Basseterre, St. Kitts. March 7, 2025– St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are taking seriously the recent warning from the United States regarding visa restrictions on foreign government officials and their immediate family members. The threat stems from allegations that Cuba’s labour export programs, particularly its medical missions, involve exploitation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, revealed that CARICOM is actively addressing the situation and will be engaging with the US State Department in the coming days to further assess the issue.
Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Douglas confirmed that CARICOM Foreign Ministers held a virtual meeting last Friday to discuss the potential implications of the US-imposed visa restrictions on the region.
Dr. Douglas emphasized that St. Kitts and Nevis is not engaged in any exploitative labour practices and clarified that medical personnel from Cuba currently working in the Federation are either directly employed by the government or operating under existing agreements.
“This is a matter that we have taken very, very seriously as a government and also as a region. We are in the process of examining the memorandum of understanding and agreements we have with the Cuban government, which sends medically trained personnel here, including engineers, doctors, and nurses, to assist us in our health sector,” Dr. Douglas shared.
He noted that while some Cuban professionals in St. Kitts and Nevis are engaged directly with the federal government, there are approximately 11 individuals who are working under arrangements involving the Cuban government.
CARICOM is now working to ensure that none of these agreements violate human rights, particularly concerning fair compensation.
“We want to make sure that the agreements do not in any way support what the U.S. is accusing. We, again, in St. Kitts and Nevis, want to make it very clear to the world that we are not part and parcel of this type of practice as has been accused,” the Foreign Minister emphasized.
Dr. Douglas highlighted that the US government’s consideration of restricting visas for ordinary travelers and government officials could significantly impact diplomatic and regional relations.
“The entire Caribbean community is highly concerned about this matter, and we are treating it with the highest regard at the highest level so that we will be able to arrive at a solution to this emerging issue,” he affirmed.
Cuba’s Medical Missions Under Scrutiny
Cuba is known for its universal healthcare system. The island has been sending doctors worldwide since the 1960s as part of its international aid and diplomatic strategy. However, the US has raised concerns that medical personnel under Cuba’s labour export program are being underpaid, with a significant portion of their wages going directly to the Cuban government.
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