Minister Says Cuban Brigade is Not Forced Labor

The Trump administration has warned government officials in the region that they might lose their U.S. visas if they keep supporting what they call ‘forced labor’ by the Cuban brigades. The U.S. Government argues that these missions ‘enrich the Cuban regime.’ Belize has been welcoming these medical missions from Cuba for a long time, with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff coming to work here for a while. Today, Minister Bernard wasn’t sweating over his U.S. visa and assured that the Cubans involved in these missions are paid.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“The Cuban people have assisted Belize for many, many decades. In fact, they’re here in this country providing a service towards very rural populations and we don’t own the rights to whether or not the U.S. issues or grants or denies persons. We said that’s the right of the United States government. I don’t want to get into that diplomatic issue but all I can say is that I know that Belize continues to enjoy the relationship we have with Cuba. We also have a good relationship with the United States of America, and I’m very sure that two Foreign Affairs Ministries are working out and having the discussions with the government, clearing up some of the concerns that the U.S. Government had as it relates to the area of what they’re claiming, human trafficking in terms of the Cuban nationals.”

 

Reporter

“But are you concerned for your own visa or that of your…”

 

Kevin Bernard

“Jules, I’m a Belizean and a Belizean first. I live in Belize. That’s where my love is and so my focus is to ensure that our Belizean people can continue to benefit from the work that we’re doing as a government, whether or not I travel, the US is far from the most important issue in my life. For now as a minister of government, I’m here to work for my people to ensure we can deliver for the Belizean people. These Cuban doctors get paid a salary in Belize to their own personal accounts that they have in. And so, I don’t see where that is forced labor, but people coming to provide a service and being in for that.”