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Govt asked to clarify how cuban workers are paid

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville officially welcoming 50 Cuban nurses into the public healthcare system, including specialised nurses. Dr Darville said the nurses will help to ensure Bahamian healthcare services remain open and functioning.

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville officially welcoming 50 Cuban nurses into the public healthcare system, including specialised nurses. Dr Darville said the nurses will help to ensure Bahamian healthcare services remain open and functioning.

By RASHAD ROLLE 

and EARYEL BOWLEG 

Tribune Staff Reporters 

THE Bahamian government may be required to prove that Cuban workers in The Bahamas receive their salaries directly, rather than through the Cuban government, as the United States threatens to expand visa restrictions to foreign officials involved in Cuba’s labour export programme.

International Labour Organisation rules generally require that workers be paid directly and have full control over their earnings.

Reports from some countries where Cuba operates similar labour export programmes indicate that between 75 percent and 90 percent of the workers’ wages are retained by the Cuban government, with only a fraction remitted to them. 

Asked yesterday about the local situation, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell declined to comment. 

The US government has long claimed that Cuba’s state-run medical missions amount to forced labour, arguing they enrich the Cuban regime at the expense of Cuban professionals. 

Under a new visa restriction policy, foreign government officials involved in these programmes— including those in The Bahamas — could be barred from entering the United States if they cannot provide evidence that workers are fairly compensated and not coerced.

Yesterday, Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) called on officials to clarify how Cuban workers are compensated.

The organisation also called on the government to say whether Cuban workers have freedom of movement or any restrictions imposed by Cuban authorities.

“HRB encourages the government to fully and clearly explain its position on this matter so that the reputation of The Bahamas is preserved and not subjected to any misinformation or mischaracterisation on the international stage,” the group said. 

Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis has denied that the country engages in forced labour but said the government is reviewing the US policy.

The Cuba question has arisen despite The Bahamas maintaining a Tier 1 ranking in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons report, indicating it meets international standards for combatting human trafficking. The Bahamas is one of the few countries in the world with the highest rating, but the US has continually recommended stronger efforts to identify potential trafficking victims among Cuban workers in government-sponsored programmes.

In a voice note yesterday, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said the government employs 130 Cuban teachers. 

She said these teachers play a vital role to fill the gap because of the teacher shortage especially in those disciplines or subject areas where the local expertise is not readily available.

“My experience is that the Cuban teachers who are recruited enjoy the same benefits as Bahamian teachers and other educators,” she said. “In fact, in some instances, more benefits, such as a gratuity payment at the end of their contracts.”

It is unclear how many Cuban medical professionals are in The Bahamas. 

Comments

One 12 hours, 48 minutes ago

Meanwhile, young Bahamian nurses and medical techs are leaving the Bahamas to work in other countries because the pay and the opportunities are inadequate to support a Bahamian standard of living.

hrysippus 11 hours, 39 minutes ago

This could be really good news for the Bahamian economy. If we assume that the Bahamas government is not paying the Cuban workers directly but instead send the wages to the Cuban government, as is usually done in the past, then FillUp, Fred, and their political cronies may well get their US visas cancelled. The country would save hundreds of millions of dollars in travel expenses. Everyone should pray for this outcome.....Sigh.

TalRussell 14 minutes ago

@hrysippus, We import Nurses' whilst exporting we Policemans' to Haiti. -- Yes?

ExposedU2C 8 hours, 39 minutes ago

Asked yesterday about the local situation, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell declined to comment.

This slimy SOB has for years been telling his political colleagues that the human rights abuses being committed here by The Bahamas are perfectly justified by the U.S. continuing to "poach" from our small nation newly trained, qualified, and experienced, Bahamian medical doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.

But what sleasy Fwreddy Boy refuses to accept and acknowledge is that the U.S. government is fully aware the very corrupt leadership of our political parties, especially the PLP, is responsible for creating the poor social and economic conditions that have caused the very serious brain-drain our small nation has been suffering from since the 1980s.

birdiestrachan 5 hours, 32 minutes ago

Will human rights speak to Trump. Hell no they will not

birdiestrachan 2 hours, 53 minutes ago

Those who call themselves human rights . If the USA says something then it is so . Never mind their records on Human rights. It does not matter

TalRussell 52 minutes ago

Those ALL around Premiership is to tread carefully. -- The Elon/Trump presidency has appointed rogue individuals throughout the US Justice Department who have a history of a willingness to kiss the rings of Elon/Trump. -- Their threats add up to --- they don't care if it means -- detaining residents/visitors on trumped-up charges. -- Yes?

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