Despite the threat of sanction from the United States of America, the Government of Guyana is not in a rush to make any decisions regarding its ongoing collaboration with Cuba on medical services. Instead, according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, the government is seeking an audience with the powers that be in the new United States administration.
During his most recent press conference, Jagdeo told reporters that the Government of Guyana has “carefully examined” the statement out of the United States of America concerning Cuban medical brigades in countries and the potential of sanction against those countries that collaborated with Cuba on this matter.
He was keen to note that the Cuban medical presence in the Caribbean has been strong for a very long time and had transcended several US administrations. Further, Jagdeo acknowledged that the Cuban medical presence in the region has had some positive impact on health care delivery across the region. He said therefore, Guyana cannot address this issue alone as it affects the entire Caribbean.
Jagdeo then revealed that at the last meeting of Caricom leaders there was an agreement to engage the President Donald Trump administration on a number of issues because “we felt that President Trump should see the Region not through the eyes of third party but directly get views from the leaders of the Region”
Jagdeo said that given its widespread impact, issues relating to the Cuban brigade would most likely be on the list of those to be discussed with the State Department or the White House.
Jagdeo said the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in contact with several leaders of CARICOM, including Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali.
It was Secretary of State Rubio who promised sanctions to all those who collaborate with the Cuban programme that has provided high quality healthcare to millions of people around the world living in developing countries.
The programme has been in operation for almost seven decades after its establishment that followed the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Cuba sends its medical personnel overseas and accepts medical students and patients for training and treatment respectively. Thousands of Guyanese have benefitted over the life of the programme. In 2022, former Minister of Health and current advisor to the Government of Guyana, Leslie Ramsammy acknowledged the “invaluable service” offered by Cuba.
In 2023, a new Medical Cooperation Agreement was signed between Guyana and Cuba. The agreement was one “which elevates Cuba’s medical cooperation with Guyana.”
