Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has come out in defence of the twin island state’s sovereignty, following the recent threat of US visa restrictions announced by the Trump administration against governments utilising Cuba’s overseas medical professionals.

The programme, which has been vital to healthcare systems across the region for decades, has been described by the Trump administration as constituting “forced labour” and a form of “human trafficking”.

On Tuesday, February 25, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the restrictive policy on Cuba’s overseas medical mission.

“The United States is expanding its Cuba-related visa restriction policy, and the State Department has taken steps to restrict visa issuance to Cuban and complicit third-country government officials and individuals responsible for Cuba’s exploitative labour export programme,” Rubio said, adding that the US will promote accountability for the Cuban regime for oppressing its people and those who profit from forced labour.

While delivering the feature address at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the $1.3 billion Port-of-Spain General Hospital Central Block, Rowley expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s policy and reaffirmed his country’s relation with Cuba.

“We rely heavily on healthcare specialists whom we have obtained from India, the Philippines, and mainly from Cuba over the decades. Out of the blue, we’re being called human traffickers because we hire technical people who we pay top dollars equal to local rates, but we’re now being accused of taking part in the programme where people are being exploited. That is someone’s interpretation,” he said.

Rowley underscored that he is willing to surrender further trips to the US to ensure T&T’s position is not taken lightly.

“There are local people here encouraging them to take away our US visas. I came back from California, and if I never go back there again in my life, I will ensure that the sovereignty of Trinidad and Tobago is known to its people and respected by all,” he added.