Countries not exploiting Cuban workers, says St. Vincent PM

 

Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Genadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has rejected claims by the US government that countries in the region, including Jamaica, have been exploiting Cubans in their healthcare sectors.

 

Speaking on the weekend at a public forum organised by the People's National Party in East Portland, Dr. Gonsalves declared that his government will not bow to any pressure from the Trump administration.

 

Dr. Gonsalves rubbished the idea that there was any exploitation of Cuban workers as he cited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that officials from countries that are complicit with trafficking in persons and exploiting Cuban professionals will lose their US visas.

 

Dr. Gonsalves argued that the Cubans have been playing a pivotal role in the healthcare sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

 

"The haemodialysis which we do in St. Vincent at the Modern Medical & Diagnostic Centre, with these 60 persons, without the Cubans there, I will not be able to offer that service. So, does anybody expect that...because I want to keep a visa, that I would let 60 persons from the poor and working people to die? It will never happen," he declared, adding that St. Vincent need not worry about the announced US strictures because the facts are on its side. 

 

The Jamaican government has not yet stated its position on the US government's plan to expand an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets forced labour linked to the Cuban labour export programme.

 

The announcement was made two weeks ago by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has said discussions have started on the likely impact of the latest US policy decision that threatens to disrupt Cuba's overseas medical mission programme.

 

Hundreds of Cuban nurses are working in Jamaica.

 

The matter was scheduled to be discussed by Cabinet on Monday.