Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government’s decision to recruit more than 100 nurses from Ghana is aimed at protecting the public health system as United States pressure intensifies on Caribbean nations that host Cuban medical personnel.
Browne told state media the move is not intended to replace Cuban professionals but to diversify staffing and reduce risk.
He said Washington’s increasingly hard line toward Cuba could leave Antigua and Barbuda vulnerable if sanctions force Cuban nurses to withdraw.
Throughout 2025, the United States warned that countries facilitating Cuban medical programmes could face sanctions unless compensation arrangements were reformed.
Antigua and Barbuda adjusted its payment structures, but Browne said uncertainty remains.
The opposition United Progressive Party criticized the government’s handling of the issue, calling the changes abrupt and thanking Cuba for decades of assistance.
The party pointed to the loss of programmes launched under former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, including an eye-care initiative and access to scholarships.
Browne said the government is not phasing out Cuban doctors and nurses, describing partnerships with both Havana and Accra as short- to medium-term measures while local capacity is expanded. He said the goal is to rely fully on locally trained health workers within two years.
He added that Antigua and Barbuda maintains friendly relations with Cuba and that safeguards are in place to ensure all foreign medical engagements meet international labour standards.
“Our responsibility is to safeguard healthcare for the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Browne said, adding that building a fully domestic workforce is key to long-term resilience amid global political shifts.
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Can we believe anything this man says? When he speaks, with irrefutable evidence of blatant lies, we can almost believe the opposite.
His timing stinks. The world knows that the US under Trump, has suggested the region curb their ties with Cuba. In light of the visa restrictions, isn’t this an obvious move to gain US favor?
Besides, which is it? Nigerians or Ghananians? Oh what tangled web we weave when we practice deception.
Here’s hoping Cuba does not retaliate
America thinks it has the right to dictate to people what they should and shouldn’t do in their own country
Antiguans can’t be so blind on this topic. Antigua was supporting a modern slavery scheme of labor force. Cuba provide workforce in some areas, Antigua didn’t provide a labor contract to those workers in base of Antigua labor code, Cuba Government dictate how this workers should work and act in the regular life while working over here, size a huge % of their salary, doesn’t allow those workers bring their closer family members over here and others restrictions. Antigua government look to the other side and ignoring this situation during years, even UPP did the same, look to the other side acting like “that is not my business, as far Cuba provide skilled workers I’ll keep paying Cuba”
Those Cubans workers aren’t the problem, the big issue was the way Cuba and Antigua Government handled them and that is pure slavery.
What a man can lie. People get Gaston as far away from Antigua responsibilities if you care for your country. Stop being selfish to your own needs and save Antigua. Gaston can go abroad for health care . Ask yourself if you can too.