Briceño Administration Rethinks Cuban Medical Partnership

Questions are mounting over the future of Belize’s long‑running partnership with the Cuban Medical Brigade. Prime Minister John Briceño says his government is in sensitive talks with the United States while preparing to build Belize’s own medical workforce. He notes the Cuban brigade was never meant to be permanent and points to the University of Belize’s growing medical program as a key step toward training local doctors. Briceño also pushed back on the Opposition Leader’s call to maintain the Cuban arrangement. We look at where the discussions stand, and what they could mean for Belize’s health system.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well the leader of the opposition has the luxury to be where she is, and we expect that she is going to be there for a very long time. But we have to be realistic, pragmatic, we have to see how best we can deal with these issues. We know the position of the U.S. Government so presently we are on some very delicate negotiations and discussions with the Americans to see what kind of hybrid program we can have in Belize.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Can Belizeans expect ultimately for the Cuban medical brigade to leave.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t think I am in a position to answer that at this time.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What about discussions surrounding UB’s medical program. Is that being considered as a replacement?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well remember, if you look back at history, the Cuban medical brigade was never something that would have been permanent. It should have been for a certain amount of time and to allow countries to catch up to provide their own doctors. This government has the foresight to start with a medical faculty here at UB. And if not this year, next year these students will go at KHMH to do some practice in their different fields.”

 

Government Closely Monitoring Belizean Students in Cuba

 

Growing worries tonight for the twenty‑eight Belizean medical students in Cuba, as conditions on the island continue to deteriorate. The Government of Belize says it’s in constant contact with the group, many of whom are close to completing their studies, and reports no requests to return home so far. Still, Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca says contingency plans are ready, should the situation take a turn for the worse.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We are in contact with our students almost on a daily basis through our embassy in Cuba, ambassador Aldana. We have now about  twenty-eight students in Cuba. I think about twenty of them are nearing completion of their studies, so that’s good. And really, so far they have not expressed an interest in coming back to Belize. They’re still hopeful that they will be able to complete their programs of study. We are there to support them. If they indicate to us or if the Cuban government indicates to us that they believe it’s in their interest to return to Belize, then we will facilitate that. So we are in constant communication with them and whatever help and support they need, we are there to provide it.”

 

For now, those students remain focused on finishing their studies, and the government says it’s ready to step in the moment any of them need help.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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