Pres. Ali pushes for change in Cuba

Mar 08, 2026 News

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…says transformation must occur gradually and through dialogue

Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali on Saturday said that Cuba’s status quo cannot remain unchanged, but changes must be done gradually and through dialogue. The president was at the time speaking during an interview with the Fox News on the sidelines of the Shield of the Americas Summit held in Doral, Miami, Florida.

During the interview, President Ali was asked about political developments in Cuba and comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the country could face significant political change.

In response, he explained that leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently held discussions about Cuba’s situation; U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio was also engaged in these discussions.

During that meeting, he highlighted that regional leaders agreed that the current status quo in Cuba cannot remain unchanged.

The Head of State said that any transformation in Cuba must occur gradually and through dialogue.

“There must be dialogue, but those changes must lead to the improvement of the people of Cuba, must lead to better conditions for the people of Cuba, must lead to a society in which the rule of law, in which democracy, in which freedom is celebrated,” he emphasised.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and Cuba were established on December 8, 1972 and have over the years been characterised by strong, historical bonds of friendship, cooperation, and mutual support.

Importantly, Guyana has always shown solidarity with the government and people of Cuba and have over the years called for the lifting of the economic embargo placed on the country by the United States.

Recently, former Caribbean Heads of State and Government issued a public appeal calling for urgent action to prevent what they describe as a “deepening humanitarian crisis” in Cuba.

In a statement attributed to former Guyanese President Donald Ramotar and former Prime Ministers Keith Rowley, Kenny Anthony, Bruce Golding, Edison James, Tillman Thomas, P. J. Patterson and Freundel Stuart, the leaders said they are “perturbed” by the situation unfolding in Cuba.

They pointed to the January 29, 2026 Executive Order issued by the United States against any nation providing oil to Cuba without the imposition of punitive, discriminatory tariffs, arguing that it amounts to economic warfare and inflicts “unconscionable suffering” on the Cuban people.

Further, for decades, Cuba’s medical bridgade 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 Ali last week firmly defended his government’s decision to end the medical bridgade and instead directly hiring Cuban medical personnel. He insisted that 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.

The president’s defence followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s appreciation for Guyana’s decision to end what the U.S. calls a “medial mission forced labour scheme.”

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. Guyana has since denied that its decision to end the medical programme with Cuba was influenced by U.S. pressure.

This week, a delegation of concerned Guyanese delivered 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.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, CMC reported that Cuba withdrew all of its medical personnel from Jamaica less than 48 hours after Jamaica said it was discontinuing the current arrangement with Havana regarding the deployment of Cuban medical professionals in the public health sector.

“Cuba regrets the decision of the government of Jamaica to cease medical cooperation, yielding to pressure from the U.S,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It said that on March 4, the Foreign Ministry of Jamaica communicated to its embassy in Kingston “the unilateral decision of its government to terminate the health cooperation agreement that has linked both nations for decades.

“With this action, the government of Jamaica yields to the pressures of the government of the United States, which is not concerned about the health needs of the Caribbean brothers.

“Cuba deeply regrets that in this way a history of fruitful and sustained collaboration is disregarded, one that has brought countless benefits to the Jamaican people, who are now deprived of receiving the basic and specialised health services that Cuban collaborators provided.

“In response to the step taken by the government of Jamaica, the government of Cuba has made the sovereign decision to proceed with the return of the Cuban Medical Brigade. These health professionals leave behind an indelible mark and return to Cuba with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled and the permanent willingness to assist wherever their spirit of solidarity is required,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

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• Americas Summit, Cuba, drug trafficking networks, President Ali, security climate, Stability

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