‘Hasta la proxima’

Cuban medics are preparing to leave Jamaica this week and Jamaicans have been showing appreciation and solidarity with the men and women of the Caribbean island that has been wilting under the onslaught of a fuel blockade.

Twice in five days, their homeland has gone into complete darkness as Cuba’s ageing grid failed again and again, crippling all activities and sending the country’s health sector into further chaos.

Even as Jamaicans are aware of the worsening situation in the small communist island, on Saturday, Cubans were celebrated at two events – one at the old Knutsford Court Hotel, and the other at a party in Barbican, St Andrew.

Party hosts Osmond and Karen Brown said the friendship with the Cubans began years ago, and, since then, they have become family.

“When you see what these guys have been doing in Jamaica for the past 10 years, my heart is now bleeding to know that this programme is now ending. My friendship with them started [when] a friend introduced me to Roberto [Mirales]. I have been going around with them since and most of their social activities are with me going everywhere with them,” Mr Brown told The Gleaner.

Mirales is an opthalmologist and one of a group of Cuban medics and their families who were present for the party at the Browns’ home.

“We just [developed] a bond then, all of us. And they feel like family since. And we have been doing stuff together since. I’m so sad to know that these people have been here where we’re intrinsically linked to them no matter what. We are friends. Friends of Cuba, and friends of all.

“It’s sad to see them go and to know that the health system that they have been providing to over the years is going to become a burden to poor people. And that is sad for me also.”

Mrs Brown said she became drawn to the Cubans because of their love for family, and so many cultural similarities between the two countries.

“They are family people. So, initially, they would invite us to whatever little thing and then, in reciprocation, we would invite them. Over the period, we’ve just become closer and they are family people. Even in this gathering,, we have all the children – mother, father, everybody – not big things, not out of line or anything, but just family getting together,” she told The Gleaner.

GLOOMY OUTLOOK

On hand was not only the foods they eat and spirits, but salsa music. The discussion weighed heavily on the suffering that will be faced by poor people; the hard work of the Cubans, and that no one believed the Jamaican Government acted on its own in ending a critical health partnership.

“I mean, today, as the host, all I cooked was the soup. We have pork, fish, chicken, curry goat, everything. Everybody brought something. When they come they always bring something. It’s part of their custom. The pork, they love pork, and a cream cassava dish,” Mrs Brown explained.

She said she did not know all the persons present, but thought it was fitting to give them a farewell party.

“Even before I met them as friends, my cousin, who is crippled, she had surgery done on her eyes through the Cubans. She had cataracts and they did the surgery in both eyes, one at a time. Before that, we had gone to the regular doctor and it was millions to do the surgery. Now, I don’t know how people, poor people, are going to afford this because they have been told that they have to go home, and the question is ‘What contingency has been put in place for the poor Jamaican people who they really serve?’” said Mrs Brown.

Her mood and that of many others present was heavy with worry.

“A lot of poor people are going to suffer and, as I said, what contingency has been put in place, especially when they are doing things from their heart and it is really sad,” she stated.

Last week, in making his contribution to the 2026-2027 Budget Debate, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness stated that all was not yet lost. He said the Government remained hopeful that discussions would continue and an amicable agreement could eventually be arrived at that would satisfy his administration that the medical cooperation programme with Cuba will comply with local laws and international labour conventions to which Jamaica has signed.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has also indicated that strategies are also being put in place to ensure the gaps created by the ending of the programme with Cuba are filled.

On Saturday Yamira Delgado, a surgical nurse at St Joseph’s Hospital and one of the guests at the farewell party, said she was surprised when news came that the medical programme had ended.

Speaking through an interpreter, she said: “We were just doing our jobs well. Everybody was surprised. But, after that, I feel so good that myself and my group helped Jamaica with all our hearts.”

She expressed thanks to the Browns and Jamaicans who have rallied around them.

“I feel good emotion now we are together. Jamaican and Cuban now,” she said.

Delgado will leave at the end of the month.

SAD SITUATION

Dr Alexandro Fonseca is an anaesthesiologist at St Joseph’s as well. His English is not very good, but he knew one word, “Sad”.

Juana Ramos is a nephrologist nurse.

“Jamaica and Jamaican people have been great to us Cubans. We feel at home here, and the Browns treat us as family. The situation is just sad,” Ramos said.

One of the persons attending the farewell party said a family member received eye surgery last Tuesday. She is worried about the post-care treatment.

“My niece, Tiffany, in her 40s, was a patient at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) before COVID. She was in the programme but had no success getting the eye surgery done and we turned to the Cubans at St Joseph’s. She was on a long list since last year, but nothing could be done, because she had high blood pressure,” said the party guest, who did not want to use her name.

She is worried that, while the surgeon will be at St Joseph’s up to March 25, no one has any idea what will happen after.

Another attendee had surgery on both eyes and he, too, sang the Cubans’ praises.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com