Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told Parliament on Thursday that the Government's decision to discontinue the 50-year-old medical cooperation programme with Cuba was not influenced by the United States. She said the move stemmed from unresolved issues in renegotiating the agreement.
"No," Johnson Smith replied after Opposition lawmaker Alfred Dawes asked at a parliamentary committee meeting Thursday night whether Washington had a hand in Kingston's push to renegotiate terms.
Jamaica's decision comes amid increasing pressure from the United States over Cuba’s overseas medical missions, which Washington has accused of constituting forced labour and human trafficking.
Caribbean governments, including Jamaica, have repeatedly rejected those claims.
Johnson Smith acknowledged that the US had raised concerns about the Cuban programmes internationally but said Jamaica had sought to ensure the arrangement complied with its laws and international labour standards.
“We are in a, in an environment where it is clear that there have been concerns expressed by the United States government about the operation of Cuban medical programmes across the world. So, clearly, they have expressed concerns about all programmes and, accordingly, would have expressed concerns about Jamaica.
She added, “You would have heard us defending the programme in various contexts because when they come here, we do our very best to be respectful and ensure that our treatment of them accords with the laws of Jamaica and best international labour law practice."
"Where the programme came into conflict with those things, unfortunately, we were unable to reach agreement on correcting them and that is why the programme has ended.”
Dawes responded: “So, we just decided to change the rules of the game after 50 years.” But the minister shot back: “However, you wish to interpret it, is fine.”
Johnson Smith was rleading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s appearance before before Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee reviewing the proposed 2026–2027 national budget.
Her appearance followed Health Minister Christopher Tufton, who outlined the Government’s plans to address potential gaps in the public health system if Cuban medical personnel leave Jamaica.
The foreign minister confirmed that negotiations with Cuba failed primarily over how payments to the medical professionals would be structured. "It’s regrettable that we were unable to reach agreement on the most fundamental point - the manner of payment," Johnson Smith told lawmakers.
Opposition Spokesman on Energy Phillip Paulwell asked whether there was any prospect of restoring the original agreement with the Cuban government.
Johnson Smith said the existing arrangement had expired in 2023 and both sides had been attempting to renegotiate a new framework. She explained that some aspects of the discussions were straightforward.
Source: Jamaica-gleaner.com
