Top things to know
- The Bahamian government terminated contracts for 31 Cuban vocational teachers to avoid diplomatic strain with the United States.
- Washington considers the Cuban brigade system forced labor because Havana collects most of the pay while workers receive small stipends.
- The Ministry of Education emphasized prioritizing Bahamian teachers, while the teachers union expressed concern over classroom impacts.
The Bahamian government has terminated the contracts of 31 Cuban specialist teachers, seeking to avoid tension with the United States. The educators, who primarily teach vocational subjects such as welding and agricultural science, were given a brief period to wrap up their affairs before leaving. Consequently, they are not part of the new academic year that recently began across the archipelago.
The move coincides with sustained pressure from Washington regarding Cuba's foreign service brigades, including medical personnel. U.S. officials regard the program as a form of human trafficking and forced labor, as the Cuban government retains the majority of workers' monthly payments while providing only small stipends to the staff. Cuban medical workers in the Bahamas have faced similar diplomatic scrutiny intended to curb Havana's regional presence.
In a public statement, the Ministry of Education affirmed that its priority is hiring qualified Bahamian educators, noting that contract renewals were never guaranteed. It remains uncertain whether any Cuban teachers will be allowed to stay under individual direct-hire arrangements that bypass the Cuban state. Meanwhile, the Bahamas Union of Teachers expressed concern over the disruption caused by the abrupt departures.