to discuss the collaboration between Cuba and Suriname but they also discussed the influx of Cuban nationals into Suriname. The meeting followed several days after media reports indicated that

Suriname is currently faced with a huge influx of  Cubans. Reports indicate that the  residence permits of tens of thousands of Cubans are not in order. Statistics that were gathered from flights indicate that there are up to 200 Cubans on some flights that arrive in Suriname while only a handful head back to Cuba. It has been carefully estimated that there have been several tens of thousands of Cubans in Suriname since 2019. “These Cubans are not officially registered anywhere,” Justice and Police (Juspol)  Minister Harish Monorath told parliament. “The constant arrival of new Cubans is putting extra pressure on the national budget and public resources,” said Minister Monorath in response to the concerns that were expressed by MP Ingrid Karta-Bink. MP Bink asked the government how the government will address the issue of illegal immigrants who do not have health insurance. “The presence of tens of thousands of foreigners in Suriname is creating a huge problem as they also want to tap into the nation’s healthcare system although they do have any health insurance but also do not want to pay the medical bill after they have received medical treatment.”

During the meeting with Minister Monorath Ambassador Dominquez asked for better communications with the Ministry of Justice. The Cuban ambassador also mentioned the medical conditions of Cubans in Suriname because he is often being confronted with calls from parents in Cuba who indicated that their children have either been admitted to a hospital or have died in a hospital in Suriname. Minister Monorath assured the Cuban ambassador that he would send a letter to his colleague at the Ministry of Health in order to make the medical process more flexible. He will advise his colleague to instruct local hospitals to contact the Cuban embassy whenever a Cuban national has been admitted.  “When those Cubans are here, they must go to the registration centers but they don’t do that. And when they show up not all of their papers are in order”, said Ingrid Kindooi, deputy director of Immigration Affairs Suriname.  “We cannot register  Cubans without a birth certificate, a declaration of birth and a certificate of good behavior,” said Kindooi who added that a  residence permit is issued whenever the people meet all of the requirements. The children of Cuban nationals are not enrolled in schools although the law clearly states that each child in Suriname must go to school. Police Inspector Raymond Jopoi who is also a policy advisor of the minister recommended providing traffic education training to Cubans because statistics indicate that many Cubans are often involved in traffic accidents.