WASHINGTON, CMC – America authorities, on Wednesday, stated it has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on Grenadian authorities officers and their relations for his or her complicity within the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme.
The US State Division stated that the measures may also goal African and Cuban authorities officers. The assertion didn’t title any of the officers from the three international locations.
In a press release, Washington stated that these authorities officers have been complicit within the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme by which medical professionals are ‘rented’ by different international locations at excessive costs, and many of the income is stored by the Cuban authorities.
It stated that this scheme enriches the corrupt Cuban regime whereas depriving the Cuban folks of important medical care.
“America continues to have interaction governments and can take motion as wanted to carry an finish to such compelled labour. We urge governments to pay the medical doctors straight for his or her companies, not the regime enslavers,” in response to the US State Division assertion.
“America goals to help the Cuban folks of their pursuit of freedom and dignity and promote accountability for many who perpetuate their exploitation. We name on all nations that help democracy and human rights to affix us on this effort to confront the Cuban regime’s abuses and stand with the Cuban folks,” the assertion added.
When Washington first raised the problem of the Cuban medical brigade, a number of Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) leaders publicly stated they have been ready to have the US revoke their visas.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves famous that a minimum of 60 folks within the small island nation are on a Cuban-run haemodialysis program used to deal with kidney failure.
“If the Cubans should not there, we might not be capable to run the service,” he stated, including that Cuban personnel are paid the identical as locals. “I would favor to lose my visa than to have 60 poor and dealing folks die.”
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated she is ready to have her United States visa revoked as she urged CARICOM international locations to make sure that they will clarify “what the Cubans have been in a position to do for us” as they search to defend the Cuban well being brigade programme.
“This matter, with the Cubans and the nurses, ought to inform us all the things that we have to know. Barbados doesn’t at the moment have Cuban medical employees or Cuban nurses. Nonetheless, I would be the first to go to the road and to let you know that we couldn’t get by the (COVID-19) pandemic with out the Cuban nurses and the Cuban medical doctors,” Mottley stated in a press release in Parliament.
Jamaican Overseas Minister Kamina Johnson Smith informed reporters that her authorities views Cuban medics as crucial.
“Their presence right here is of significance to our healthcare system,” she stated, pointing to 400 medical doctors, nurses, and medical technicians at the moment working within the nation.
Earlier this 12 months, 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 present Cuba-related visa restriction coverage that targets compelled 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 folks supporting the Cuban programme.
Caribbean Overseas ministers defended the Cuban well being programme and the advantages it supplied and voiced concern in regards to the impression of US insurance policies and the embargo on the Cuban folks.
Expressing help for Cuba’s medical programmes, Grenada’s Overseas Affairs Minister, Joseph Andall, on March 11 throughout the island’s price range debate, stated that the island not solely has a “authorized, ethical and moral” obligation to face by the folks of Cuba, however that it ought to keep away from being opportunistic or transactional because it pertains to the relations between the 2 international locations.
“Cuba continues to be a reliable pal and companion not solely of Grenada, however of the Caribbean, and folks the world over. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Cuban medical doctors went so far as Italy to offer companies. I didn’t hear anyone discuss human trafficking and issues like that,” Andall informed Parliament.
Since Cuba’s 1959 revolution, its medics have been dispatched to international locations all over the world, treating ailments that wreak havoc on poor international locations, from cholera in Haiti to Ebola in West Africa.
