100+ Guyanese demand return of Cuban medical brigade

Mar 05, 2026 News

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…write Pres. Ali, Todd on matter

(Kaieteur News) – A delegation of concerned Guyanese will tomorrow deliver a strongly worded letter to President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd demanding an immediate reversal of the government’s decision to terminate the services of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana.

The letter, signed by more than 100 organisations and individuals, calls on the administration to restore the presence of Cuban doctors and to resist what the signatories describe as mounting pressure from the United States to dismantle the long-standing scholarship programme that allows Guyanese students, particularly in medicine to study in Cuba.

The appeal comes on the heels of a press release from the United States Embassy in Guyana quoting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as expressing appreciation for Guyana’s decision to end its participation in what Washington termed the Cuban regime’s “medical mission forced labour scheme.”

The signatories have branded that characterisation as baseless and offensive, arguing that successive Guyanese administrations have openly praised and relied upon Cuban medical professionals for decades. They point to remarks delivered on December 8, 2002, by then President Bharrat Jagdeo at a summit marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between Caribbean nations and Cuba. Addressing then Cuban President Fidel Castro and regional leaders, Jagdeo hailed Cuba as “a neighbour, a true friend and a brother,” crediting the island with helping to “catapult forward” Caribbean health systems through a steady inflow of competent medical professionals and generous scholarship programmes.

Those words, the letter writers argue, stand in stark contrast to the government’s current posture. They contend that Guyana’s health system especially in hinterland and underserved communities has long depended on Cuban doctors, nurses and specialists. To abruptly sever that relationship, they say, risks widening already troubling gaps in healthcare delivery.

Equally concerning to the group is the future of the Cuba scholarship programme, which has enabled hundreds of Guyanese from modest backgrounds to pursue studies in medicine and other critical fields. Many of those graduates now serve in public hospitals and clinics across the country.

President Ali is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Miami on March 7. The delegation is urging him to defend Guyana’s sovereign right to pursue independent foreign policy decisions grounded in national interest rather than external pressure. The letter also denounces the tightening fuel embargo imposed by Washington on Cuba, describing it as immoral and destructive. According to international reports, fuel shortages have crippled electricity generation, transportation, and essential services on the island. Hospitals are reportedly struggling to function, ambulances have been sidelined, and medical staff, face severe constraints in delivering care.

The signatories argue that such measures do not merely target a government but inflict suffering on ordinary citizens. They insist that Guyana, as a CARICOM member state with a history of solidarity with Cuba, must not align itself with policies that undermine a longstanding regional partner.

For decades, Cuba’s medical outreach has been a pillar of Caribbean public health. From disaster response to routine community care, Cuban professionals have filled gaps where local shortages persisted. Their presence in Guyana has been especially visible in remote and riverain areas where staffing challenges are acute.

President last week firmly defended his government’s decision and instead directly hiring Cuban medical personnel, insisting the arrangement complies with national labour laws and mirrors how other medical professionals are compensated. He made the comment while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. Amid mounting pressure from the United States over the alleged exploitation of Cuban medical workers, Guyana terminated its longstanding bilateral partnership with Cuba. Despite ending the agreement, the government instead has been paying the Cuban medical professionals directly in line with labour laws.

When asked whether other CARICOM states facing U.S. pressure should adopt Guyana’s model, President Ali stressed that the approach aligns with both local and international labour laws. He highlighted the region’s health sector challenges and the need for medical workers, noting that if Cuban doctors and nurses are hired according to labour regulations and paid legally, they meet international standards. “We ensure that they’re paid within the laws of our country and under the same conditions as any other worker is paid, that is to receive their money directly,” President Ali said.

Kaieteur News had reported that the U.S. government had warned Caribbean nations participating in Cuban medical programmes that such arrangements may amount to human trafficking and could result in visa restrictions and possible trade repercussions. However, Guyana’s Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony earlier this month denied that the decision was influenced by U.S. pressure, stating that there was no specific reason for ending the agreement. Instead, he explained that Cuban medical professionals are now entering Guyana on their own and applying for jobs outside of any formal government-to-government programme.

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• Cuba-Guyana, Cuban doctors, Cuban medical brigade, Hugh Todd

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