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“Helping Cuba does not make Guyana Anti-America” – Norton
(Kaieteur News) – Chairman of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, said on Friday that assisting Cuba does not make Guyana anti-America.
Norton made the remarks while responding to questions from reporters regarding the current situation with the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana.
He told journalists that assisting Cuba will not turn Guyana against America, criticising the government for failing to engage in proper diplomatic negotiations regarding the Cuban Medical Brigade.
Chairman of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton
The PNC leader recounted the history of cooperation between the two nations. “From 1972, the Guyana government recognised Cuba. They developed a number of programmes, one of them the medical programme, in which Cuba sent doctors and other medical personnel to Guyana,” he said. He noted that the programme has significantly strengthened healthcare, not only in Guyana, but across the Caribbean.
The politician argued that Guyana has a moral obligation to assist Cuba in return. “Helping the Cubans doesn’t make you anti-American. If the government had approached this as a proper foreign policy matter, they could have engaged the U.S. to find a middle ground,” he said.
He stressed that diplomatic engagements could have ensured Cuban doctors continue their work without alienating the United States. “We welcome and appreciate U.S. support on issues like the Guyana-Venezuela and Ghana territorial controversies, but we should never become part of a mechanism that seeks to harm Cuban society,” he warned.
He also highlighted the need for foreign policy to be consistent across administrations. “The U.S. pursues its interests, and positions can change with governments. Our policies should be structured to remain applicable across seasons,” Norton said.
He said further that the government has failed to protect Guyana’s interests, prioritising a short-term pragmatic stance over long-term healthcare and diplomatic considerations.
Norton’s remarks come following accusations by leader of the Organisation of the Victory of the People, Gerald Perreira, that the government has been bowing to U.S. pressure, terminating the Cuban Medical Brigade agreement. Perreira, who delivered a letter signed by over 100 organisations called for the brigade’s reinstatement. He claimed that U.S. officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, pressured the President of Guyana to send home Cuban medical personnel.
Perreira also criticised U.S. actions globally, linking sanctions and interference in Cuba to broader imperialist policies. “We are seeing a resurgence of white supremacy and U.S. imperialism,” he said, citing Cuba’s fuel blockade and humanitarian risks, including the safety of over 28,000 mothers in the country.
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