NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The Bahamas Government says it is pausing the recruitment of nurses from Cuba and will also cancel its existing contracts with a Cuban recruitment agency.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville, who paid a visit to Havana two weeks ago to review the current recruitment programme, told Parliament that the Government will enter into direct employment contracts with Cuban health-care workers who are currently in The Bahamas.

“Following discussions with the US Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, my ministry negotiated new contractual terms with the Cuban recruitment agencies,” Darville told legislators during the 2025/2026 budget debate.

“Those who agree to these terms will sign the new employment agreement by my ministry and remain in [the] country for deployment across the Family Islands,” he added.

Last week, the Guyana Government said it would be implementing new conditions under which Cuban health professionals will be employed.

“We’re recruiting people from around the world, not confined to Cuba, but we’re working to ensure that people who come here from Cuba that they meet the definition because of what the US Secretary of State mentioned that the conditions of work here don’t run afoul of the requirements set by the United States of America,” Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo told his weekly news conference.

Caribbean Community countries have defended the Cuban health brigade programme after Washington announced the expansion of an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets “forced labour” linked to the Cuban labour export programme.