In March, Caricom Foreign Affairs Ministers will meet U.S. officials following newly announced visa restrictions by the Trump Administration impacting countries employing Cuban medical professionals. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the expansion targets foreign government officials involved in Cuba’s labor export program. Despite sanctions, Cuba aims to sustain its medical cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized by recent agreements.
In March, a meeting will be held between U.S. officials and Caricom Foreign Affairs Ministers to address the Trump Administration’s visa restrictions affecting government officials from nations employing Cuban medical practitioners. These restrictions also extend to the immediate families of such officials, impacting healthcare relations across the region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the expansion of a Cuba-related visa policy aimed at addressing forced labor accusations tied to Cuba’s labor export program. This policy specifically targets Cuban officials and foreign government officials associated with these practices, especially regarding Cuba’s overseas medical missions.
Rubio emphasized that the Cuban government benefits from an “abusive and coercive labor practice,” which deprives its citizens of necessary medical care while enriching its regime financially. In Trinidad and Tobago, numerous Cuban medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, provide essential healthcare services to the community.
The Trinidad Guardian sought data from the Ministry of Health regarding the number of Cuban practitioners but received no response. Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne mentioned the COFCOR meeting was convened to clarify these issues with the U.S. State Department on behalf of member states.
A meeting is being organized for the second week of March between COFCOR Ministers and U.S. envoy Mauricio Claver-Carone in Washington D.C. Claver-Carone serves as the Special Envoy for Latin America within the U.S. State Department.
Cubas’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Gustavo Veliz, was approached for comments but requested additional time for a response. Veliz previously assured that despite the tightening of U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration, Cuba’s cooperative relationship with Trinidad and Tobago would persist in areas of economic, health, and education.
Specifically regarding medical collaboration, Veliz noted that a Cuban Health Brigade has offered services in Trinidad and Tobago for over 20 years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a contract was signed in November 2024 to extend this collaboration for another five years, solidifying the ongoing partnership.
The upcoming meeting between Caricom ministers and U.S. officials highlights escalating tensions around the U.S. visa restrictions that could impact healthcare collaborations with Cuba. Despite U.S. sanctions, Cuba maintains a long-standing medical partnership with Trinidad and Tobago, demonstrating the importance of addressing these policy changes to protect healthcare access in the region.
Original Source: www.stabroeknews.com
