House members condemn Cuba's exploitation of COVID-19 crisis

Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, the virus has brought U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle together to try to mitigate its spread, and to save American lives.

Today, several members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Reps. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D), Mario Diaz-Balart (R), and Francis Rooney (R) joined together to denounce the ongoing efforts of the Cuban regime to exploit the worldwide pandemic “for political gain” and for spreading “disinformation” about the spread of the virus.

The members accused the regime of “trafficking doctors” and of trying to divide the international community with their “propaganda” in an effort they say is designed to distract from their historic and ongoing human rights violations. 

“The Cuban regime has shamelessly exploited this COVID-19 pandemic to engage in a misleading medical diplomacy campaign by trafficking doctors from whom they pocket as much as 80 percent of their salaries, confiscate their passports, and impose strict monitoring,” stated the trio of House members, adding, “The regime is also spreading dangerous disinformation about the virus worldwide with the aim of dividing the international community. These are just the latest examples of the regime’s use of propaganda to build a positive image abroad and distract from its systemic human rights violations against the Cuban people. Like their authoritarian partners around the world, the Cuban regime cannot be counted on as a reliable partner in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement continued:

“The international community must reject the Cuban regime’s disinformation campaign and its trafficking of medical professionals. Healthcare workers combating COVID-19 around the world are heroes who risk their lives daily. We must stand united in condemning the Cuban regime’s efforts to exploit these heroes for political and financial gain during this unprecedented global health crisis.”