Sands expresses concern over US policy on Cuban medical mission
Rachel Scott Guardian Staff Reporter rachel@nasguard.com Mar 14, 2025
Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Dr. Duane Sands said yesterday he supports the Davis administration’s response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently announced visa sanctions against foreign governments that are part of Cuba’s overseas medical missions.
“I think the position that our government has taken, as articulated by the prime minister, is a reasonable and correct one,” Sands told The Nassau Guardian.
“And notwithstanding the awkwardness of the conversation, we have to protect our national interests. We have to protect the welfare of our citizens, and particularly in health, we need to make sure that people get the best possible healthcare that they need, and if it means that we are engaging nationals from other countries, and we’re required to do so, let us do so.”
Cuba’s medical missions program has been vital for The Bahamas, especially during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic when many Bahamian healthcare workers took more lucrative jobs in the US, leading to significant labor shortages.
Rubio, however, has described the program as forced labor and said that the new US policy will affect government officials who are “responsible for or involved in the Cuban labor export program”.
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https://www.thenassauguardian.com/news/sands-expresses-concern-over-us-policy-on-cuban-medical-mission/article_52205fb4-005a-11f0-9830-db0cc93a4d14.html
Marco, enjoying the Trump shabby, cheap, dirty beat-down of US ally, President Zelensky.