DBSTV/Saint Lucia will no longer send students to Cuba to study medicine, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre confirmed, citing mounting pressure from the United States that has upended longstanding regional arrangements.
Speaking at the Second World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, Pierre said the shift is unprecedented but unavoidable given the changing geopolitical climate. For decades, Cuban medical scholarships have been a key pathway for training Caribbean doctors, including many from Saint Lucia.
The move has left prospective medical students uncertain about their options and raised concerns about the future supply of locally trained physicians. Pierre said the decision was not taken lightly, but the government has limited room to maneuver as it seeks to protect broader diplomatic and economic interests.
He urged the St. Lucian diaspora—particularly medical professionals abroad—to provide support, mentorship and investment, while calling for alternative solutions such as partnerships with other international medical schools, expanded regional collaboration and stronger domestic training pathways.
Health sector stakeholders are assessing the potential impact on hospital staffing and long-term capacity, warning that delays in policy adjustments could further strain the system. Government officials said details on replacement programmes and transitional arrangements for affected students will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Mr Prime Minister, you are a jackass. Would America give your people scholarships to study there without any harassment. What’s the alternative? Caricom has gone to naught, nothing, nada, zero. If there were unity among the Caribbean states, that would never happen. We would stand up to Orangutan Donald Trump and his shittyness and his disdain for Caribbean people.You and the others who are planning to do the same, need to be fired. Allyo are weak and are only thinking about your rubber pockets. Murders, rapes robberies etc are going to be increased because, when persons have no means of income, WHAT then? You have no other alternative than to cower understand Trump and his dictatorial BS. Where there’s no vision, people are going to suffer, BIG time!
Now there’s some honesty coming from a leader at last. Many had suspected that the US administration had put undue pressure on Caribbean countries to remove Cuban medical practitioners.
We all thought this at the time, but our own Prime Minister Gaston Browne wouldn’t directly come out and say so.
There’s an Antiguan Proverb that aptly says:
“Remember, if you see oil ah float, watch your backside, because a little evidence can tell the whole story”
Antigua next and watch the PM spin it and say the med School over Jabberwock better anyway
Quite Pathetic, why don’t we just apply to England to be recolognized, that would give us the protection of the crown.
Wow!
What’s next!?
Please, let’s get our hearts in check!
So what is greedy America offering. This is like taking bread from a poor man’s mouth and replacing it with salt. It would be good if these gutless prime ministers can tell us the consequences if we don’t bow to the selfish demands of America. America’s problems with Cuba is not a problem for Caricom this is a problem that was created by America and must be owned by America. St. Lucia must not wait for the order to come from Washington, they could be proactive and cut diplomatic ties with Cuba immediately…what a bunch of jokers.
If Caricom leaders are not getting the derectives from the people who puts them in the position it’s not a true representation, so decisions influences by the USA will not go down well, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” now deviding CARICOM STATES, then dictate which is unacceptable, what happens to sovereignty, the right to choose, we have survived without those big powers before and will survive unwards but we can’t be seen to be supportive of the evil act of America against states who don’t accepted their dictates.
The only thing that will result from the USA dictates is world War 3. The USA going all around the globe picking fights all under the disguise of peace.
This is sad. See the impact one man is having on our islands