Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis rejected accusations by the United States of Cuban forced labour in The Bahamas on Wednesday.

The US State Department released its 2024 Trafficking In Persons report which spoke to the use of Cuban medical professionals in The Bahamas. The report noted, “In January 2022, the government signed an official agreement with the Cuban government to temporarily host 50 medical workers to provide medical care during the pandemic; the government reported the medical workers were working in the country during the reporting period. According to press reports, an additional 37 Cuban medical professionals arrived in 2023. Government-affiliated Cuban workers, including medical professionals may have been forced to work by the Cuban government. The high unemployment rate resulting from the pandemic – reported to have exceeded 40 percent – may have increased vulnerabilities for potential victims.”

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the RF Bahamas Economic Conference Mr. Davis said, “this government will never and don’t intend to engage in any forced labour. It’s against our laws and we are a country of laws.” The Prime Minister also promised a review of where we are and to get back to US officials.

One of the speakers at the conference was K. T. McFarland, a former National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration. During her presentation, she said, “President Trump comes to the job as a business man and that’s the lens through which he sees everything. You know, costs, benefit analysis, spreadsheets, long term building because his business background was in building and as a builder he’s not looking for the six weeks, six months, six years, he’s looking for the sixty year return.”

Prime Minister Davis also told reporters that the presentation by McFarland confirms that there is uncertainty going on in the world.