Guyana examines US decision to impose visa sanctions on foreign gov’t officials for facilitating Cuban healthcare workers

Last Updated on Friday, 28 February 2025, 1:08 by Denis Chabrol

In the wake of the United States’ (US) decision to impose visa restrictions on foreign government officials and their family members for alleged labour exploitation of Cubans, mainly health sector workers, the Guyana government on Thursday said it was paying close attention to the Trump administration’s position.

“We have carefully examined the statement out of the United States of America, concerning Cuban Medical Brigades in countries and the potential of sanctions against those countries that collaborate with Cuba on this matter,” Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference when asked by Demerara Waves Online News.

Noting that Cuban healthcare workers have been going to countries for a “very, very, long time and has transcended several US administrations”, he praised that system’s support for the health sector. “The Cuban medical presence in the region has had some positive impact on healthcare delivery across the region,” he said. Mr Jagdeo said the matter was not confined to Guyana but extended across the Caribbean.

He said if Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders succeed in securing a meeting with US President Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a number of issues such as trade, deportees and the Cuban healthcare support would be on the region’s list of issues it wants discussed. He said the US’ decision would have a region-wide impact. “We felt that [the U.S.] President should see the region not through the eyes of a third party but directly get views from the leaders of the region,” he said.

The US Secretary of State on February 25 said the expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions. “This expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labor export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions. This policy also applies to the immediate family of such persons,” Mr Rubio added.

Mr Rubio said Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the “regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented.” He said Cuba’s labor export programs, which include medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country.

The Secretary of State also said the US is committed to countering forced labor practices around the globe. To do so, he said the US must promote accountability not just for Cuban officials responsible for these policies, but also those complicit in the exploitation and forced labor of Cuban workers.