Jamaica to end decades-long agreement with Cuba over medical missions criticized by US

https://apnews.com/article/jamaica-ending-medical-mission-cuba-agreement-178372b1d14402c7951810d61f09a804

4 Comments

  1. Submission statement:

    Jamaica has let its agreement with Cuba about medical professionals missions to expire. The agreement had been active for decades. While ostensibly Jamaica didn’t acknowledge this was done due to US pressure to isolate the island, it stands to reason that it is so. For context, Honduras also recently cancelled the programme, right after electing a right-wing Trumpist government. Also last year the US threatened to restrict visas for any Caribbean countries that accept Cuban medical missions. Jamaica says it’s still open to engaging with Cuban doctors but only on an individual basis.

  2. cittadinosopradi on

    Cuba is Jamaica’s closest neighbor. People often don’t realize how isolated Jamaica is from the rest of the English speaking Caribbean – Cuba is one of the only other Caribbean islands most Jamaicans think about with any regularity and there are markers of a close relationship all over the island.

    I’m sure this decision wasn’t made lightly and it’s probably an indication that a big shift is coming for Cuba

  3. ImperiumRome on

    >Jamaica’s announcement comes a day after [more than 150 Cuban medical staff departed Honduras](https://apnews.com/article/honduras-cuban-doctors-e860064a52dfb79d5500d5b849e61066) after its newly elected right-wing government abruptly canceled the agreement.

    So where would they go for medical personnel now ? Who would “export” doctors and nurses to them when medical workers are in shortage probably everywhere in the world ? Would the US offer help to Jamaica to replace those lost workers ?