Grenada holds talks with US amid visa restrictions on Finance Minister

Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States met with a high-level delegation from the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday, August 19, in Washington, D.C., in what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a “direct and constructive” follow-up to previous diplomatic discussions.

According to the Ministry, the meeting was a follow-up to previous diplomatic exchanges and provided an opportunity for both sides to engage in direct and constructive dialogue. During the discussions, U.S. officials confirmed that visa restrictions would be applied, and the Ministry has since received official notification that the country’s Minister of Finance, Dennis Cornwall, is affected.

Despite the development, the Ministry said: "Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to their nations’ long-standing relationship. They have agreed to continue utilising established diplomatic channels to address all matters of mutual concern in a solution-oriented manner. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures the public that it will continue to provide information as these diplomatic discussions proceed in a professional and responsible manner."

The move comes in the wake of broader U.S. visa restrictions announced in early August targeting officials from Africa, Cuba, and Grenada — as well as their family members — over their alleged roles in a Cuban government program that exports medical professionals under coercive conditions.

According to the State Department, the Cuban regime “rents” doctors to other countries at high prices, keeping most of the revenue while limiting Cubans’ access to essential medical care. The U.S. says the arrangement enriches the Cuban government and constitutes a form of forced labor.

“The United States continues to engage governments, and will take action as needed, to bring an end to such forced labor,” the department said in a statement, urging countries to pay medical professionals directly rather than through “regime slave masters.”

Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall, a former graduate of a Cuban university, said in March that he and other officials were willing to give up their U.S. visas to support Cubans.

Cornwall previously stressed that ending the Cuban medical mission would significantly harm Grenada’s healthcare system. He emphasized that Cuban doctors and nurses have provided invaluable public service over the years.