And the politics - regionally at least - includes what stance the government will take on Cuban doctors working in Belize. The US calls it human trafficking and forced labour, and says it will pull the visas of public officials. Other regional leaders have told the US they can pull their passports, but they are standing with the Cubans. Belize's PM is far more optimistic. He says they're explaining the arrangements to the US:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, it's unfortunate that that has happened. And, ahm, the US, the present administration have their own politics when it comes to that matter, but we stand by Cuba. Cuba has been a good friend for us and for the Caribbean, and we've all said that, you know, we will, we've been talking to American officials and explaining to them, certainly in Belize, our position has been totally, completely different that we, we pay them directly, we don't pay the government. And so we've been explaining that to, to to, the officials in the US government and okay, they understand and I think they have eased the position there when it comes to to Belize."
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