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The Health Minister of Guyana, Frank Anthony, confirmed that the country has formally ended its bilateral medical cooperation agreement with Cuba, stating that it is “no longer necessary” because Cuban doctors “now come to Guyana independently” to seek employment.
The revelation was made in an interview with Kaieteur News. According to Anthony, Guyana will continue to hire Cuban doctors and nurses who come on their own, as long as they present their credentials, and stated that they would have “the same conditions as any Guyanese doctor.”
In his words, "there is no need for the agreement" because the current mechanism is to hire those who arrive individually and meet the requirements.
The decision was announced amid speculation about a possible connection to pressure from the United States against Cuban medical programs abroad, which Washington accuses of exploitation and potential practices akin to human trafficking.
However, Anthony denied that the termination was motivated by U.S. pressure and stated that “there was no specific reason” to end the agreement.
The minister added that Guyana is complying with its labor legislation, which would align with international expectations, including those expressed by the United States.
"This country has labor laws that allow people to work and receive their wages... we have been adhering to the guidelines that are consistent with what the U.S. government has requested," he stated.
Another contract closure with the regime
In parallel, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines announced a plan to reduce reliance on Cuban medical personnel as part of a strategy for "localizing medical staff."
Prime Minister Godwin Friday told St. Vincent Timess that a three-year phased removal of reliance on Cuban doctors in the district will be implemented.
Friday attributed the change to two main reasons: the language barriers that —as he pointed out— affect both patients and staff, and the intention to reduce the costs associated with maintaining international medical teams.
The report from the outlet adds that opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves questioned whether the changes are a response to pressure from the United States, although the prime minister did not present it that way when announcing the measure.
Under Donald Trump's administration, Cuba's medical "missions" have come under increased scrutiny in the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in 2025 new visa restrictions targeting Cuban officials and others deemed "accomplices" of those programs.
A statement from the United States Embassy in Barbados also called for rejecting what it termed "forced labor" in Cuban medical programs and asserted that there are "alternative methods" for ethically hiring foreign personnel.
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