The Bahamian government announced that it will terminate existing contracts with Cuban health professionals following discussions with the United States, as reported by Health Minister Michael Darville during a speech in Parliament this Monday.
The note, published by the agency Reuters, outlines that the Ministry of Health of the Bahamas is now planning to establish direct labor contracts with Cuban workers who wish to stay in the country.
"Those who are not interested in this new agreement will have time to get their affairs in order and return to Cuba," Darville noted.
Currently, only 35 Cuban professionals are providing services in the Bahamas, mostly as laboratory technicians, radiologists, and engineers, the minister specified.
However, the country faces a deficit of local healthcare personnel, which has historically led to the hiring of foreign brigades.
Darville also reported that the efforts to hire new Cuban doctors and teachers are suspended until the talks with the U.S. government are concluded.
The medical services export program is one of the main sources of income for the Cuban regime.
However, Washington—through its Secretary of State Marco Rubio—has accused the government of Havana of human trafficking and labor exploitation in these missions, something that Cuban authorities and several Caribbean leaders deny, arguing that the medical agreements comply with international standards.
In May, the government of Bahamas announced that it would pay Cuban doctors directly who provide services in the country, according to official sources.
This measure comes in response to pressures exerted by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly from the Secretary of State, who has repeatedly criticized the agreements that allow Cuba to send healthcare professionals abroad.
At a press conference in the Diplomatic Lounge of Lynden Pindling International Airport, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Brave Davis, announced that his government is renegotiating labor agreements with Cuba and will pay all foreign workers hired by the government directly, reported The Nassau Guardian.
However, the decision by the Bahamian government to cancel the agreements with Havana stems from the fact that, following the announcement to pay the doctors directly, the salary confiscation mechanisms implemented by the Cuban regime persisted.
Several former collaborators from the medical brigades confirmed this to Martí Noticias, stating that even with direct deposits from the local government, the professionals were forced to send most of their earnings to accounts controlled by the Cuban state.
These decisions are also framed within the context of a meeting held last May, when the Prime Minister of Bahamas, Philip Davis, along with an official delegation, met with high-ranking officials from the United States government to address two key issues: the hiring of Cuban doctors in the archipelago and the visa restrictions imposed by Washington on officials related to Cuban medical missions.
According to the press secretary of the Bahamas, Keishla Adderley, the meeting addressed the concerns expressed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding compensation for Cuban doctors, whom he accuses of being victims of "human trafficking", reported the agency EFE.
Additionally, in April, the United States government reported that the Cuban regime earns more than 4.9 billion dollars each year from medical missions; the message was issued a day after calling for an end to human trafficking through such practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cancellation of Contracts with Cuban Medical Brigades in the Bahamas
Why did the Bahamas decide to cancel the contracts with the Cuban medical brigades?
The Bahamas decided to cancel contracts with Cuban medical brigades following discussions with the United States over concerns regarding labor exploitation and forced labor in these medical missions organized by the Cuban regime. The Bahamian government is now planning to establish direct employment contracts with Cuban workers who wish to remain in the country.
How does this decision affect Cuban doctors in the Bahamas?
Cuban doctors who wish to stay in the Bahamas will have the opportunity to establish direct employment contracts with the Bahamian government. Those who are not interested in this new agreement will have time to sort out their affairs and return to Cuba. Currently, only 35 Cuban professionals are providing services in the Bahamas, and most of them are laboratory technicians, radiologists, and engineers.
What impact does the cancellation of contracts have on the healthcare system in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas is facing a local healthcare personnel deficit, which has historically led to the hiring of foreign brigades. The cancellation of contracts with Cuban medical brigades could worsen this situation, although the Bahamian government is working to renegotiate labor agreements and directly hire Cuban health professionals who wish to remain in the country.
What arguments does the United States have to classify Cuban medical missions as labor exploitation?
The United States argues that Cuban medical missions operate under conditions of labor exploitation because doctors do not receive their salaries directly, a significant portion of their earnings is withheld, and in some cases, their passports are retained to prevent them from leaving the missions. Washington labels these practices as a form of modern slavery and human trafficking.
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