Solomon Islands

Executive summary

The Cuban medical mission to Solomon Islands began with a 2005 precedent, formalized through the March 2007 Health Cooperation Agreement, deploying doctors from June 2008 who remained active until at least 2013 before the mission became inactive, with zero personnel currently and no presence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Official figures—an initial goal of 40 specialists versus a documented total of only 9—reveal significant discrepancies suggesting inflated projections. Labour violations are evidenced through Cuba's own legal framework, including Decree 306/2012 and Migration Law provisions restricting movement, alongside stipends of merely $300 monthly, far below the $700-800 Australian auditors deemed adequate. Cubans stranded in Kiribati, neither state willing to fund their repatriation, exposed the human cost behind diplomatic arithmetic. No direct political mobilization is documented, though Cuba actively courted Australian financing to sustain its Pacific medical presence. A stipend too small to live on, a passport too controlled to leave—this was cooperation built on dependency.

Mission data

Research profile