permits of thousands of Cubans are not in order. Statistics gathered from incoming flights show that some flights arrive in Suriname with up to 200 Cubans on board, while only a handful return to Cuba.

It is carefully estimated that several tens of thousands of Cubans have been in Suriname since 2019. “These Cubans are not officially registered anywhere,” Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath told Parliament. “The constant arrival of new Cubans is putting additional pressure on the national budget and public resources,” Minister Monorath said in response to concerns raised by MP Ingrid Karta-Bink. MP Karta-Bink asked the government how it plans to 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 serious problem, as they want to access the nation’s healthcare system even though they do not have health insurance and do not want to pay their medical bills after receiving treatment. Our healthcare institutions are being given a bad reputation. I want to point out that every Surinamese citizen—and even foreigners—must have health insurance if they want to live and work in Suriname,” said MP Ingrid Karta-Bink.

Minister Monorath acknowledged the issue but explained that it is a complex matter caused by the reluctance of foreigners from various countries to register and make themselves visible to the authorities. “She is right when she says that this situation not only puts pressure on the healthcare system but also affects all levels of our society,” said Minister Monorath. “We sometimes see flights bringing in 180 to 200 Cubans,” he added, noting that fewer than 30 passengers typically return to Cuba.

Many of the newcomers use the nation’s healthcare facilities even though they officially have no right to access them. The minister also explained that the children of these migrants do not receive education and therefore remain at home. “They stay confined to their homes and apartments, which means that we are also violating a number of international regulations,” said the Minister of Justice and Police.