Caricom to take unified stand to address US sanctions on countries with Cuban medical brigades

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that Guyana, along with other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), plans to engage the United States administration on a range of pressing issues affecting the region. The focus of their concerns includes US sanctions aimed at countries collaborating with Cuba, specifically the island nation’s medical brigades deployed across the Caribbean.

Jagdeo underscored the historical and positive role that Cuban medical professionals have played in improving healthcare delivery across the Caribbean, noting that the presence of these medical teams has spanned multiple U.S. administrations. He also stressed that the issue is not confined to Guyana alone, but is a matter of regional significance.
“Now you know that the Cuban presence, medical presence, in the Caribbean has been there for a very, very long time and has transcended several US administrations. The Cuban medical presence in the region has had some positive impact on health care delivery across the region. This issue is not just about Guyana.”
“This is about the entire Caribbean. Now I know that at the last meeting of CARICOM leaders there was an agreement to engage the Trump administration on a number of issues because we felt that President Trump should see the regions not to the eyes of third party but to directly get views from the leaders of the region,” the Vice President said.

Potential sanctions
The Vice President’s remarks come in response to the recent US statement concerning potential sanctions on nations working with Cuba in the field of medical cooperation. Dr. Jagdeo emphasized that the Caribbean nations, united through Caricom, are prepared to engage the US on this issue at the leadership level, directly with the U.S. State Department or the White House.
Jagdeo highlighted that Caricom’s efforts will not be limited to the Cuban medical brigades.
With the potential implications for health, trade, and diplomatic relations across the Caribbean, Caricom’s united approach is poised to have a profound impact on the region’s future relationship with the United States.
“We hope that we’ll be able to do so,” Dr. Jagdeo concluded. “But not just on the Cuban medical brigade. On trade matters, on aid matters, on deportees—this is an issue we’re tackling together.”
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana’s primary healthcare facility continues to grapple with a severe shortage of nursing staff, with an alarming deficit of over 700 nurses.
The hospital is working tirelessly to meet the healthcare demands of a growing population, and while this shortage has not raised concerns about the hospital’s capability to provide care, the positions must be filled if GPHC is to function effectively.
Earlier this year, GPHC disclosed that it is in the final stages of preparing accommodations for 300 Cuban nurses who are set to join the healthcare workforce in Guyana.
Preparations for the 300 Cuban nurses’ arrival include ensuring that the necessary accommodations are in place to support their stay.