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Trinidad and Trump
Editorial…
Kaieteur News- It is good that a regional leader is standing up to the US and telling it to take a walk. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, said just that using cooler words. Regional leaders should not just rollover and play dead before the US juggernaut. It is not how countries that enjoy friendly relations deal with one another, with insulting words used to force a developing issue. The issue is the employment of Cuban doctors by various countries, and on which the US has taken a disturbing position.
US officials have used terms such as “forced labor” and “human trafficking” to brand countries using Cuban medical personnel. It is concerned about Cuba oppressing its people and has promised punitive measures against nations that use Cuban doctors. Counties like Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and others had moved to ease their shortage of highly technical personnel, in this case doctors. Now the US has decided that that is exploitative labor. In effect, it wants those visas cancelled and the medical personnel sent back to Cuba. A group that for decades has filled an area of dire need is now considered by the US to embed elements of “human trafficking” and forced labor. Today, it seems that the concept of national sovereignty and big power overreach are being shattered left and right, and on any vindictive whim that could be mustered.
The Trinidad PM didn’t take too well to the developments involving Cuban doctors, with an eye to his country’s involvement. He had a few pointed positions to take, and his words left no room as to how serious he is, whatever the US reaction may be. “We rely heavily on healthcare specialists whom we have obtained from India, the Philippines, and mainly from Cuba over the decades.” Dr. Rowley’s second point was that when the same Cuban personnel are being paid “top dollar equal to local rates”, then all claims of people being exploited crumble under the weight of any honest scrutiny. On a general note, it could be said with confidence that national programs involving Cuban doctors are not matters that are happening in some under the table manner, but very much in the open. Further, most work in public health facilities where their pay is at competitive rates, while some of them work in private medical institutions, or have their own private professional practice. The latter would be those who have been in a country for years, and had already fulfilled their initial terms of employment. Also, there are those who opt to remain in whichever country gave them a welcome, and make that their new home.
US officials must know something that the rest of the world doesn’t. But, none of the above conditions could be said to represent any component of forced labor or exploitative labor or human trafficking. The mere mention of such terms has to be offensive to those who take such slurs seriously. PM Rowley did, and we are glad that he had the courage to speak his mind, while standing his ground. Obviously, the Trinidad prime minister is not someone, who allows others to make him or his country into their willing stooge.
“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.” Those are strong words from Rowley, but this Cuban doctor issue, and the unilateral and heavy-handed manner in which it has used to squeeze countries in this region definitely called for that kind of sharp response. When a national leader or a national government shows that it is willing to lie down and be steamrollered, then that is as good as inviting that to happen.
There is a lesson here for Guyana and its leaders. Due to the border controversy with Venezuela, there is a heavy dependency on the US to make-up for this country’s limitations. Still, there must be a limit to how much Guyana’s leaders will bow to US dictates. Trinidad’s PM Keith Rowley stands as a good example.
(Trinidad and Trump)
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