US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Suriname next week as part of his Caribbean tour. The visit is expected to begin in Jamaica before moving on to Barbados then Guyana and Suriname.

A number of issues related to illegal migration, relations with the United States, the Guyana border controversy with Venezuela and the threat of US sanctions against countries that utilize the Cuban medical brigade are to be discussed, News Source understands.

CARICOM leaders are also expected to raise a number of trade and foreign aid issues with Mr. Rubio.

Mr. Rubio will become the third US Secretary of State to visit Guyana over the past five years in three different US administrations.

The US shares close relations with a number of CARICOM states, but recently set off controversy with some Caribbean leaders after announcing a policy that could see countries that use the Cuban medical missions facing US sanctions. Guyana is among several Caribbean countries that use the Cuban medical brigade missions.

The Donald Trump administration has accused Cuba of profiting from the forced labor of its workers, stating that the Cuban regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented.

The US State Department has said Cuba’s labor export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country. 

A number of Caribbean leaders have loudly voiced their criticism of the US policy on the Cuban medical missions.

In relation to Guyana, the US Secretary of State is expected to engage President Irfaan Ali on the ongoing threats by Venezuela against Guyana and the recent incursion by a Venezuelan navy vessel in Guyana’s waters near the oil ships.

The US Secretary of State has already made known the support of the US Government of Guyana’s territorial integrity and its condemnation of the actions of Venezuela. He is also expected to discuss energy and oil issues with the Guyana Government.

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