Should Jamaica cut all diplomatic ties with Cuba now that they’ve “discovered” how Cuba treats it people?

So Cuba has ordered over 200 doctors in Jamaica to return home immediately.  This ends a 50 year old agreement in which Cuban doctors provided invaluable service to their nearest neighbour, Jamaica.

According to the Jamaica government, they couldn’t agree on the terms and conditions to renew the contract, which expired in 2023. But according to Cuba, Jamaica has bowed to pressure from the United States to end the programme.

Now while I agree with Jamaica’s reasons for ending the programme, I do find the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs somewhat disingenuous.

But first, a quick history lesson.  

Jamaica first began receiving Cuban doctors to work here in 1976, a year after Prime Minister Michael Manley visited Cuba in 1975.

Now ideologically speaking, let’s not forget who Michael Manley was.  He was a sympathizer of communism and socialism.  Although he wasn’t a communist himself, he did popularize “democratic socialism” in Jamaica.  

So it’s not at all surprising that an agreement entered into by a Manley administration with Cuba would support Cuba’s communist ideals.

In a communist society, you work for the collective good of society, not for personal gain.

So when the Holness administration acts like they are shocked that Cuban doctors weren’t being paid directly, that seems disingenuous to me.

The statement from the Ministry of Foreign affairs says, “The Government also discovered that salary payments for Cuban medical personnel… were being made by Jamaica to the Cuban authorities in US dollars.”

As if this was some new revelation.  That is to be expected from a communist country, especially in a deal signed by a communist sympathizer such as Manley.

The Ministry says the, “arrangement raised serious concerns under Jamaican labour and tax laws as well as under international labour conventions.”  Which I get.  

Under modern laws to us today, the way this programme is set up seems abhorrent to many Jamaicans.  We were raised in a capitalist society, where we expect to be paid directly for our labour.  Capitalism thrives on self interest, whereas communism is about serving the good of society.

“From each according to his ability; to each according to his need.”  That’s the famous quote from the originator of communism, Karl Marx.  People contribute their labour to society based on their abilities, and then society distributes the proceeds based on what you need.

So under communism, I can work more than you and produce more than you, but you may get more than me if you need it more – for example, if you have more children than me.

Now globally, history has proven that self-interest is a much greater motivator for human productivity than the collective good of society.  I care more about me and my immediate family than I do about you, or someone who I don’t even know.  And I want to be rewarded for my hard work.  

Most of us who grew up capitalist would think the communist system is unfair.  So naturally, I understand why a lot of Jamaicans are siding with their government.  It seems unfair for people to work and have all their pay go to their government.  I’ve even heard the words slavery and indentured servitude banded about. 

Now the other sticking point for the Jamaican government was the Cuban doctors not being able to hold onto their own passports.  In fact, in assessing human trafficking, that is one of the issues that is often cited. Restricting people’s ability to travel freely is a telling sign.

And I agree, communist or not, that is unacceptable.  People should have free will.  For almost seventy years, Cubans have been forced to accept communism as their ideology.  But what if you don’t agree?  Well communism only works if everyone agrees.  Because you’re working for the communal good.  If you don’t agree, you’d have to move somewhere else and live with other people whose ideology matches yours.  But Cubans aren’t allowed to do that.

Now here’s my question for the Jamaican government.  You have identified two major issues with the medical agreement with Cuba.  These issues challenge the essence of communism, and by extension, the essence of Cuba’s communist regime.  

So does that mean that Jamaica no longer supports Cuba’s communist regime?  Now that you’ve “discovered” how Cuba treats its people, and you’re on the record as opposing it, will Jamaica cut all diplomatic ties with Cuba?

And that’s the bottom line.