Does The Cuban Medical Brigade Have A Future In Belize?

Discussions on the future of Cuban medical professionals working in Belize are ongoing. This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca.

He says the Prime Minister raised the matter directly with a top U.S. official during a recent trip to Washington. “The Prime Minister was recently in Washington, D.C., where he met with the Deputy Secretary of State, Landau. They discussed that matter. It’s an ongoing discussion. My position still remains, and our position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still remains, that we believe there is an opportunity for us to keep certain elements and members of the brigade. How we do that, how we structure that, is still under discussion.”

Fonseca says the goal is to secure legal status for the Cuban workers to remain in Belize. “I’m hopeful that we can work out some arrangement which allows doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, Cuban medical professionals, to get work permits or permanent residence status, something of that nature. That discussion between ourselves and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is ongoing.”

PM John Briceno met with United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington, D.C., last month. They discussed discussed cooperation on security, economic development and regional stability.