Bahamas to cancel contracts with Cuban doctors after talks with Washington

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By Jasper Ward and Brendan O’Boyle

(Reuters) -The Bahamas is preparing to cancel contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals after discussions with the U.S. government, Bahamian Health Minister Michael Darville said in a parliamentary address on Monday.

Darville said his ministry would enter into direct employment contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals in the Bahamas.

“Those who are not interested in this new arrangement will be given time to wrap up their affairs and return to Cuba,” Darville said.

Darville added that recruitment efforts for Cuban teachers and health workers were also on hold, pending the outcome of discussions with the United States.

Cuba’s health service generates major export earnings by sending doctors and health workers around the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused officials involved in Cuba’s labor export program of being involved in human trafficking and labor exploitation, accusations denied by Cuba and many Caribbean leaders, who say the Cuban medical programs are essential and comply with international labor laws.

Currently, there are only 35 Cuban healthcare professionals in the Bahamas, most of them engineers, lab technicians and X-ray technicians, Darville said.

The Bahamas faces a shortage of local healthcare professionals, the minister said.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by Kylie Madry)