Cuban medical deal remains, but numbers decline in BVI
The Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital in Road Town
The Virgin Islands will not be cancelling its agreement with Cuban medical professionals at this time, despite US pressure pushing the Caribbean and parts of Latin America to scale back or terminate such arrangements.
That assurance came from BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) CEO Dr June Samuel, who confirmed that no directive has been issued to end the territory’s long-standing relationship with Cuban Medical Services.
“The Virgin Islands currently maintains an existing contractual arrangement with the Cuban Medical Services. At this time, there has been no directive issued to terminate this agreement,” Dr Samuels said in response to questions from BVI News.
However, she indicated that the programme’s footprint in the territory is gradually shrinking. One Cuban doctor and three nurses are scheduled to leave the territory this year as part of the programme’s routine rotation and will not be replaced. There are three other Cuban doctors and four Cuban nurses who will be staying in BVI’s healthcare system.
But Dr Samuel says the Health Services Authority is not actively seeking new personnel through the programme.
She also emphasised that the Authority continues to evaluate its staffing requirements as part of broader workforce planning, with a focus on maintaining consistent and quality healthcare services.
“The BVI Health Services Authority continues to assess its staffing needs in the context of its broader workforce planning and remains committed to ensuring continuity of quality healthcare services for the people of the Virgin Islands,” she said.
Regional shift away from Cuban programme
The BVI’s position comes amid increasing pressure from the United States that has influenced several countries to reconsider their participation in Cuba’s overseas medical missions.
In recent months, countries such as Jamaica, Guyana and The Bahamas have cancelled their programmes. Meanwhile, in Central America, Panama has taken steps to distance itself from the arrangement.
The Cuban medical programme has long been a critical support system for many small and developing nations, providing doctors and nurses to underserved areas. In return, the Cuban government has benefitted from the salaries of their nationals serving in neighbouring countries. However, since the Trump administration took office, fresh concerns have been raised about labour conditions and the structure of the agreements, with a corresponding call for these nations to end their agreements with Cuba or face restrictions from the US.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This da* woman need a hush her mouth and go. She trying all in her power to draw bad publicity before she leave.
We need their help and are under bo obligation to help Rubio or Hegseth. They provide a good service to their caribbean community.
Deciding to bend to the US will result in a huge loss for CARICOM countries but perhaps a huge win for the BVI. Let’s request Cubans to fill the staffing gaps in our health sector, their skill and expertise is unquestionable.
Well done job in caring for the people’s health.
The United States has beecome a vry antagonistic and an even more, very, very terroristic nation in current international policies, with a draconian and dictatorship philosophy that is saying, “do as we tell and want you to or there will be consequences.”
Soon, it will begin to expand its militaristic strikes on physical targets on Caribbean lands as it is currently doing, with impuntiy, on Caribbeean waters.
It current hegemonic approach is killing thousand across the globe, a senario that has been ongoing for two hundred and seventy years.
When will this world see peace free from American bullying and wars?
The goal of the imperialist is not to save lives but domination.
Is not like we public hospital going pay them properly anyways cuz they can’t even pay they own staff properly with nurses on strike lol
June,Pat,Damian are gatting paid handsomely while the Doctors,Nurses, Orderlies, EMTS/Paramedics continue to receive a meagar salary.
All dem executives need to go… the cleaners and kitchen staff need a raise
Cubans are racist pos. If you ever lived in the States especially Florida you know this. The B.V.I had decades to invest in the youth and brightest minds by sending some to medical school and fully staffing the medical facilities with locals who actually care about our people. Depending on people who hates us for medical care just shows how backwards and incompetent B.V.I leadership is. Health care is, trash, schools are trash, infrastructure is trash, food security trash, sewage trash, water supply trash, roads trash. The B.V.I outside of it’s natural beauty is trash.