The Bahamian government has disclosed details of a new employment contract for Cuban doctors working in the islands, pending final approval from the United States to implement the arrangement. This announcement represents a significant shift in a program long criticized by Washington as a form of "forced labor" orchestrated by the Havana regime.
According to statements from the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Michael Darville, reported by the local newspaper The Tribune, Cuban medical professionals will now enjoy greater independence and control over their living conditions, contrasting with previous agreements managed by the Cuban state agency, Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos (CSMC).
“The primary change is that Cuban professionals will now arrange their own accommodation and enjoy more freedom regarding their living arrangements,” explained Darville to The Tribune, noting that the Cuban embassy previously mandated shared living spaces, a requirement now completely removed under the new contract.
The Role of Washington in Contract Approval
Darville confirmed that the contract draft has been sent to U.S. officials who must approve it before it can be enacted. “We want to ensure the diplomatic note meets all necessary requirements before moving forward,” Darville stated. “Hopefully, within this week or next, we will have a clearer indication, but we aim to resolve this matter quickly and move past it.”
This development follows U.S. warnings of revoking visas for Bahamian officials if the country continued its traditional contracting scheme with Cuba, which Washington considers a form of human trafficking.
In June, Darville had already announced that the Bahamas would terminate contracts managed by Cuban intermediaries and offer direct agreements through its Ministry of Health, ensuring that salaries are paid in full to the workers.
Eliminating State Intermediaries
A contract leaked in 2022 by the organization Cuba Archive revealed that the Bahamian government paid up to $12,000 monthly per Cuban doctor, yet the professionals received only between $990 and $1,200, with the remainder going to the CSMC, a Cuban state-dependent entity. The new scheme aims to close this gap and align with Washington's demands, which has praised Nassau's efforts to ensure fair labor conditions.
In prior remarks to Caribbean Life, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in the Bahamas, Kimberly Furnish, described the reform as “a positive step,” emphasizing that “everyone deserves to receive their salary directly, without any government intervention.”
Cuban Doctors: Between Hope and Uncertainty
Currently, about 35 Cuban professionals—including ophthalmologists, nurses, lab technicians, and physiotherapists—are serving in the Bahamas. Most have expressed a desire to remain in the country, where their services are crucial to an understaffed healthcare system.
However, their future remains uncertain, dependent on U.S. approval and under the watchful eye of Havana, which has responded to the Bahamian reforms with silence.
“Cuban doctors want to stay, but we depend on what the United States says,” Darville acknowledged in previous statements.
If Washington gives the green light, the Bahamas will become the first Caribbean nation to pay Cuban professionals directly, breaking decades of Havana's financial control over its medical missions. This change would not only ease diplomatic tensions but also offer doctors an unprecedented opportunity to work with dignity and receive the full fruits of their labor.
Key Questions About the New Contract for Cuban Doctors in the Bahamas
What changes does the new contract bring for Cuban doctors in the Bahamas?
The new contract grants Cuban doctors more autonomy over their living arrangements, allowing them to organize their own accommodations rather than being required to live in shared spaces as dictated by previous agreements controlled by the Cuban state agency.
Why is U.S. approval necessary for the new contract to take effect?
U.S. approval is necessary to ensure that the contract aligns with Washington's requirements and avoids potential sanctions or visa revocations for Bahamian officials, given the previous concerns about the arrangement being a form of human trafficking.
How does the new contract affect the financial arrangement for Cuban doctors?
The new contract seeks to eliminate the financial disparity where Cuban doctors received only a fraction of the payment for their services, with a significant portion going to a Cuban state agency. The goal is to ensure doctors receive their full salaries directly.