An announcement by the new United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the expansion of an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets so called “forced labour linked to the Cuban labour export program” could negatively impact the normal good relationship between The Bahamas and the United States.
Politicos in The Bahamas believe this is another move in reinforcing the embargo against Cuba by the United States.
In his press statement Rubio said, “this expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials, and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labour export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions. This policy also applies to the immediate family of such persons. The Department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy.”
The Secretary of State said that “Cuba continues to profit from the forced labour of its workers, and the regime’s abusive and coercive labour practices are well documented. Cuba’s labour export programs, which include medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country. The United States is committed to countering forced labour practices around the globe. To do so, we must promote accountability not just for Cuban officials responsible for these policies, but also those complicit in the exploitation and forced labour of Cuban workers.”
This announcement by Mr. Rubio has enraged leaders of governments throughout the Caribbean and Africa, as Cuban medical professionals, teachers and other workers are engaged in many enterprises in those countries.
At the United Nations in New York and at the Organization of American States in Washington, many diplomats are concerned that this new policy by the United States could undermine national development goals of countries where Cuban professionals work. They claim it also violates the charter of the UN which states: “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations.”
Resolution 2625 (1970) affirms the customary international law principle that: “No State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights.”
In the case of The Bahamas, pressure could come from the U.S. for a reassessment of the engagement with Cuban medical personnel who work in The Bahamas. This potentially would affect the country’s healthcare capacity if Cuban doctors and nurses are now restricted from practicing in The Bahamas.
The Ministry of Health in The Bahamas has an agreement with Cuba to employ Cuban Optometrists and Ophthalmologists for eye surgeries in the public sector. The new policy does not require formal legal findings of forced labour, including evidence to substantiate the same. It is based on U.S. foreign policy determinations. This means that Bahamian officials and their families may be targeted even if there is no domestic legal violation.
One legal observer told the Journal, “there could be diplomatic repercussions if The Bahamas is perceived to be facilitating the so-called forced labour. It could potentially impact broader relations with the U.S.
In The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean officials are said to be pondering how to react to the new policy.
