Deadline Passes, Cuban Brigade’s Fate Unclear
The deadline has passed, but the Briceño administration remains silent on the future of Belize’s Cuban medical brigade. In April, Cabinet gave the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs six months to present recommendations by the end of September. Health Minister Kevin Bernard says diplomatic talks with the United States are ongoing, but today declined an interview until the matter is finalized. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to our request for comment. Tonight, we revisit former Prime Minister Said Musa’s firm opposition to removing the Cuban medical team from Belize.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa
Rt. Hon. Said Musa (File: Sept 9th, 2026)
“I could never countenance supporting that. These people have stood with us, sending doctors and nurses to our country. Took care of me in fact. I had to go they’re for some treatment as well, and many Belizeans. Mexico and Cuba have been very faithful to Belize. Mexico had a claim too, but they were prepared to drop it, providing that Guatemala would drop it. Otherwise, Mexico would keep its claim. But then we found another way through the OAS to accomplish the same thing. And I think eventually with the ICJ giving its decision by the end of next year, that whole thing will be behind us and Belize will remain intact, from the Hondo to the Sarstoon. I can assure the Belizean people about that. Let us put it that way. It would mean a great deal. I would take pride in that, that our work was not in vain and the main thing is that we had faith in the Belizean people and we trusted them to make the right decision first of all. And then we trusted our friends who stood by us. So, we cant in this time now, when we are moving towards a complete solution to the problem, abandon Cuba, no, no. We have to find another way to deal with this problem.”
The question now is whether the Briceño administration will publicly disclose its decision.
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