NASSAU, BAHAMAS — U.S. Chargé D’Affaires Kimberley Furnish asserted that The Bahamas is not being targeted following recent comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio who warned of visa sanctions on governments that have engaged Cuba’s medical mission.
Furnish’s comments came on the heels of Prime Minister Philip Davis promising to protect the nation’s interests amid the perceived threats from Rubio.
Other regional leaders have arguably taken a more bold approach, noting that they are willing to lose U.S. visas in order to keep Cuban health professionals who are providing critical medical services in their Caribbean countries.
It is believed that Rubio’s comments were made amid concerns about the medical mission – which allows regional countries to source nurses and doctors from Cuba – is being used as a front for “forced labor.”
Furnish noted that, “The Cuban medical program is something we’re concerned about. There have been some human rights issues in that program.”
However, she said she is unaware of any human rights issues happening in country.
Prime Minister Davis also asserted to reporters that his administration does not and will not engage in forced labor practices.
While Furnish insisted that no one was being targeted and that it was simply a global inquiry, political pundits argued that the U.S. is being unfair given that it continues to deplete the region of its healthcare workers who hardly ever reject lucrative offers from the U.S.
