In a significant diplomatic shift, Jamaica has announced the termination of its long-standing medical cooperation agreement with Cuba, marking the end of a five-decade program that brought Cuban healthcare professionals to the Caribbean nation. The decision comes after months of unsuccessful renegotiations between both governments following the expiration of their previous technical agreement in February 2023.
Jamaican Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith clarified that the discontinuation was not influenced by United States pressure, but rather resulted from unresolved issues in establishing new terms for the cooperation arrangement. The government emphasized its commitment to maintaining healthcare services by offering individual contracts to current Cuban medical staff under Jamaican labor laws for the remainder of their scheduled tenure.
The move has drawn praise from US Congressman Carlos Gimenez, who previously criticized Jamaica’s stance on Cuba. The Florida representative applauded Jamaica’s decision, characterizing Cuba’s medical missions as ‘a pathetic, criminal human trafficking operation’ that constitutes ‘modern-day slavery.’ His comments align with the US State Department’s persistent allegations that Cuba’s medical brigade program relies on coercion, withheld wages, passport confiscation, and forced family separation.
The development occurs alongside similar adjustments in Caribbean relations with Cuba’s medical program. The Dominican government recently announced plans to transition to individual contracts with Cuban medical professionals, signaling a regional pattern of reevaluating these arrangements amid intensified US diplomatic efforts to counter Cuba’s influence in the hemisphere.