Caricom Foreign Affairs Ministers are set to meet U.S. officials in March to discuss the visa restrictions affecting government officials of countries with Cuban medical practitioners. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy, linking it to issues of forced labor within Cuba’s labor export program. The Trinidadian government employs multiple Cuban health professionals, and the discussions aim to address the implications of these restrictions on ongoing collaborations.
In March, a meeting between Caricom Foreign Affairs Ministers and U.S. officials is being organized to address the visa restrictions imposed by the Trump Administration on officials from countries employing Cuban medical practitioners. This policy not only affects these officials but also extends to their immediate family members. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 25, highlighting the expansion of a visa restriction initiative aimed at combatting forced labor associated with Cuba’s labor export program.
Secretary Rubio noted that the restrictions specifically target Cuban government officials as well as foreign government officials who are linked to the Cuban labor export program and its overseas medical missions. He emphasized that the Cuban government benefits from what he described as an abusive and coercive labor practice, which he argues undermines medical care for Cuban citizens in need.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago employs a number of Cuban healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists. In efforts to obtain specific numbers regarding the Cuban medical workforce in the country, Guardian Media reached out to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh but received no responses. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roshan Parasram suggested that inquiries be directed to the Health Ministry’s communications department, yet there was no follow-up.
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Dr. Amery Browne, shared that the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) convened to discuss these developments, seeking to understand the full implications of the U.S. policy. A meeting with U.S. envoy Mauricio Claver-Carone is planned for the second week of March in Washington, D.C. The U.S. envoy holds a position within the State Department devoted to Latin American affairs.
Efforts to elicit a response from Cuban Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Gustavo Veliz, were met with a request for time before providing commentary. Three weeks prior, Ambassador Veliz ensured that economic, health, and educational relations between Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago would persist despite the new U.S. Administration’s tightening of sanctions. He reflected positively on the lengthy history of Cuban healthcare contributions in Trinidad and Tobago, which include ongoing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mentioned the recent extension of medical collaboration.
Overall, the upcoming discussions aim to clarify the implications of U.S. policies on Cuban medical professionals operating in Trinidad and Tobago and to ensure that collaborative efforts in the health sector continue amidst changing geopolitical circumstances.
The impending meetings between Caricom officials and U.S. representatives aim to address concerns regarding visa restrictions affecting Cuban medical practitioners. The U.S. policy is viewed as restrictive and prejudicial to the healthcare collaboration between Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. The discussions will seek clarity on these matters while reinforcing the commitment to continue beneficial health collaborations. The relationship between both nations remains significant in the realms of health, education, and economics despite the challenges posed by changing U.S. policies.
Original Source: www.stabroeknews.com
