Senator Quinn Williams urges training of local nurses before Cuban repatriation
Senator Pearl Quinn Williams on Monday night called for the government to prioritize training local nurses and healthcare workers before repatriating Cuba’s medical brigade and bringing in foreign replacements.
Speaking during a United Progressive Party (UPP) virtual political rally, Quinn Williams criticized the government’s handling of healthcare staffing and questioned plans to replace Cuban medical personnel with nurses from Ghana without first strengthening the local workforce.
She said the Cuban medical brigade, which has supported Antigua and Barbuda’s public health system for years, should have been allowed to remain for a longer transition period while locals received training.
According to Quinn Williams, the government should provide free nursing and health aide training for Antiguans and Barbudans, including stipends during training and improved compensation packages upon completion. She argued that this approach would create a sustainable cadre of local healthcare professionals and reduce long-term dependence on foreign workers.
The senator raised concerns about what she described as a lack of transparency surrounding the proposed transition, including how patient care would be maintained during the period between the departure of Cuban medical personnel and the arrival of Ghanaian nurses.
She also questioned whether language barriers, familiarity with the local health system, and adequate preparation had been fully considered, and called for clearer explanations from the government.
Quinn Williams suggested that funds earmarked for foreign healthcare workers could instead be redirected toward supporting local trainees and expanding scholarships for medical and nursing studies.
She said only after sufficient numbers of trained local professionals are in place should the Cuban brigade be repatriated, describing this as a more responsible and people-centered approach to healthcare reform.
Her comments formed part of a broader critique of the state of the public health system, which she described as being under severe strain due to staffing shortages, inadequate resources, and financial constraints within the Ministry of Health.
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Finally a aUPP candidate with a plan, an idea, a vision. It makes zero sense but alas we have a UPP miscreant formulating an approach albeit rife with inaccurate information and false assumptions.
The UWI has an entire nursing program geared towards students who wish to become nurses.
What in the ever loving world is Ms. Foots Quinn talking about?
Why doesn’t she know this? The UPP members are so clueless and misinformed. It’s like they don’t even live in Antigua.
English is Ghana’s official language for government, education, and business, but it’s a multilingual nation with over 80 indigenous languages. I got this from a Google search.
@The idiot who uses FOOTS LADY is demonstrating Stupidity, and misanthropic behavior.
You are among “poster children” of the sick mysonogist with your childish state of mind.
This is purpetuated in Antigua and Barbuda by males led by Gaston Browne.
Your comments about miscreant formulating an approach albeit rife with inaccurate information and false assumptions.
It is you the Commentator who are not only making false assumptions, but lacks thoughtful knowledge beyound your belittler opinion.
First, the need across the Caribbean for the long term use of the Cuban medical healthcare workers is a colossal failure of UWI and CARICOM
UWI first school back in 1953 was its School of Medicine as a unit of University College London. That was before the Cuban revolution.
We across CARICOM should be the ones exporting medical personnel across the world .
Why don’t you know this?
Most nursing schools are a two year programs.
Many are one year program if one already have a Bsc degree.
Why isn’t UWI producing the nurses to meet the needs of the population?
What you have written here illustrated you are among those who are so clueless and misinformed, as well as being gutter snipe political operatives
When Molwyn Joseph stated recently that SLBMC had over 25,000 emergency visits in 2025, where were the comments made by people like you?
That an admission of a failed healthcare system.
I think are most of the politicians and would be politicians are Charlatans on both sides.
I have no dog in this political fight.
My only purpose here to dispell the lack of awareness among the masses; and to counter the dishonest narrative and distasteful messaging.
Gaston Browne wants a Law School at UWI Five Islands when he is importing medical help. How clueless is he and don’t who supports him?
Your primary purpose here commenting is to purpetuate Gaston Browne contempt for women who apposes him. It’s called misogyny and it’s disgusting.
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