GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar 14, CMC – The Guyana government says it intends to seek clarification on the United States to expand a visa restriction policy which targets Cuban officials that are believed to be affiliated with a labour programme through which Cuban healthcare workers are sent overseas.
Vice President Bharrat Jagde, speaking at his weekly news conference, said Georgetown is working with the US State Department to come to a fair solution for all involved.
“I can assure you that there is a regional as well as national engagement with the US State Department on these matters,” Jagdeo said.
“We want to have Cuban professionals work in our health system, they have been an invaluable support to our health system, but we also want to ensure that they have free choice. This is something that we are working [on] with the US government,” Jagdeo added.
Earlier this week, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said she is prepared to have her United States visa revoked as she urged Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to ensure that they are able to “ explain that what the Cubans have been able to do for us” as they seek to defend the Cuban health brigade programme.
Her statement followed that of the Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago prime ministers, who have publicly expressed their support for the Cuban programme, while Grenada’s Foreign Minister Affairs Minister, Joseph Andall, said St. George’s not only has a “legal, moral and ethical obligation to stand by the people of Cuba but that it should avoid being opportunistic or transactional as it pertains to the relations between the two countries”.
Jamaica has also defended the use of the programme within its health care system.
The United States has raised questions about the programme that CARICOM countries have insisted has benefitted the region significantly.
United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio announced recently that Washington would be expanding an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets forced labour linked to the Cuban labour export programme.
“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 labour export programme, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions,” Rubio said.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who left Cuba in pursuit of the American dream, said in the statement posted on the US Department of State’s website, that the new policy also applies to the immediate family of those people supporting the Cuban programme.
“The department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy,” said Rubio, who is expected to visit the Caribbean region later this month.
Jagdeo told reporters that the Guyana government is confident in the diplomatic approach being taken to discuss the matter with Washington.
“We do not do diplomacy in the public (domain). I believe we have (a) strong engagement with the Trump administration and with the State Department that would allow this matter to be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. That is how we will approach it,” Jagdeo added.
CMC/gt/ir/2025