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.