U.S. Secretary of State Discusses Cuban Medical Missions
(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday regarding his Caribbean tour to engage with regional presidents on various topics, including Cuban medical missions as well as the ongoing circumstances in Haiti.
Rubio gathered with Jamaican Premier Andrew Holness, while the two held a shared press conference at the Prime Minister's office, addressing the media.
During the conference, Rubio defended the Trump administration's stance against a Cuban government program that sends medical personnel to countries in need, such as Jamaica.
The Trump administration claims the program violates international labor standards.
"The doctors are not paid; payments are made to the Cuban government. The Cuban government decides how much of anything to give them. They take away the passports. They basically operate as forced labor," Rubio explained.
Many Caribbean leaders, with Premier Holness included, have criticized the US limitations on Cuban medical missions and dismissed the idea that receiving benefits from similar programs breaches international labor standards.
“The Cuban doctors in Jamaica have been incredibly helpful to us. Jamaica has a health deficit in personnel primarily because health personnel have migrated to other countries. We have been very careful not to exploit the Cuban doctors,” Holness stated.
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