco Rubio is a product of the anti- communist white Cubans who thrived under Batista and ran from Cuba when Castro took over.
His generation and his parents generation who fled Cuba detested Castro and the Communist world, and remains angry about what the white Cubans lost. The Bacardi family is a prime example.
Obama attempted to normalize relations Cuba but was thwarted by the Republicans and the families who lost lives in the Fountain Valley Massacre in St. Croix and the New Jersey State Trooper’s families
The white Cubans now as Southern Florida anti communist white” little Havana” who handed Florida over to the Republican Party.
Regan leaned-in hard on the anti communist rhetoric using m the wealthy white Cubans in Florida and elsewhere in the US and PR. Their dream is regain ownership of their properties in Cuba so they can return and thrive under capitalism They will remain anti communist and the Republican Party will be their political party.
Marco Rubio is a product of that dream.
And so long as these white Cubans who are now three generation deep continue to vote as a block for the Republican Party; as time passes the issue of the Cuban Medical Brigade will stay alive.
CARiCOM has no answer.
Like everyone else Caribbean leaders never imagined it would come this moment when a Secretary of State and a former candidate for US President would focus in on a subject that is top of mind for all white people Cuban heritage.
This is not just a Donald Trump and Marco Rubio issue.
So when one talks about doing homework issues of no impact at this time such as Barbados use of Cuban brigade; there are lots more to this issue such as Joanne Chesimard and Ishmael LaBeet. They are very much part of the calculus here.
Demmm LAZARUS STILL LIVING AMONG US???? ..I’M NEVER BELI3VE IN SACRED BOOKS ANYMORE…Is just 90-110 years for male engendrum to be alive..ohhhh now I understand the after life and re-incarnation.
@Barbuda J’aime: I have to read 3 times your comments and the others, you are so ignorant but so ignorant about how Cuba ended in a misery today. But you guys are so ignorant in this topic, that the most sad part all of you are commenting like you read every single history book of Cuba, you are commenting like you born in Cuba and live over there for over 50 years. You guys are so ignorant of everything about Cuba that my heart feel so sad. I’m black, I’m Cuban, I born in Cuba and I live in Cuba for 44 years. PLEASE DON’T BE IGNORANTS. Castro regime is one of the most successful slavery State in the last 2000 years. They are being so good manipulating the masses that even you living so far from there, Love how the White Castro Family is the sole owner of Cuba.
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