Jamaica rebuffs Rubio push against Cuban doctors

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP) -- Jamaica on Wednesday rebuffed a push by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to sever a programme that brings in Cuban doctors, who have become critical to health care in fellow Caribbean countries despite allegations of labour exploitation. Donald Trump's top diplomat held talks on the sidelines of a Caribbean summit aimed in part at finding new ideas on violence-ravaged Haiti, with host Jamaica saying it would help the new US administration in a "global war on gangs." But Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness made clear his differences with Rubio on the doctors, who are sent by Cuba around the world and have become a major source of revenue for the cash-strapped government. Rubio, a Cuban-American and vociferous foe of the communist government in Havana, announced last month that the Trump administration would bar visas for foreign government officials who assist the programme, which he characterized as human trafficking. "Let us be clear, the Cuban doctors in Jamaica have been incredibly helpful to us," Holness said at a joint news conference with Rubio. He said that the 400 Cuban doctors in the country filled a deficit as Jamaican health workers emigrated. "We are, however, very careful...