With the fate of the Cuban medical brigade hanging very much in the balance between empire and solidarity, there is much uncertainty around the future of Cuban doctors in Belize.
And yesterday, a picture of boxes from doctors labeled for Cuban addresses at the airport fueled speculation that the 82-member brigade was headed for the exits.
Add to this the fact that the Minister of Health Kevin Bernard recently went to Honduras on an official visit looking for medical expertise, and all the elements were there to suggest that Belize is readying to bid the brigade "bye-bye."
This is a pressing demand from the US State Department which says the medical brigades are forced labor.
Today, Health Minister Kevin Bernard denied the suggestions of an end to the brigadeâ€"even though he could not say emphatically that the program will continue:
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"I think I answered that question through a response yesterday and it is so unfortunate to see somebody taking something out of context. The Cuban people who are here in Belize they travel every year on vacation on different times of the year, not everybody could go on vacation at the same time. And normally it is a norm that when they go back they will take items to their families. So for Mr. Maheiaâ€"and I will call his nameâ€"because that was very irresponsible of him to go on the media, go on social media trying to paint a picture as if it is facts when it is far from the truth. These people are in our system working at this point in time. And as I said yesterday in response to the two media houses who reached out to me there are ongoing diplomatic talks when it relates to the Cuban brigade these people continue to be employed and continue to work across our health system here in Belize. And we are hoping that at the end of the day when these diplomatic talks are over we can find an amicable solution as it relates to the Cuban brigade. But I will continue to say that we appreciate the support that the Cuban people have given to Belize and there is no truth to us sending Cubans home one by one as was insinuated in that social media post and that is all I will say about that."
Reporter
"How long will those negotiations or discussions take? I remember the Prime Minister did the last time when he went to the US have discussions on that too."
Kevin Bernard
"Well remember these are fluid discussions that has to be taking place and through the Foreign Ministry there is a lot of discussions back and forth that we are talking about. We are talking to both the Cuban Government in terms of how we will treat this program. As I said, I do want to say something that all the details that are not shared with me at this point in time. But what I'd like to tell you is that there has been some great discussions both from the Cuban Government, well the embassy, sort of through the embassy and theâ€"and of course the Belizean Government who is reaching out at the same time and I will only say this that again, these people have been here over many years and the ones that are here right now on the program continue to be employed by the Government of Belize and continue to provide that health service that we so desperately need."
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