June 13, 2020

T&T Student In Cuba Pleads: “I Just Want To Come Home”

By Newsroom

“We can’t point to any specific entity and it seems like our ability to return home is shrouded in mystery.”

The words of Malcom Davis*, a frustrated medical sciences student currently in Cuba, as he pleaded with the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago  to provide some clarity as to whether he and the 20 other med students, 19 of which are on scholarship, will be allowed to return home.

When Malcom was first selected as one of the recipients of a medical scholarship to study in Cuba, he was elated. Conscious of the fact that life in Cuba would be distinctly different from the one he knew at home, he believed the sacrifice was worth realizing his professional dream.

The scholarship program between both countries has benefitted T&T students since its inception in 2001.

At the time however, he, as well as the rest of the world, could not have predicted the present reality of COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, he says an already difficult situation has only gotten worse – and the struggles are mounting by the day.

As a final year student, Malcom says he was relieved when the Cuban Health Ministry announced that classes were suspended until September. It would mean that he could return home to be with his family without worrying about missing out on his education.

In an interview with OJO World TT, however, he said his nightmare began with borders closing on March 23rd.

Malcom, along with the 20 other students, sent an initial email to National Security Minister Stuart Young on April 2nd, explaining their situation and formally requesting an exemption to be allowed home.

In an email reply which was forwarded to OJO World TT, Minister Young is seen to have said, in part, “The government is currently not permitting commercial flights to bring personnel into Trinidad and Tobago. Accordingly, we ask that you continue to shelter in place and monitor the government’s measures an in particular the controls with respect to border control”. He also reminded that nationals will be returned on a phased basis so as to allow the public health system to manage its numbers.

But for Malcom and students like him, money is running out and several supplies are hard to come by in the country – an effect of a trade embargo imposed by the United States back in 1960.

“Look I didn’t have milk, I had to barter my pack soup for milk. I haven’t even seen cheese since last year and some other students have had to sell their soap just to get toothpaste,” he said.

Though he longs, more than anything, to return home, Malcom made it clear that his speaking out on the issue was in no way meant to disrespect the Cuban Authorities. 

Cuba is doing the best they can, with the resources at their disposal, thus producing medical professionals ripe with holistic development- for which we are grateful. Our concerns are rooted in the fact that while times are difficult, and the pandemic brings the world to a halt, we’d like the opportunity to be with our loved ones for our vacation until we can return to resume our studies. It’s very difficult being in a foreign land, with a foreign language, achieving our dreams, while coping with these unavoidable obstacles that can be calmed through receiving answers to our burning questions,” he said.

The final year student is also questioning what was the rationale used to permit 200 students in the Mona (Jamaica) and Cave Hill (Barbados) Campuses of UWI to be allowed back home. “Unlike students in other countries that can still go groceries and Price Smart and stuff…we don’t have those options,” he said.

OJO World TT submitted a series of questions to National Security Minister Stuart Young on the matter; however at the time this article was published, no response was forthcoming.

At Saturday’s COVID-19 press conference, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards, acting principal medical officer in charge of institutions, said the state’s parallel facility will be at full capacity over the next 14 days, given the return of 306 nationals from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, 29 returning from Venezuela and one other single national who returned this past week.

*The name of the subject in this article has been changed at their request, to allow them to remain anonymous.

Share