Sunday, 13 January 2013
DOHA: The growing Cuban community in Qatar is eagerly looking forward to the new migration policy of the Caribbean country which will come into force tomorrow, said the Cuban Ambassador, Ernesto Plasencia.
Among other things, the changes in this policy will allow Cubans to leave the island without an exit permit or invitation from a citizen of the country of destination.
Plasencia told The Peninsula, "there has been a maturation process in the country's relationship with its migrants. Now a Cuban emigrant can send their child to study at the University in Cuba," he added.
From Monday, in order to travel Cubans will only need to submit the passport and the visa issued by the country of destination when it's required.
"We have normalised our relationship with our emigrants. There are 1,5 million Cubans living in over 150 countries, and 99.9 percent left for economic reasons, just like it happens in many other countries," said Plasencia.
The ambassador said that Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish an embassy in Qatar nearly 20 years ago. He added that bilateral relations are of mutual respect and collaboration, with the embassy focusing on consolidating projects such as the Cuban Hospital.
Thanks to this hospital, which was officially inaugurated in January 2012, the Cuban population in Qatar will be around 400 at the end of the month, with the medical staff at the hospital reaching 386. However, only 25 people are registered residents here, said the ambassador.
© The Peninsula 2013
