The British Virgin Islands government spent nearly $3 million for the Cuban medical brigade that provided support to the territory’s overall response to COVID-19 last year.
The 22-member medical team that comprised internist doctors, intensive care specialist and nurses, specialists in infectious diseases, and emergency response doctors arrived last July and spent roughly three months.
According to a post-Cabinet statement released on Thursday, $2,978,700 was paid for the medical team.
Cabinet approved the sum during its March 31 meeting. It was also in that meeting that they retroactively “decided that the tender process be waived” to hire the Cubans.
The arrival of the medical brigade was possible through what has been described as a Cooperation Agreement for Emergency Response between the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba and the Government of
the Virgin Islands.