PM Mia Mottley Defends Cuba’s Medical Assistance

Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has firmly defended the role of Cuban medical professionals in the region, pushing back against claims of human trafficking and underscoring the critical support they provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the issue, Mottley said that while Barbados currently does not employ Cuban medical staff, their contributions were indispensable in navigating the global health crisis.

“This matter with the Cubans and the nurses should tell us everything that we need to know,” Mottley stated. “Barbados does not currently have Cuban medical staff or Cuban nurses, but I will be the first to tell you that we could not have gotten through the pandemic without the Cuban nurses and doctors.”

She also dismissed allegations—previously raised by U.S. administrations—that hiring Cuban medical professionals amounts to human trafficking. She said that Barbados ensured fair compensation for their services.

“I will also be the first to tell you that we paid them the same thing that we pay our own,” Mottley asserted. “The notion that we were involved in human trafficking by engaging with Cuban nurses was fully repudiated and rejected by us.”

Mottley signaled her willingness to stand with regional leaders in defending Cuba’s medical assistance, even if it comes at a personal cost.

“I don’t believe we have to shout across the seas, but I am prepared, like others in this region, that if we cannot reach a sensible agreement on this matter, and if the cost of it is the loss of my U.S. visa, then so be it,” she declared. “What matters to us is principles, and I have said over and over that principles only mean something when it is inconvenient to stand by them.”

The Prime Minister reaffirmed her solidarity with her regional counterparts in recognizing Cuba’s role in Caribbean healthcare.

“Now, we don’t have to shout, but we can be resolute. I therefore look forward to standing with my CARICOM brothers—I wish I could say brothers and sisters, but brothers—to ensure that we explain that what the Cubans have done for us, far from approximating human trafficking, has been to save lives, limbs, and sight for many a Caribbean person.”

The U.S. introduced new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials who facilitate the transit of undocumented migrants. Announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 5, 2025, the policy applies to immigration officers, customs officials, and port authorities accused of enabling illegal migration, particularly at the southwest border. It complements the expanded 3C policy, which sanctions private sector actors aiding unlawful transit. Restrictions will remain until affected officials enforce stricter immigration controls. The measure, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, may also impact family members of sanctioned individuals.