PAROLE OFFER

A policy introduced by the United States Government last year is being viewed by some as an act which seeks to deprive St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other third world countries of the expertise of Cuban medical professionals.

Effective August 11, 2006, Cuban medical personnel outside of Cuba or the United States can apply for parole at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. This was announced by the United States Department of Homeland Security.{{more}}

Cuban Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Her Excellency Olga Chamero Trias views the US government decision as a “strengthening of the US aggressive policies towards Cuba and an act that seeks to deprive third world countries of well-qualified personnel.”

Information obtained from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS) website, indicates that to qualify for consideration of parole, applicants must be a Cuban medical professional working or studying in a third country under the direction of the Cuban Government.

Professionals eligible to be considered include doctors, nurses, paramedics, physical therapists, lab technicians and sports trainers. The spouse and minor children of individuals meeting the required criteria may also be included in the application, which according to UCIS should take two weeks or longer to process.

In an interview with Searchlight, Ambassador Trias said that although the policy was designed to cause a “mass exodus of well-qualified people” from Cuba, it hasn’t had that effect, in fact, she said, very few Cuban professionals have answered.

“We have absolute confidence in all our professionals. We are not concerned, not worried at all,” stated the Ambassador. She added that the staff in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is “very willing and happy”, noting that she “totally trusts them”.

There are nine Cuban doctors, pharmacists and specialist nurses working in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and according to the Ambassador, by next week, that number will increase to 15.

“Next year, when the Diagnostic Centre is opened, there will be 40 Cuban medical specialists working in St. Vincent,” the Ambassador disclosed. The multi-million dollar medical diagnostic centre to be built at Georgetown will be mainly sponsored by the Government of Cuba with some assistance from the Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in a recent press conference said that although Cuba will provide the staff in the initial stages, locals will be trained as understudies to take over its operations. The operational cost of the facility, which will be borne by Cuba, will be US$20,000 per patient the Prime Minister said.

Ambassador Trias assured that the Cuban government will continue to provide medical personnel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other countries that request their assistance. She disclosed that her country has 30,800 specialist doctors working in 105 countries around the world.

The Ambassador said that the only way the programme would stop is if the Cuban government loses confidence in its people. This she said was unlikely to happen as the Cuban professionals have “decency, respect and love for their country.”

Ambassador Trias commented that efforts to woo Cubans to the United States are “nothing new to the Cuban Revolution”, and added that over the years, many diplomats have received offers from the United States.

Just last month, Searchlight reported that the contract of Cuban Ophthalmologist working at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Dr Pedro Suarez was not renewed by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines after he married a Vincentian medical doctor.

Minister of Health, Dr. Douglas Slater explained at the time, that according to the terms of the technical assistance agreement signed between the Governments of Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, if any member of the Cuban technical assistance team assigned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not return to Cuba, he would be deemed to have defected. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines agreed that should that happen, they would not employ the person, as this would be seen as a hostile diplomatic act.

Dr. Suarez’s wife, Dr. Rowena Derrick, herself Cuba trained, subsequently resigned her post at the hospital where she worked as an Anesthesiologist. Searchlight has been informed by usually reliable sources that Dr. Suarez and his wife are now resident in the United States.

When contacted, the United States Embassy to the OECS and Barbados said they could not comment on any specific case but directed Searchlight to information on the “Parole for Cuban Medical Personnel in Third Countries” Programme.