CARICOM Civil Society Call for Regional Solidarity with Cuban Medical Brigades

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — In a coordinated  effort, collective  members of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Civil Society have issued urgent appeals to Caribbean nationals, encouraging them to write letters of support to their governments regarding the long-standing Cuban medical cooperation program that is now under threat from U.S. sanctions.

The initiative comes in response to recent statements from the U.S. State Department indicating potential penalties against CARICOM officials, citizens, and their family members who are associated with or facilitate Cuban Medical Brigades operating throughout the Caribbean region.

“This is a matter of both regional sovereignty and public health,” said Ambassador Jerome Phillips of Barbados during a virtual press conference yesterday. “Cuban medical professionals have been filling critical healthcare gaps in our nations for decades, particularly in remote and underserved communities.”

For over 20 years, Cuban doctors, nurses, and medical technicians have provided essential healthcare services across CARICOM nations, with more than 200 medical professionals serving in Barbados alone from 2020 to 2023.

Ambassador Maria Gonzalez of Trinidad and Tobago emphasized that the regional response must come not only from governments but also from civil society. “We are calling on citizens across CARICOM to send letters to their Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and national media outlets expressing support for continued medical cooperation with Cuba,” she stated.

The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) in Trinidad and Tobago has already released a statement condemning the U.S. position, describing it as “an outrageous policy” that interferes with the region’s healthcare sovereignty.

In Guyana, Ambassador Joseph Ramsey highlighted the critical timing of this issue. “During a period when our healthcare systems are still recovering from recent global health challenges, the Cuban Medical Brigades remain essential to maintaining adequate medical coverage, particularly in our hinterland regions.”

The ambassadors collectively reaffirmed several key points about the Cuban medical cooperation:

• The program is based on bilateral agreements between respective ministries of health
• Cuban medical professionals maintain their employment status and social security benefits in Cuba
• In economically disadvantaged nations, Cuba provides services as a gesture of solidarity without financial compensation
• In other cases, reasonable compensation is provided based on the economic conditions of the recipient country

Dr. Claudette Brown, Chief Medical Officer in Saint Lucia, noted that “Cuban doctors typically serve in locations where recruiting local or international medical staff has proven extremely difficult. Their departure would create immediate healthcare gaps that we simply cannot fill quickly.”

The suggestiion is that letters of support address several points:

1. The positive impact Cuban healthcare workers have had on local communities
2. The importance of maintaining national sovereignty in healthcare decisions
3. Support for government efforts to resist external pressure on this issue
4. Personal testimonies about healthcare services received from Cuban medical personnel

“This is not merely a diplomatic issue but a matter that directly affects the health and wellbeing of thousands of Caribbean citizens,” said Ambassador Phillips. “The cumulative effect of these public expressions of support will send a powerful message about our regional solidarity.”

Citizens interested in participating in this letter-writing campaign are encouraged to contact their local civil society organizations for guidance or to write directly to government officials and media houses.

The ambassadors stressed that the goal is not confrontation with the United States but rather affirmation of the Caribbean’s right to determine its own healthcare partnerships based on the needs of its people.

“This is about standing together as a region,” concluded one concerned citizen: “When we speak with one voice, that voice becomes impossible to ignore.” WiredJA