JAMAICA GLEANER- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers met on Friday to discuss the United States’ decision to revoke the visas of foreign government officials whose countries employ Cuban doctors and nurses.
On the morning of Friday, February 28, as Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, I represented Trinidad and Tobago at a special meeting of CARICOM’s COFCOR, which is our Council for Foreign and Community Relations,” Dr Amery Browne said.
“This meeting was convened specifically to discuss a CARICOM response to the announcement from the State Department regarding states working with the Cuban medical brigade,” Browne added.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was announcing “the expansion of an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets forced labour linked to the Cuban labour export programme.
“This expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labour export programme, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions.”
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who left Cuba in pursuit of the American dream, said in a statement posted on the US Department of State’s website that the new policy also applies to the immediate family members of those supporting the Cuban programme.
“The department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy,” he added.
Browne said that CARICOM foreign ministers, who met virtually, agreed to seek additional information and clarifications from the US State Department, as most member states have engagements with the Cuban medical brigade.
“Additionally, CARICOM foreign ministers are arranging a meeting with the US special envoy for our region, to take place in Washington in the second week of March,” Browne said.
Regarding Trinidad and Tobago, he stated: “We remain in extremely close contact with the US embassy and our other counterparts and contacts, and we continue to focus heavily on our diplomacy and positive engagements with the US and other partners.
“We are in no rush to assume that Trinidad and Tobago or CARICOM officials are in any way caught up in this intensified focus on Cuba,” Browne added.
Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Albert Ramdin, noted that “there is a similar view throughout the region that these decisions will impact, in a very direct way, the services countries cannot fund in terms of medical care and so on.
“So there is a common understanding, and I think we all agree as well that we should have a dialogue, a conversation with the United States on an agenda between the two regions on many issues, and this is one of them.”
Ramdin, who participated in the foreign affairs ministers’ meeting, said, “I hope that we can see that happening very soon. We are in the same geographical space, the US is an important partner, and we must ensure that they understand the needs of the region.”
The communiqué issued on Friday following last week’s CARICOM summit in Barbados noted that regional leaders were “gravely concerned with the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Cuba resulting from the embargo imposed on the people and government of Cuba by the government of the United States of America.
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This meeting is a positive move towards regional unity, but will it lead to meaningful change?
Hopefully, this conversation helps bridge the gap between nations, but there’s still much to be done on both sides.
I hope the focus stays on the humanitarian efforts rather than politics.
The meeting is an essential step, but will it result in any real policy change for the people who need it?
I applaud the efforts of foreign ministers, but the focus must shift to improving healthcare outcomes for the citizens.
I hope the US adjusts its stance for the benefit of the region.
It’s crucial that the people on the ground feel the impact of these talks. SMH
Marco Rubio 180 degree turn around on
Eukrane should be an indicator of how much his world view now coincides with his boss Trump who included the Caribbean among his “Shit Hole” countries.
So when the “expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labour export programme, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions.”
Foreign Government Officials may be barred from visiting the US. This is not far fetched given what Donald Trump just did with the President of Eukrane.
I foresee not a closer level of cooperation among Caribbean governments, rather the opposite. Based on past behaviors, certain Caribbean leaders will easily abandon their Caribbean neighbours and Cuba in exchange for the gravy leaking from the US feeding troughs. Just watch and see!
I agree with the meeting but the Caribbean governments need to stand in unity and resist the bullying. Will America help us with Healthcare?
We need to stop our coward behaviour. We need to take bold steps like Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso. This might be a turning point where Caribbean leaders see the benefit of unity and self reliance.
We should be asking why are we so dependent on Cuba for healthcare for so long?
When we accept the Government musing about how well we are doing; we should also acknowledge how badly we are failing as a region when we are so dependent on a island that has been subjected to US embargoes for 50 years.
Where is the embarrassment?
When will we acknowledge that the people in regional Governments are not fit to move us forward.
Did we not think it may come to this?
What’s worse; look at way it’s being viewed by the regional leaders
@CountryMan Abroad, sanctions, what are sanctions? That must be an old word, I think the new word is Tariffs.
Russia is the most sanctioned country and yet it’s economy has been growing since the war at a higher rate than the USA or the EU. In case you are not studying what is going on, do you know that Cuba has joined BRICS this year? Hence the effect of sanctions is now minimal.
And if the USA continues to use sanctions as a whipping stick, they will move more countries to BRICS and guess who suffers?
Notice than even when the sanctions were effective, it has helped Cuba to develop internally and is now the producer of medical personnel.
Now if the Caribbean is truly integrated, it does not matter who producing doctors or engineers, they can work in any country.
What actions will the United States take regarding its citizens who pursue medical studies in Cuba?
The USA will punish us for calling on them to lift the sanctions against Cuba.
This is big bullying time. We either step in line or suffer the consequences.
Classic America wanting to cut all income to Cuba,simply because they salty they lost the revolution and broke free from imperialism same was done to Haiti.
There is 0 reason why should we not be allowed to have help from Cuban healthcare when they are one the best in the world.
Seems like another efford to cut all limit trade with cuba simply because they are a socialist nation especially since this is basically the only thing they would allowed to do and might be the last.
I really hate when imperialist starve other countries because they don’t like them and them claim it’s for freedom, I hate that shit
There is too much ignorance from Caribbean people about What type of contract those doctors and nurses sign before leave Cuba to work overseas…None of you are reading the Part that USA is disclaiming Why they are against this practice…Is Pure Slavery. Those medical personnel are obligated to give half of their salary to Cuba Government, They cant bring they family with them, No children, no parner, nobody..If they abandoned the contract they are banished to come back to CUba for 8 years..Regardless if they have kids or husband or wherever..Banished.. Some countries those doctors work..Like Qatar, Africa countries, Latin American countries, they have to give to Cuba up to 90 % of their Salary. They are not working in the Caribbean for Free, Governments need to give them Work Permit, House allowance, Transportation. They Get paid and automatically they have to transfer half of their payroll to Cuba government Bank Account.
None citizen for the Caribbean will ever accept the contract those doctors are working over here..Imagine any of you, anyone..If your Caribbean leaders send you to work in Africa..Alone..No family is allowed to travel with you, then any income, you must give more than half to your government “Because we need to share to the people for healthcare and education” If you decide to quit, you Country don’t allow you to go back for 8 years, no matter if you have husband/wife, children’s, etc. ANy money you have in your personal account will be seized for the goverment…COme on Guys..Open your eyes..is pure slavery…Those doctors and nurses they are cool people, but remember Cuba is a dictatorship, and if they open their mouth, they will be send it back right away, and punished like, Revoke your doctor license, no longer can work with the government (everything is owned by the government) and that its with your life..it become a damm hell over there… SO dont be fooled..Those doctors are slaves…None of you will not work under the conditions they are working. Im Cuban by the way..dont try to come with me with headlines news..Im giving you facts, you guys are brainwashed with this “Embargo” thing Cuba is a mess due the political system, is a total disaster.
It is funny how you can be a communist in a capitalist country, but you cant be a capitalist in a communist country…You have the Free of speech over here to talk freely.. But in a communist society my dear friend…Nothing cant be said against government and the socialist party.. Only one party is allowed and no elections. Nobody cant be against them or face the consequences.
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