Caribbean Leaders Slam Back At US

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News Americas, New York, NY, March 14, 2025: Caribbean leaders have firmly rejected U.S. allegations of Cuban labor exploitation following Washington’s recent decision to impose visa restrictions on officials linked to Cuba’s overseas medical program.

Visitors inquire for travel information of Cuba’s booth during the World Tourism Fair in Paris on March 13, 2025. The 2025 World Tourism Fair takes place from March 13 to 16, 2025 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. announced the measure late last month, claiming that Cuba’s labor export initiatives, which include a significant number of medical professionals, “enrich the Cuban regime” and involve the “exploitation and forced labor of Cuban workers.”

Cuban authorities dismissed the U.S. stance as a “personal agenda based on falsehoods” by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting that the restrictions could negatively impact millions of people who rely on Cuban healthcare professionals.

Since Cuba’s 1959 revolution, the country has dispatched medical personnel worldwide, assisting with outbreaks such as cholera in Haiti and Ebola in West Africa. These medical missions also serve as a crucial source of revenue for the island, which continues to face economic challenges exacerbated by the long-standing U.S. embargo, widely opposed by the international community.

Caribbean leaders have voiced strong support for Cuban medical personnel. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley, speaking at a hospital event, criticized the U.S. accusations. “Out of the blue now, we have been called human traffickers because we hire technical people whom we pay top dollar,” Rowley said, adding that he was prepared to lose his U.S. visa over the issue.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves highlighted the vital role of Cuban doctors in his country, where at least 60 people rely on a Cuban-run haemodialysis program for kidney treatment. “If the Cubans are not there, we may not be able to run the service,” he warned, stating that Cuban professionals receive the same pay as their local counterparts. “I would prefer to lose my visa than to have 60 poor and working people die.”

Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith also underscored the importance of Cuban healthcare workers, noting that 400 Cuban doctors, nurses, and medical technicians currently serve in Jamaica. “Their presence here is of importance to our healthcare system,” she said.

Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell echoed this sentiment, affirming on social media that his government adheres to “all international best practices in the recruitment of labor.”

The strong regional response signals unwavering Caribbean support for Cuba’s medical missions, even as U.S. pressure mounts.

Messi Makes Caribbean Debut As Inter Miami Defeats Cavalier FC

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News Americas, New York, NY, Fri. March 14, 2025: Soccer great Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to action for his first Caribbean match Thursday, scoring a late goal as Inter Miami secured a 2-0 victory over Jamaica’s Cavalier FC, Jamaican football club based in the community of Mountain View in Kingston, which currently plays in the Jamaica Premier League, on Thursday to advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball during the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Cavalier SC and Inter Miami CF at The Jamaican National Stadium on March 13, 2025 in Kingston, Jamaica. It was Messi’s first time playing in the Caribbean and Jamaica. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Messi, who had been sidelined for three games due to load management, entered the match in the 53rd minute to roaring applause from fans at Kingston’s Independence Park. Making an immediate impact, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sealed the win with a goal just before the final whistle, firing the ball into the opposite corner of the net. The assist came from 18-year-old Santiago Morales, a promising homegrown player for Miami.

General view inside the stadium during the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 Second Leg match between Cavalier SC and Inter Miami CF at The Jamaican National Stadium on March 13, 2025 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This match marked Messi’s first official game in Jamaica and the Caribbean, a highly anticipated moment for fans. He and his teammates were welcomed upon arrival in Jamaica by Olivia Grange, the country’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport.

Inter Miami, already leading 2-0 from the first leg at home last week, quickly extended their advantage in the first half when Luis Suárez converted a penalty after a foul on Tadeo Allende inside the box.

With the 4-0 aggregate victory, Miami now prepares to take on LAFC in the quarterfinals, after the MLS Western Conference side eliminated the Columbus Crew in their round-of-16 matchup.

Exxon Expands in Guyana As Government Cancels Frontera-CGX Oil License

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News Americas, New York, NY, Fri. March 14, 2025: A consortium led by U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil has unveiled plans for its eighth energy project in Guyana, which is set to produce up to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas and 290,000 barrels per day of condensate. The project will utilize a floating production facility with the capacity to export the fuel, according to details submitted to the Guyanese government.

The Longtail Project, which includes the development of the Longtail, Tripletail, and Turbot offshore discoveries, was outlined in the group’s request for environmental authorization, recently published by the Guyanese government and reviewed by Reuters.

The ExxonMobil Guyana offices at 86 Duke Street in Georgetown, Guyana. Photographer: Jose A. Alvarado Jr./Bloomberg via Getty Images

Longtail is expected to become Exxon’s most significant gas development in Guyana to date, aligning with the government’s push to increase gas production to support various industries, including petrochemical plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

According to the environmental document, the project will involve the drilling of up to 60 production and injection wells, further expanding Guyana’s rapidly growing energy sector.

In contrast, Guyana’s government has officially pulled the plug on the Frontera-CGX joint venture, canceling its oil prospecting license for the Corentyne Block. This decision, which had been anticipated since February when the government gave the joint venture a 30-day warning, now marks the end of their efforts in the region.

The Corentyne block had been seen as a potential diversification opportunity in Guyana’s oil industry, which is dominated by ExxonMobil’s operations in the Stabroek Block. Despite being an underdog, the Frontera-CGX partnership had hoped to secure a piece of the pie, but they are now out of the race. While both companies have disputed the cancellation, no further details about potential legal challenges or behind-the-scenes negotiations have emerged.

Exxon’s control over Guyana’s offshore oil bonanza has only grown stronger. The company, alongside its partners Hess and CNOOC, is progressing with multiple projects, including the latest Longtail project. Exxon’s ongoing efforts have resulted in over 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil production from several operations in the country. At this pace, Exxon’s presence in Guyana could soon rival that of some OPEC members.

While global oil prices remain volatile, with WTI hovering near $67 and Brent struggling above $70, smaller players like Frontera and CGX have faced a difficult challenge. However, Exxon remains well-positioned to continue its dominance in the region, sending a clear message: if you want to drill in Guyana, you’d better have deep pockets and the patience of a major supermajor.