Govt assisting Guyanese students in fuel-starved Cuba

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 February 2026, 1:29 by Writer

Amid worsening economic conditions in Cuba due to a severe fuel shortage caused by a tightened United States (US) embargo on that communist-ruled island, public service Minister Zulfikar Ally told the National Assembly on Friday night that assistance was being provided to Guyanese students there.

The official count shows that there are 45 Guyanese studying in Cuba.

Leader of Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir asked the minister for an update on the welfare of the students because she was receiving reports of restricted water, and transportation issues.

Responding, Mr Ally said Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba Halim Majeed had been assisting the students and was on standby to address calls for urgent assistance.

“He has been giving them supplies, and he has offered that if any one of them has any emergency or any needs, for them to contact him at the embassy,” the minister said.

The public service minister said himself, the Permanent Secretary and other members of his team would be meeting a number of the students next Monday. “The welfare and the well-being of all of our students are of concern to us as well,” he said.

Mr Ally said Ambassador Majeed informed him earlier this week that he had been meeting with the Guyanese students including those in other regions of Cuba.

Since the US’ capture of Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolás Maduro in early January, Cuba has not received fuel supplies from Caracas.

A number of international airlines has stopped flying to Cuba after the government there informed that there was no fuel available for aircraft.

The US government is warning that steep tariffs will be imposed on countries that provide fuel to Cuba.

The highly reputable Wall Street Journal reported that the Donald Trump administration is searching for Cuban government insiders who can help cut a deal to push out the communist regime by the end of the year.

Across the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) and the People’s National Congress Reform- the major party in the parliamentary opposition A Partnership for National Unity- administrations, Cuba had long enjoyed Guyana’s support as socialist allies in their heydays.

The PPP, now a bosom friend of the US, had provided rice and other supplies to Cuba in the late 1950s and early 1960s to stave off the impact of the US trade and economic embargo dating back to 1960.