Belizean Students Continue to Benefit from Cuba Scholarships

Belize and Cuba have maintained decades of cooperation in healthcare, education, and technical training, with Cuban medical brigades and scholarship programs playing a significant role in Belize’s human resource development.  The ambassador also provided an update on Belizean students currently pursuing studies in Cuba.  

Dr. Perlita Aldana, Belize Ambassador (Cuba): “At the moment we don’t have much, it’s 28 students that we have. Yes, these are shared, most of them are in the medical field. Up to right now, they’re doing well. We keep close contact with them. We created a group from our embassy that makes sure that they are well. I’m included in that chat group. We continuously ask and we have met with them. I visited the groups that we have outside of Havana. I met with them when I arrived in November and then just before all of this started I met with them and we made, we have always made sure that we know where they’re living, their contact information and emergency contact for them knowing that their basic needs are covered, knowing that the educational program is not interrupted and that it keeps going and that they can achieve their goals as professionals and I think all of these things up to now they are being met and so I just keep encouraging them because I tell them I wouldn’t want to be in their shoe right now with all of this crisis happening and you know, they want to keep focus in their studies. So I have gone as far as telling them okay you focus on your studies and I will make sure that I focus on making sure that you guys are okay. So we have it’s a teamwork and then I know some of their parents are concerned.”

Troy Gabb, Host, The Morning Show: What’s the mix, male and female ? Any idea ? 

Dr. Perlita Aldana, Belize Ambassador (Cuba): “I would say it’s nearly the same.”

Rene Villanueva Sr., Host, The Morning Show: I think you have contingency plans in case most of them actually are. Right? 

Dr. Perlita Aldana, Belize Ambassador (Cuba): “We do have. And we keep monitoring. That’s why I say we have constant contact with them and we make sure that we know exactly how they’re doing and if all their basic needs are met and that school is not interrupted because we wouldn’t want to have a situation where we cannot reach them or that they’re needing something and if it’s in our hands we will provide.”

Ambassador Aldana is expected to return to Havana shortly as Belize and Cuba continue to strengthen their longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties.