Stranded Cubans fly out of Guyana

Cubans taking one last photo at the Hotel Casas Alicia before departing for the airport.
Cubans taking one last photo at the Hotel Casas Alicia before departing for the airport.

One hundred and thirty-seven  Cubans including fifteen doctors flew yesterday on a Caribbean Air-lines flight bound for Havana, Cuba after being stranded in Guyana for several months.

The Cuban doctors returning to their country would have completed their three-year contract with the government.

Eager to get home, Cuban nationals began arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Air-port, Timehri since Sunday night. The flight came at the cost of US$542 per seat, cheaper that the regular US$700.

Cuban national and broadcaster of Guyana’s Latin radio station, ‘Hola Guyana’, Alfredo Ballesteros who acted as a translator between his fellow Cubans and this newspaper, on Sunday shared several stories from those returning home.

Cuban nationals at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday night.

Ballesteros said that many of those who were stranded in Guyana occupied rooms at the Hotel Casas Alicia. The hotel which is situated on South Road between Light and Albert streets caters for Cubans and other nationals coming from Latin countries.

One Cuban woman shared that she came to Guyana to obtain a visa from the United States Embassy when she got stuck here for three months as a result of the pandemic. The woman said that she was desperate to hug her children.

Despite being stranded, the Cuban nationals were grateful to hotels, Hostal El Sol and Hotel Casas Alicia for putting them up. Several persons shared that fellow Cubans and hotel owners made their stay easier.