US Cuban labour restriction: Guyana seeks diplomatic resolution to the satisfaction of all parties – Jagdeo

The Government of Guyana is engaged in diplomatic discussions with the United States to resolve concerns surrounding the expansion of existing US restrictions on the Cuban medical cooperation programme.
Addressing the issue during a press conference at the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) headquarters in Georgetown on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo emphasized that Guyana is committed to diplomatic dialogue rather than public disputes.
Declaring that Government is committed to maintaining its strong relationship with the United States while addressing concerns regarding the participation of Cuban doctors in Guyana’s healthcare system, Jagdeo assured, “We don’t do diplomacy in the public, and 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. So that is how we’ll approach it.”
Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries, including Guyana, provide employment for large batches of Cuban doctors and nurses, and some Caricom leaders have taken a more direct stance against the United States’ expansion of its existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets the export of Cuban labour to other countries.
In fact, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Thursday said she is prepared to have her United States visa revoked as she urged Caricom countries to defend the Cuban health brigade programme. She said the support of the brigade was tremendous for the Caribbean during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leaders of other Caricom states: Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, have also expressed their support for the Cuban programme.

Diplomatic engagement
Jagdeo has, nevertheless, maintained that Guyana’s stance is clear: Government is committed to maintaining diplomatic engagement with the United States while ensuring that Cuban health professionals, who have been an integral part of Guyana’s healthcare system, are able to continue their crucial work in the country.
“I can assure you that there is a regional as well as national engagement with the US State Department on these matters. 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 with the US Government, and it’s not just a national issue, but a regional issue,” the Vice President has said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the restrictions. As articulated in a statement from Rubio, the administration believes that Cuba nets much income from a “forced labour” programme. Doctors and other health workers in particular are believed to be part of this programme.
Shortly after the announcement, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo revealed that Guyana and other members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) plan to engage the United States administration on a range of pressing issues affecting the region, with strong emphasis being placed on the U.S. sanctions aimed at countries collaborating with Cuba, specifically the island nation’s medical brigades being deployed across the Caribbean.
Jagdeo stressed that Government’s priority remains economic and social stability, as well as ensuring access to adequate healthcare for the Guyanese people.