Saint Lucian medical students currently studying in Cuba will be allowed to continue their education for the time being, but the government is urgently exploring alternative international partnerships as United States pressure threatens future enrolments and medical staffing arrangements.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says the situation has forced the government to take a proactive approach to protecting the island’s healthcare system, amid growing geopolitical tensions surrounding Cuba.
“First of all, we need to assess our current status regarding scholarships for our medical students. That’s the first thing we have to do,” Pierre said. “Secondly, we have to look to other countries.”
According to the prime minister, discussions are already taking place with potential partners across Latin America and Africa, including Mexico and several African states, as Saint Lucia seeks to diversify its medical training options.
“There’s Mexico. There are countries in Africa,” he noted, adding that some Caribbean territories are already turning to new sources of healthcare labor. “Right now, there are certain countries in the region that are now having nurses from Ghana.”
Pierre also highlighted past opposition criticism of efforts to broaden Saint Lucia’s international partnerships, particularly following engagement with Nigeria.
“That is why it was so short-sighted when a few people were so vehemently against us with the visit of the Nigerian president,” he said. “When Saint Lucia looked for other sources of support in Nigeria, they were the same people who were condemning and who were spreading all kinds of propaganda.”
The prime minister linked the current uncertainty directly to longstanding United States policy towards Cuba, noting that recent developments have intensified the pressure on Caribbean healthcare arrangements.
“Basically, the whole issue of the Cuban embargo, which is something you know, as you know, last week, President Trump declared Cuba a threat to American security,” Pierre said. “So, we’ve just been proactive. Just been proactive.”
While stressing that Saint Lucia maintains strong diplomatic ties with Washington, Pierre acknowledged that U.S. concerns about Cuban medical personnel are now having real consequences for the region.
“The American government has problems with Cuban doctors working in these islands. That is a fact,” he stated. “This means that the entire medical situation, exchange of doctors, and students is under threat.”
He revealed that some Caribbean countries are reportedly already refusing Cuban doctors, though Saint Lucia has not taken that step.
“It’s rumored that certain islands have already said they were not accepting any doctors. Saint Lucia has not said so,” Pierre explained. “What Saint Lucia said is that there are problems, there are issues, and there are concerns that the American government has.”
Pierre warned that losing access to Cuban medical professionals would have serious implications for the island’s health services.
“It will be a tremendous loss to us if Cuban doctors can no longer come to Saint Lucia. It will be a tremendous loss to our medical services,” he said. “So, we have to be proactive.”
As the government races to secure new scholarships and training pathways, officials insist the priority remains protecting Saint Lucian students and ensuring the country’s healthcare system remains resilient in an increasingly complex global environment.