By S.Browne. Updated 3:49 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The Cuban Embassy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has confirmed that there have been no formal requests from the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to suspend or terminate the medical cooperation programme with Cuba.
In an exclusive interview with One News SVG on May 13, the Cuban Ambassador to SVG, H.E. Carlos Ernesto Rodríguez Etcheverry described bilateral relations as stable and ongoing.
“There have been no formal requests to terminate or suspend the programme, and that both governments continue to maintain dialogue regarding the future and continuity of medical cooperation,” Ambassador Rodríguez Etcheverry said.
He emphasised that cooperation between the two countries is grounded in what he described as mutual respect and solidarity.
Addressing wider criticisms of Cuban medical missions, he stated:
“Cuba states that these missions are voluntary, legal, and based on bilateral agreements between sovereign governments.”
The Ambassador also noted that Cuban professionals operating private clinics in St. Vincent and the Grenadines fall outside the formal state-to-state medical agreement, but remain in contact with the Embassy for consular support where necessary.
Several Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica, announced disruptions to their medical programmes with Cuba.
The U.S. Government has made public declarations about the programme in some countries, designating it as a form of labour trafficking, an accusation that has been rejected by Cuban officials and Caribbean leaders.
In March 2025, then Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves reaffirmed Cuban doctors working in the country are paid the same salaries as local, Vincentian professionals, directly refuting accusations of exploitation.
According to a report by Searchlight Newspaper, the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines announced on Monday, February 9, 2026, plans to lessen the country’s dependence on Cuban medical personnel through a “Medical Staffing Localisation” strategy.
During his presentation of the 2026 National Budget, Prime Minister Godwin Friday stated that the government would begin a three-year process to phase out the use of Cuban doctors as District Medical Officers, the newspaper reported.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1992. Since then, both countries have established strong relations in education, culture, and healthcare.
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