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 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.