The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has moved to clarify recent statements regarding payment arrangements for Cuban healthcare workers in the country, acknowledging that statutory deductions have always been required under national law.
In an attempt to avert the US cancelling visas for officials in countries where the Cuban Medical Brigade operates, the government has undertaken to pay doctors and nurses directly instead of the usual arrangement in which the medical professionals receive a percentage while the Cuban government also receives a portion of monies earned.
In response to questions about a new payment method for Cuban doctors and nurses, Ambassador Lionel Hurst, chief of staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, explained that the recent changes do not represent a departure from legal requirements.
“What we are indicating is that like every worker in Antigua and Barbuda, the Cubans will also pay. But it isn’t intended to convey that they did not pay before,” Hurst said.
He continued, “Because as you know, the law requires that every worker in Antigua and Barbuda contributes to Social Security, Medical Benefits, education levy, and that their employers contribute as well.”
Hurst conceded that while the government, as an employer, is required to make contributions to statutory corporations, there have been instances where payments were delayed.
“In the government’s case, some of these payments are actually made to the statutory corporations. But there are times when the government does not make the contribution and instead owes.
“We had to make arrangements with the medical benefits to ensure that what was owed could be expressed in assets which could be transferred to them or which had been transferred to them,” Hurst said.
The chief of staff confirmed that discussions about the payment arrangements had taken place with Cuban diplomatic representatives in Antigua and Barbuda, with positive indications regarding the changes.
“We have had discussions with the Cuban embassy here in Antigua and Barbuda, and we certainly have some indication that it would be fine with them,” Hurst said.
He further elaborated on Cuba’s strategic approach to healthcare education and international cooperation, explaining how the Caribbean nation has leveraged its medical expertise.
“The Cubans produce many more nurses and doctors than Cuba needs. And they utilize their nurses and doctors to fill needs in other countries because those other countries don’t produce as many nurses and doctors as they need.
“It’s a very clever manner in which the Cubans have gone about ensuring that they can earn foreign currency from their export of nurses and doctors, medical professionals,” Hurst noted.
He also placed these arrangements within a broader geopolitical context, referring to long-standing tensions between Cuba and the United States.
“That’s why the Americans want to kill it,” he said, referring to Cuba’s medical diplomacy program. “For 60-odd years, the Americans have been attempting to undo the Cuban Revolution of 1959. They have tried to put a noose around the Cuban neck in order to ensure that their revolution comes to an end. And they have not succeeded,” Hurst said.
The clarification comes as Antigua and Barbuda continues to rely on Cuban medical
professionals to supplement its healthcare workforce, part of a wider program of cooperation between the two Caribbean nations.
