Prime Minister Philip Davis speaks in the House of Assembly on March 10, 2025. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE United States is threatening to revoke visas for foreign government officials such as those in The Bahamas involved in Cuba’s labour export programme.
Office of the Prime Minister communications director Latrae Rahming said yesterday that the government was recently made aware of the policy change and plans to meet with US officials to discuss the matter. He said the government is reviewing the policy.
The drastic visa threat comes even though The Bahamas maintained a Tier 1 ranking in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons report, indicating it fully meets the minimum standards for combatting human trafficking. The US State Department report noted that the government reported an agreement with Cuba that includes provisions against forced labour, though it did not disclose details.
The report recommended stronger efforts to identify trafficking victims among Cuban nationals working in government-sponsored programmes but did not indicate that The Bahamas had failed to meet its anti-trafficking obligations.
The conflict over the new US policy prompted several Caribbean leaders to denounce the plans publicly, stressing the importance of Cuban medical staff working across the region.
Some have reportedly said they would gladly forgo their visas if it meant saving more lives.
Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that foreign ministers from CARICOM recently met with the US Special Envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone, in Washington.
The Tribune understands that Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell is currently in Washington; however, it is unclear if he was involved in those meetings.
Successive Bahamian governments have recruited Cuban workers, particularly teachers and health professionals, to fill gaps in the workforce.
This has continued despite repeated concerns from the US State Department regarding the possibility that Cuban medical workers may have been coerced into working abroad by the Cuban government.
Prime Minister Philip Davis has previously rejected these concerns, insisting that all protocols were followed and that no one was “coerced” into working in The Bahamas.
However, US officials have claimed that the medical missions are “forced” labour, saying the programme enriches the Cuban regime while depriving ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need at home.
A statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month warned that foreign government officials involved in the programme, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions, could face visa restrictions.
The policy also extends to the immediate families of these people.
In a statement released to The Tribune yesterday, the US Embassy confirmed that it had notified the Davis administration about the expanded Cuba-related visa restriction policy, urging countries to comply with international anti-human trafficking obligations.
“With this visa restriction policy, we are sending a clear message that the United States promotes accountability for those who are responsible for lining the Cuban regime’s pockets through forced labour –– a form of human trafficking –– and exploitative working conditions through Cuba’s labour export program,” the embassy said. “We continue to investigate reports of Cuban forced labour around the world and to promote accountability for those involved with Cuba’s forced labour program. We believe countries should comply with their international obligations and commitments to combat all forms of human trafficking, including forced labour.”
The embassy said the US is committed to combating forced labour practices globally, noting that to achieve this, it must hold not only Cuban officials responsible for these policies accountable but also those complicit in the “exploitation and forced labour of Cuban workers”.
Last month, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of prioritising his “personal agenda” over US interests and described the move as an unjustified aggressive measure.
Read the full statement here.
Comments
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
BINGO!
For decades now our corrupt and incompetent politicians and their favoured cronies have focused their efforts on greatly and unjustly enriching themselves while the quality of life and standard of living for the vast majority of Bahamians have plummeted to all time lows. This has resulted in generations of well educated young Bahamians, who were fortunate enough to obtain advanced degrees from some of the finest universities and colleges abroad, deciding not to return home to join and strengthen the Bahamian workforce.
Only the third rate law students with their LLB degree in hand seem to want to join the ranks of our grossly over-lawyered Bahamian legal profession that is tarnished by much nepotism. Young bright Bahamian engineers, medical doctors, nurses, etc., are not inclined to return home because they (and their parents) see no real social and economic opportunities and benefits for them in doing so. Even Davis's own daughter, who is a medical doctor in the U.S., is a shining example of this harsh reality.
Yup, the brain-drain of our nation is one of the more costly, if not the most costly, outcome of the decades of waste, fraud, and abuse inflicted on our nation by the corrupt and incompetent ruling political elite, which includes Davis himself as a shining example.
hrysippus 2 weeks, 6 days ago
These politicians value their visas, . Especially the ones who think they are Caesars. . Much too important to be stuck on “The Rock”. . Subjected to their subjects mock. . And what if one needs medical care? . Bahamas treatment too much to bear. . Our politicians must go to the States, . Paying in US dollars at US rates. . But that’s all right ‘cos the taxpayers pay. . That’s how things work in the new government's day. . Sigh…….
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
And we all know how quick Davis is whenever it comes to him opting to jump on a plane to get first class medical treatment abroad on advice from his daughter who happens to be a medical doctor living and working in the U.S. Yup, coward Davis is afraid to receive any kind of serious medical treatment in The Bahamas. Only truly pathetic PM could fear the quality and standards of his own nation's healthcare system, a system that his own PLP administration has responsibility for governing.
whatsup 2 weeks, 5 days ago
EXACTLY
Porcupine 2 weeks, 6 days ago
It is important to consider how we have been corrupted in both mind and morality. Please listen to the Nelson Mandela clip below. Better, listen to the full interview to see how far we truly failed in our thinking. The US is faltering morally, politically, morally, economically, and spiritually. Anyone who doesn't understand this has not been paying attention, or thinking. I would include the vast majority of our country. We have willingly absorbed the culture, the entertainment, the news and corruption of our neighbor to the north. Now, we pretend that we are independent and specially endowed with what it takes to do what is right for this country. Listen to the words of Nelson Mandela, and then find a politician anywhere, especially here in The Bahamas who can hold a candle to this great leader. They don't exist. Period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkcbODy…
hrysippus 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Hi Porkypine; Senator Bernie Senator .
Porcupine 2 weeks, 6 days ago
I have always admired him, except for his support of the US Defense spending. What he is doing now is essential. Trump and Musk are sick, and emotionally immature children. They have no business in leadership roles.
hrysippus 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Porkypine: then you and me agree on this one.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
You obviously have no real appreciation or understanding for just how bad things have become in recent decades in Canada, the U.K., most European countries, most Latin American countries, and most African countries; not to mention Australia and New Zealand. At least the U.S. is now trying to clean up its act under an intended disruptive new administration elected by the majority of its people. If only we had that happen in The Bahamas! And you can be rest assured "In God We Trust" won't be erased from the U.S. currency any time soon.
moncurcool 2 weeks, 6 days ago
I'm sorry, but the US is not trying to clean up an act. It is trying to be a dictator to all other countries to do what they want done or they will punish them. And now it is trying to run a propaganda scheme against Cuba. Old playbook trying to bring back.
Like Mandela said in essence, how can you tell me who my friends should be when you never lifted a finger to help me and they did?
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
President Trump inherited an out-of-control wasteful, fraudulent and abusive bureaucracy on the verge of driving the US into bankruptcy, with interest payments on its national debt crowding out discretionary spending. And notwithstanding his keen desire to turn the USS America ship around, you blame him for just about any and everything imaginable simply because of his wealth, eccentricity and brashness that often needs to border on bulling to get things done, especially when up against those who are unreasonable or, worse still, hate the US and its citizenry.
lobsta 2 weeks, 5 days ago
It's difficult to imagine, but there are even more stupid and morally bankrupt people than Trump.
moncurcool 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Trump inherited a booming economy from Obama and drove it in the ground. He inherited a booming economy from Biden, and in less than a month is driving it in the ground. Have you not seen what is happening to the stock market with all his tariffs that only him in his mind believes other countries, and not US consumers will pay?
I hate to tear down people, but you are seriously delusional if you believe Trump is trying to turn anything around.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Whatever you say.
Porcupine 2 weeks, 6 days ago
I grew up in the US, lived there for 45 years. I hesitate to go back because I may run into someone who voted for trump. Anyone who supports trump, especially now, is an idiot. Full stop. Anyone reading the papers recently? Trump only cares about himself. A leader? Please.
DreamerX 2 weeks, 5 days ago
If this is your mentality, you are truly lost.
whatsup 2 weeks, 5 days ago
The Democrats are the violent ones. People have a right to vote for their Party. You have a problem with people voting for who you don't think they should support....DICTATOR THINKING
DreamerX 2 weeks, 5 days ago
No. Cuba has had horrendous food shortages and scarcity over the last few years, again and again it happens. You can go to CUBA and be a "morally" good person and leave us alone.
IslandWarrior 2 weeks, 6 days ago
This latest U.S. stance on Cuban medical missions comes amid broader concerns over labor exploitation worldwide. While the U.S. has been vocal in condemning Cuban labor practices, it remains conspicuously silent on the widespread abuses suffered by foreign workers in the Middle East and parts of Asia. In many of these regions, laborers, particularly from poorer African and Asian countries, are subjected to extreme conditions, including human trafficking, wage theft, physical abuse, and sexual violence. Reports have consistently highlighted the plight of domestic workers and construction laborers who endure grueling conditions under exploitative systems such as the controversial Kafala sponsorship system, which ties workers to their employers and restricts their ability to leave abusive situations.
Despite these well-documented abuses, U.S. policy has not applied the same level of diplomatic pressure on the governments of these nations. The lack of strong warnings or visa sanctions against these countries raises critical questions about the consistency and motivations behind U.S. foreign policy regarding labor rights and human rights enforcement.
As Caribbean leaders engage in diplomatic discussions with the U.S., they continue to emphasize the indispensable role of Cuban medical missions in providing healthcare across the region. The response to these missions, juxtaposed against the silence on severe labor violations elsewhere, underscores broader geopolitical and economic considerations that influence how and where human rights concerns are prioritized on the global stage.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Communist China is by far the most evil nation on our planet when it comes to the abuse of human rights, attacks on ethnic groups, and the persecution of Christians, Islamists, etc. What they've done to the African people over last three decades in the course of exploiting the natural resources of their countries using slave labour of the most cruel kind is nothing short of an abomination! The U.S. look like saints in their global exploits compared to the Communist Chinese.
moncurcool 2 weeks, 6 days ago
And how long have the the UK, other European nations and the US exploited African countries?
Please, the US is no saint compared to China. Stop trying to erase history.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
LOL. Me thinks you're either a victim of having watched "Roots" way too many times during the "Poodling" era or just simply choose to believe all of the ChiCom propaganda being spread throughout our nation today with great help from our own corrupt politicians and their favoured crony capitalists.
moncurcool 2 weeks, 5 days ago
No, just visiting countries that people have put out propaganda on and discovering the truth for myself.
And if you don't believe it just look at how the African countries that finally ousted the European countries from abusing them are finally doing better.
IslandWarrior 2 weeks, 6 days ago
You are advancing a political and ideological perspective rather than presenting objective truth grounded in verifiable data. Much of the propaganda aimed at influencing opinions through emotionally charged rhetoric, rather than factual analysis, has recently been thoroughly debunked—particularly for those who have followed the USAID funding disclosures, including the widely circulated narrative on alleged 'Chinese Uyghur abuse*. I strongly recommend that you update your sources before making sweeping public statements that reflect personal beliefs rather than substantiated facts.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 5 days ago
I wish I were able to live in that most pleasant world where ignorance is bliss. The undisputed facts as I know them are:
Years of record breaking deficit spending combined with an ever growing and now costlier national debt has put the US on the road to hyperinflation and possible bankruptcy, especially if the printing press is turned off as a result of the US dollar losing its global reserve currency status.
For decades now the ChiComs have been successfully waging a global propaganda war against the US that has taken great advantage of corrupt and compromised US politicians, US corporate greed, and an open society in the US where many freedoms are enjoyed that would never be tolerated by the CCP in Communist China.
While there is a well documented history of atrocities committed around the world by the US government and its billionaire agents in the private sector acting under the guise of charitable foundations, including vaccine and other medical experiments on individuals of African descent, these atrocities are not nearly as cruel and evil as those being inflicted by the ChiComs in African and other nations as part of their quest to become the world's supreme ruling race of people.
The ChiComs are well known to be intolerant of most religious and other ethic groups except to the extent necessary for the time being to further their quest to become the global master race through the spread of their most evil type of communism.
And while we are all blessed to be free to express our views based on the facts as we know them, that certainly would not be the case in a world dominated by the ChiComs. Our own government here in The Bahamas would be wise to wake up to these matters.
whatsup 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Yet, our politicians welcome the chinese to our country
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
This US visa risk issue over Cuban workers is just for openers. Next up is going to be our seriously misguided continuing relationship with the Communist Chinese. And things will certainly not go well for our corrupt politicians once the US turns that spot light on them. Unfortunately, the same applies for all Bahamians given that we are the voters who elected them to govern us. The US intelligence agencies no doubt have awfully thick dossiers on members of the ruling political elite in our country, including their favoured cronies and financial-backers.
And thanks to Elon Musk's highly skilled team of technologists assigned to DOGE who can write data base comparison algorithms on the fly, the US government likely now has details of every Bahamian born on US soil during the last 100 years who has never filed a US Federal income tax return. This list no doubt even includes those Bahamians born on US soil who have since officially renounced their US citizenship in the hope that their failure to pay US income taxes owed would never be detected. Many high net worth individuals among the ruling political elite and their cronies and financial-backers who are found to owe significant back taxes and penalties to the IRS may have great difficulty travelling to the US or doing business with persons in the US going forward. Yup, what's coming down the pike is not going to be pretty for many Bahamians.
IslandWarrior 2 weeks, 6 days ago
OK, let have a look at your one-sided narrative that overlooks the substantial economic, technological, and diplomatic cooperation between the United States and "Communist China" across numerous sectors. While geopolitical tensions exist, particularly in strategic and ideological domains, the reality is that both countries maintain deep interdependencies in trade, finance, technology, and scientific research. The assertion that U.S. intelligence agencies are singularly targeting Bahamian elites based on taxation or political affiliations lacks verifiable evidence. U.S. tax laws apply to all its citizens globally, but enforcement follows established legal frameworks rather than politically motivated crackdowns. Similarly, speculation about Elon Musk's involvement in U.S. government data mining for tax purposes is unfounded and conflates private enterprise with federal enforcement agencies.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Time will tell all.
bogart 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Always the most hurtful thing is to see fully trained and highly qualified Bahamian nurses and staff with all the experience and qualifications retired and not being re employed by the authorities.
Retired medical staff live on this same island, have homes to live in, close to the clinics or hospitals. Yes out of a pool of some 100 retired personnel some are ready and all could be verified to go right back to work. If retired policemen can be re employed so can these retired medical personnel.
Given the shortages of staff in certain professions in this case, medical trained personnel, there must be first. Bahamians first with the skills before going overseas and over the ocean to hire foreign replacements.
Coming up shortly is the remembrance day of the horrible Cuban govt and their jet Mig fighter planes murdering 4 Bahamians employed sailers defenceless in the water after first trying to murder the entire Bahamian s sailors on the Bahamian patrol Flamingo boat flying a Bahamian flag. Not only murdering Bahamians the Cuban planes then flew over terrorising the Bahamian citizens on Ragged Island. Thanks to Uncle Sam for later coming to our assistance.
Another incident which must not be forgotten is the Cuban government utter evil Communists beliefs having a stockpile of nuclear missiles and bombs without and regard for the existence of our beloved Bahamaland and knowing that and conflict with these nuclear bombs would vaporize the existence of our Bahamaland.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Just like the retired Bahamian medical doctors, the retired Bahamian nurses and other medical support staff would not be willing to work for the derisory pay and virtually non-existent other benefits they are being paid by our exploitative government.
Then there likely is also the issue of the fees/commissions being paid by government to the greedy political muck-a-mucks contracted to find and bring these Cuban medical workers to The Bahamas. Can't help but wonder who owns the rental housing these Cuban workers are made to live in. Perhaps The Tribune can assign a competent investigative journalist to do a serious expose story on these matters.
bogart 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Someone should have examined the costs involved in hiring some 38 Cuban nurses and some 18 Ghana nurses from way across the ocean for basic expenses like Bahamas rental accomodations security and rent upfront, cost incurred in groceries supplies incurred monthly, light bills monthly , water bills, laundries usually supply of daily new cleaned clothes, transportation, phones , airline travel to and from Cuba, etcetc and hole of other expenses which seems a lot more money costy involved ----- than to hire existing Bahamian medical personnel already incurring those expenses and done owning their own homes and not paying ren t!!! ......AND to still want to pay from those in the qualified Bahamian pool of qualified Bahamian retireed ----- lower pay than the Cubans overall costs and expenses ???? Something don't seems right..
IslandWarrior 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Arguing about who owns rental houses or how the government brings in Cuban doctors does nothing to fix the real problem—which is the lack of medical staff willing to work here. Instead of blaming politics, we should appreciate and stand up for the Cuban and Filipino doctors and nurses who are keeping our healthcare system from falling apart, even with low pay and tough conditions. If we truly want to improve healthcare, we need to focus on better pay, and better hospital conditions—rather than side issues that won’t solve anything.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 5 days ago
I think you're being too myopic in the way you look at this matter. This problem is rooted in the main reason for our nation's brain-drain that has been going on for decades now.
Ask yourself why is it our now crime ridden and impoverished country no longer enjoys a standard of living and quality of life, with economic and social opportunities, that would make it desirable for many of our young Bahamians to eventually return home after being well educated abroad in many specialized fields?
In my mind, years of extremely poor governance by corrupt politicians more interested in feathering their nests and the nests of their greedy cronies and financial-backers is one of the key reasons for nation’s critical shortage of qualified Bahamians in specialized medical and engineering fields, not too mention qualified Bahamian teachers at all levels of our education system, both public and private.
One 2 weeks, 6 days ago
There are Bahamians who can do these jobs; it's just that the government would rather hire immigrants at a lower wage and who have less freedom to speak up for their rights. Bahamians are slowly becoming extinct. How can we accept our government spending our/country's wealth on foreign labour, while I know many nurses and medical staff who left the Bahamas to work in the USA and Canada because the jobs here are not adequate.
hrysippus 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Hi (st) One (d), no there are not any Bahamian workers available and willing to fill these needs. If there are then please refer them to PHA. Thank you.
bahamianson 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Yeah Brave, stand up to America, let us see how far you get. Way to go, you are a big man , just do not lose my pre clearance or you will never be elected again, and no National Hero for you.
whatsup 2 weeks, 5 days ago
AGREED
Dawes 2 weeks, 5 days ago
I fully agree that the Bahamas should make its own decisions and do what it thinks is best for it. Therefore i also see no wrong with what the US is doing (even if i disagree with a lot of what they are doing). They are not telling us to not have the Cubans, they are just saying if you do, the leaders (not all Bahamians) may have their visas revoked. So basically up to us whether we want to use Cubans.
moncurcool 2 weeks, 5 days ago
They are telling us not to have Cubans. It's the quid pro quo move again.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Whatever the U.S. government may or may not do itself is irrelevant. The simple truth of the matter is the Bahamian and Cuban governments should not be involved in human trafficking activities for their mutual benefit that abuse the fundamental rights of the humans preyed on and made subject to the trafficking. Such crimes against humanity are illegal under international law. It's really as simple as that.
And let's try not forget that the ancestors of many Bahamians had their rights seriously abused when they were sold to the highest bidder and trafficked across borders to become cruelly treated as slaves many moons ago.
ExposedU2C 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Sadly many of these so called "recruited" Cuban medical workers are not as qualified as our corrupt government officials have led us to believe. The quality of healthcare training in Cuba and the entire Cuban healthcare system have significantly declined over the last three decades and the quality and standards of Cuban doctors, nurses, medical technicians, hospitals, medical schools, etc. are nowhere near what they once were.
The Cuba of yesterday is not the Cuba of today as evidenced by the fact that its corrupt communist regime cannot even provide the Cuban people with the essentials of everyday life like food, electricity, water, medicines, and yes, even basic medical care of an acceptable quality.
And the presence of the evil ChiComs in Cuba have done absolutely nothing for that country as is the case for most nation's that they seek to greatly exploit for their own purposes with little regard for the needs and interests of the indigenous people.
The Cuban medical personnel being recruited by our healthcare officials are for all intents and purposes seeking political asylum, but they are at the same time being taken advantage of (abused) by corrupt government officials in both the Cuban and Bahamian governments in what has been transformed into an illegal profiteering human trafficking scheme.
Our government must avoid announcing that it is willing to open our country's door to political asylum seekers as doing so could have dire consequences for our small nation with its very limited land and other resources, especially given our many existing problems associated with an already unsustainable population of illegal immigrants.
Keep in mind that the failed states of both Cuba and Haiti have enormous populations and telling their suffering and destitute people that we are willing to open our doors to asylum seekers would undoubtedly have disastrous implications for The Bahamas and the Bahamian people.
And let's not forget for one moment that the present U.S. administration is hell-bent on purging itself of illegal aliens by sending them back to the last country they were in before illegally entering the U.S.
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