Leader of the People’s National Congress and Chairman of the APNU, Aubrey Norton, has expressed disappointment in the position that Guyana has taken in relation to Cuba, telling a recent forum that Guyana has effectively abandoned the country that stood with it during its most difficult times.

Over the weekend, President Irfaan Ali said he is supportive of ‘changing the status quo’ in Cuba, in line with a position adopted by US President Donald Trump, who is perusing regime change in Cuba and has since implemented several hard-hitting sanctions that have brought the country to its knees.

While addressing a Ghana Day celebration over the weekend, Mr. Norton, said turning against Cuba now is a new low for Guyana.

“I am not anti-American, but it must the lowest level for a country that the Cubans help for years, they provide doctors when you didn’t have and somebody could turn and tell you, do not take that assistance, else we will deal with you. I want to say this, again I say I am not anti-American, but I have grave difficulty with us abandoning people who helped us sincerely,” Norton told the forum.

In 1972, Guyana led efforts by Caribbean states to break the diplomatic isolation of Cuba in the hemisphere, establishing diplomatic relations with that country.

Since establishing diplomatic ties on December 8, 1972, Guyana and Cuba have enjoyed a strong friendship based on shared trust, respect and mutual understanding.

Both the PPP and PNC/ APNU have supported Cuba and have continuously called for the economic embargo and sanctions against Havana to be dropped.

For decades, Guyana has sent hundreds of its doctors to be trained in Cuba and has received hundreds of Cuban nurses and doctors as part of a medical brigade support.

 That programme was recently cancelled with Guyana claiming that Cuba withdrew the Medical Brigade during recent talks.

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