3 weeks ago
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The presence of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Belize has once again become a point of political contention, following claims by Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton that Prime Minister John Briceño has been placed on notice to make a decision regarding the continued engagement of Cuban healthcare professionals in the country. Panton, speaking in today’s budget debate, suggested that the Prime Minister is facing pressure, particularly from the United States, over Belize’s participation in the Cuban medical cooperation program. She indicated that this pressure could force a policy decision in the near future.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “How do we intend to address adequate patient care if Belize yields to the pressure of the United States to end its long-standing partnership with the Cuban Medical Brigade? We have always shown profound respect and regard for our friends, our allies, our international partners who have consistently helped us in the arduous work of nation-building. It is deeply troubling that both our democracy and our sovereignty are at risk if we do not unfollow the unreasonable demands of those who seek to have unbridled power in this hemisphere. Our government has been read the riot act. We have been reliably informed that the prime minister has been given a firm timeline in which to act on the request related to the Cuban Medical Brigade or be exposed to consequences of visa restrictions, revocations, restrictions on travel and tourism, and trade sanctions. Madam Speaker, our foreign policy outlook does not have to be loud, confrontational, or dismissive, but it must remain at the very least principled.”
Love News has confirmed that the Prime Minister has received no such letter or formal notice as referenced by the Opposition Leader. Sources within the government say that no official communication has been issued placing the Prime Minister on notice regarding the Cuban Medical Brigade. Panton also pointed to the realities on the ground, noting the continued need for medical practitioners, especially in rural and southern communities where access to healthcare remains limited.
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition: “Who? I ask who will provide health services in our rural and remote communities or provide specialist care to those who cannot afford access? In speaking to our UDP caretaker in Toledo West this past weekend, yes, I checked with him because I couldn’t find you. He shared the concern that there are no doctors or nurses permanently stationed in the 28 villages that comprises this constituency. This is problematic….I tried calling you, you know. Patient care is arranged for designated hours on specific days each month. Severing ties with the Cuban Medical Brigade with only exaggerate the challenges they already face. Madam Speaker, we are privy to the fact that a group of locally concerned health care professionals wrote to the Ministry of Health and Wellness just shy of six years ago expressing their grave concern on Belize’s continued reliance on external support for health care services. And went further, they offered recommendations on how this matter could be addressed. As we understand it, the recommendations were either ignored or placed in 513, as those concerned doctors, one of whom I met with this weekend, are still awaiting a response.”
Cuban healthcare professionals first began arriving in Belize in the early 1990s, as part of a bilateral cooperation agreement between the governments of Belize and Cuba. Since then, Cuban doctors, nurses, and specialists have played a continuous role in Belize’s public healthcare system.
English (US) ·