BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Grenada’s International Affairs Minister, Joseph Andall, on Friday defended the providers offered by the Cuban medical brigade whilst the USA authorities introduced that it has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on Grenadian authorities officers and their members of the family, for his or her complicity within the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme.
Whereas Andall wouldn’t verify whether or not or not Washington has focused him, he maintained that the Cuban medical programme, particularly over the past two years, “has been indispensable in direction of our well being infrastructure”.
He said that that is the place “not solely in Grenada, however all through the Caribbean and in different components of the world. Cuban docs have been identified to render providers in nations as far-off as Italy through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Andall stated that Grenada has benefitted from specialist Cuban docs working in his homeland and that “a big share of our medical docs are coaching in Cuba for gratis to the (Grenada) authorities.
‘So with out the enter of the Cuban medical brigade, there isn’t any query that our well being system will collapse,” he stated, including that so far as the allegations that the Cubans are concerned in pressured labour and human trafficking, “we are going to by no means be celebration to something of that nature.
“We’re fairly glad that the Cuban medical programme with us is completely above board and in compliance with worldwide labour and human rights requirements. So we’ve got no qualms about with the ability to defend them,” Andall stated.
In its assertion earlier this week, the US State Division stated that the visa restriction measures may even goal African and Cuban authorities officers. The assertion didn’t identify any of the officers from the three nations.
Washington stated that these authorities officers have been complicit within the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme, through which medical professionals are ‘rented’ by different nations at excessive costs, and a lot of the income is saved by the Cuban authorities.
It stated that this scheme enriches the corrupt Cuban regime whereas depriving the Cuban individuals of important medical care.
“The US continues to interact governments and can take motion as wanted to deliver an finish to such pressured labour. We urge governments to pay the docs immediately for his or her providers, not the regime enslavers,” in response to the US State Division assertion.
“The US goals to assist the Cuban individuals of their pursuit of freedom and dignity and promote accountability for many who perpetuate their exploitation. We name on all nations that assist democracy and human rights to affix us on this effort to confront the Cuban regime’s abuses and stand with the Cuban individuals,” the assertion added.
Earlier this yr, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to the Caribbean, the place he met with CARICOM authorities leaders to debate, amongst different issues, Cuba’s medical missions to the area.
Rubio stated that Washington can be increasing an current Cuba-related visa restriction coverage that targets pressured labour linked to the Cuban labour export programme.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who left Cuba in pursuit of the American dream, stated within the assertion that was posted on the US Division of State’s web site, that the brand new coverage additionally applies to the speedy household of these individuals supporting the Cuban programme.
However Caribbean overseas ministers defended the Cuban well being programme and the advantages it supplied and voiced concern concerning the influence of US insurance policies and the embargo on the Cuban individuals.
When Washington first raised the problem of the Cuban medical brigade, a number of Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) leaders, together with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, publicly stated they have been ready to have the USA revoke their visas.
Andall stated that “relating to the so-called visa concern, “we’ve got not obtained any official info from the federal government of the USA.
“So I’m not ready to remark,” he stated, including, “I’ve not been notified, we’ve got not been notified…we’ve got not obtained any official notification from any department of the USA authorities about visa suspension or something of that nature.
‘We’ve got been seeing issues on social media. There may be, there was a put up purportedly from the State Division…however we’ve got not obtained something,” Andall insisted.
On Thursday, the Grenadian authorities stated the Ministry of International Affairs was actively engaged with the US authorities by established diplomatic channels in addressing this matter.
“We guarantee the individuals of Grenada that your authorities is attending to this case with the utmost duty and in one of the best pursuits of our nation. We urge the general public to be guided by official info issued by the Ministry of International Affairs, as we are going to present additional updates as applicable.”
Andall, who’s a Cuban college graduate, stated he has no concept why Washington had focused Grenada, reiterating “we’ve got not obtained any official notification from them.
“So I gained’t be commenting on that. I gained’t be speculating about our relationship with the USA, as we proceed to be cordial and respectful with all our mates, and we hope this would be the case with them as properly.
“So I don’t have any concept as to what might have transpired,” Andall stated, including, “to be trustworthy, I’m not perturbed.
“I consider that each one nations that host worldwide organizations they do have an obligation to permit entry to the members of the organizations to have the ability to entry conferences and services,” Andall requested when questioned about the potential of him being barred from attending the United Nations Basic Meeting (UNGA) that will get underway in New York on September 9.
