More than one hundred Cuban teachers will return to the classrooms of Bahamas Next week under a new contracting framework adopted by the Government, after the warnings of the United States on these recruitment agreements with Havana.
The Bahameña Director of Education, Dominique McCartney-Russell, announced Thursday that teachers whose contracts are in force will return to their positions, while those who have expired their hiring will not return.
McCartney-Russell described the presence of Cuban teachers as “crucial”, given shortage in several thematic areas in the country.
“Your support is key to ensuring that we can provide experiences of experience to our children,” said the director in statements to the press.
The head of education in Bahamas said that, despite the initial “uncertainty”, he expects the arrival in the country of Cuban educators.
Last June, the Minister of Health, Michael Darville, announced that future Cuban professionals – medical and teachers – would be hired directly by the Government, instead of doing so through intermediaries and, since then, recruitment trips to Cuba have been canceled.
“After conversations with the US government, my ministry negotiated new contractual terms with Cuban recruitment agencies,” Darville explained.
Bahamas cancels agreement with Cuban Government and will hire doctors directly, according to media
Washington expanded last February the visa restriction policy to people who benefit from what qualifies as “labor exploitation” of Cuban workers abroad, which includes those who participate in medical missions.
The US administration threatened the cancellation of visas to Bahamian officials and their families.
For his part, Cuba has categorically rejected Washington’s accusations and defends his medical cooperation program, one of the country’s main currency sources.
Before the restrictions of the United States, many countries of the Caribbean community (CARICOM), organization of which it is a Bahamas member, defended the medical missions of Cuba and warned that their health systems can collapse without Cuban doctors.
