Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua & Barbuda will lobby and pushback against a proposed US bill targeting Cuban healthcare workers.
He notes that the recent bill introduced by Republican Senator Rick Scott which classifies Cuba’s humanitarian assistance as “human trafficking” seeks to extend punitive measures against countries accepting this medical assistance.
“They will be literally punishing countries who utilize Cuba nurses and doctors,” he said.
“We think that is extremely unfortunate,”the prime minister added.
He said for over 30 years Cuban nurses and doctors have played a significant part of the health infrastructure of many Caribbean countries “and if they were to force us to get rid of these Cuban professionals then they will dismantle our health system.”
The prime minister says the Caribbean will mount a lobby against the bill.
“So as far as we concerned this bill will clearly create some challenges for Caribbean countries and we will be literally lobbying and pushing against any such decision.”
Browne also denied that acceptance of Cuban healthcare workers amounts to human trafficking.
“As far as we are concerned we are not involved in any form of human trafficking and …that is not true we do not accept it.
“We have been working with the US over the years in order to curb human trafficking, we have been cooperating fully,” he said.
Browne also wants the US Embassy in Barbados to take up the issue.
“I think it will be a very unfortunate position and I just hope that the Embassy in Barbados in particular will take up this issue with the State Department to let them know that this kind of policy is going to create a problem for Caribbean countries and undermine the good relations we enjoy with the United States.”
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“Another indictment of the failed ALP”
After 4 decades of independence, why do we still need Cuban nurses?
Do we start banning our nurses from leaving the region? You do realize we are not in a position to provide them the kind of salaries they can get in places like the US? We do offer them extra incentives like subsidized housing, but its not enough. Maybe we need to pass a bill and label such departures as human trafficking? . After we would have extended moneys to train these scarce resources, then comes places like the US to huff them claiming greener pastures. Clearly we can’t force persons to stay. Just telling that the US would try to penalize us for problems its very policies have helped cause
Such departures are what you call brain drain and the overreliance on tourism should be blamed for it. I don’t the nurses any wrong for wanting to leave because this was created by the government
Tourism has nothing to do with this. It is a proven fact Antiguans just don’t stay here. First chance they get they off to Csnada, USA or UK. As an Antiguan woman get pregant she gone the USA cause she want she pikney born ah America. You people needto remove the polictcal blinders from your eyes and see the USA for the bullies that they are.
If we dependent more on lets say agriculture you think they would stay or leave more quickly? Check the time when SLU and DOM were more into bananas and you will note nurses were still leaving for “greener” pastures. Read a news article where some who went to the UK, still ensured their non adult children got educated in the region. They argued our educational standards are better
Tenman, if that is the case, then we must require beneficiaries of scholarships or government subsidies to work in Antigua for a minimum of 5 years after graduation and yes pay more competitive wages. Cancel all the work permits for unskilled workers in the private sector and move the excess unskilled government workers to those positions.
Be careful of the repucusions. Gaston brown you don’t want to defy the most power nation in the world
Trump will be kicked to the curb in a few weeks (November election) and there will be many changes. This is a Trumper thing, and will soon be forgotten.
@ Byam
What a STUPID comment. The Cubans have helped so many Antiguans and other Caribbean Islands. We welcome the Cubans.
@on the move. It is a fair comment. We could have had far more Dr Mullons, Knight etc if the policy of the ALP was not to discourage young people from going to Cuba and getting tye training they offered for decades! On the point of US involvement, I would have to agree with the PM but caution him to be careful how hard he pushes, and how.
Zackie and you think the US had no impact on that decision? By the way stop telling only part of history by not mentioning the policy changed under the same ALP admin. Lester Bird was an advocate for the cuban doctor policy. Diplomatic relations between Antigua and Barbuda and Cuba were established on April 6, 1994
@tenman you really think people like zackie would ever say that lol!! People like zackie and them so hate alp no matter what they do them go always wrong!
You are a fool! This isn’t about “Cubans”; this is about the incompetence of the government and the underdevelopment of Antigua.
Poisonous, nasty bill need to go do the drain, with covid19.
The world can’t wait to see the end of Donald Trump’s government. These people think they can trample on other countries rights. Hope the Americans do the right thing in November. The world is tired of being bullied.
There is a DICTATORSHIP NATION EMERGING IN THE WEST. You may not want to believe it, but the USA is slowly but certainly becoming that nation. Be it Donald Trump or whomever else will occupy the white house in DC, here it comes. The so -called “model of democracy” is changing its tune. The stage is being set….congress will lay back and allow the president to consolidate all power into its office.
Be warned ! A lamb like animal now speaks like a dragon.
No turning back now….horse already bolted. When it emerges from the gates…. THIS WORLD IS IN MORE SERIOUS TROUBLE.
I speak only ‘TRUTH”.
Evangelicals and the white house together spell ‘TROUBLE” . Watch the trend, people. The church stands shoulder to shoulder with the president. He plays and sings their tune. They love him….no matter what he does.
THIS WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
THE STAGE IS SET. FINAL COUNTDOWN.
WORLD “CYRSIS”: END SOON COME !
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