Dr. Keith Rowley, PM of Trinidad and Tobago, rejects U.S. accusations against Cuban medical missions as human trafficking and declares readiness to forego U.S. travel to protect national sovereignty. Caribbean leaders express concerns over U.S. visa restrictions impacting healthcare, while Rowley affirms that his government will not sever ties with Cuba.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed his readiness to forego travel to the United States in order to uphold his country’s sovereignty, particularly in response to U.S. accusations that Cuba’s international medical missions constitute human trafficking. During a ceremony for the completion of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital project, Rowley criticized the Trump administration’s visa restrictions targeting countries that employ Cuban medical professionals.
Rowley denounced U.S. claims suggesting that Cuba’s medical program is exploitative, stating that Trinidad and Tobago has consistently benefited from the contribution of Cuban doctors within its healthcare system. He emphasized the misconception underlying the U.S. allegations and cited the strategic reliance on healthcare workers from various countries, particularly Cuba, India, and the Philippines.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has expanded visa restrictions aimed at penalizing officials considered complicit in Cuba’s export of labor. This policy has drawn concern from Caribbean leaders regarding its potential negative impact on healthcare services, with figures like Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne openly opposing the U.S. position.
In a meeting concerning this issue, Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne engaged U.S. officials to discuss these implications, although he did not provide updates when contacted. Nonetheless, Rowley clearly stated that his administration would not yield to pressures to sever ties with Cuba, affirmatively declaring, “This country will not be dictated to.”
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago resolutely defends his nation’s sovereignty against U.S. claims regarding Cuban medical missions, denouncing associated visa restrictions. His assertions highlight the Caribbean’s reliance on Cuban healthcare professionals while criticizing the mischaracterization of their services as human trafficking. The responses from Caribbean leaders indicate widespread concern regarding the potential impacts on healthcare stemming from U.S. policies. Rowley’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Cuba reinforces Trinidad and Tobago’s stance on this critical issue.
Original Source: www.caribbeannationalweekly.com
