Jamaica concerned over US visa policy targeting Cuban medical missions
Published:Tuesday | March 4, 2025 | 4:02 PM
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Government is concerned about the United States' recent visa restriction policy targeting officials from countries that engage Cuban healthcare workers and is seeking clarification on the matter.
“Jamaica has had quite a long history of participation in the Cuban medical cooperation programme, and in fact, that is replicated throughout the Caribbean, so the statement has been received with some concern,” Johnson Smith said.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an expansion of the US-Cuba visa restriction policy to include foreign government officials and their families whose countries are involved in Cuba’s overseas medical mission programme.
Rubio, who is Cuban American, described Cuba’s overseas medical missions as an oppressive programme that enriches the Cuban government and deprives ordinary Cubans of optimum healthcare.
Speaking at this morning’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Johnson Smith said the Jamaican government, along with other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members, has been seeking more details from the US on the new policy.
“The Jamaican government is also examining the operation of our system. We have over 400 participants from the Cuban medical programme at different levels—doctors, nurses, biomedical engineers, and technicians—so their presence here is of importance to our healthcare system,” she said.
The Minister also shared that a meeting is to be held shortly with CARICOM foreign affairs ministers, as they anticipate more information from US embassies across the region.
“At that time, we should be better able to navigate the potential impact and the way forward,” she said.
- Sashana Small
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