Eastern Caribbean Countries Pay Tribute To Cuban Worker Who Died In Dominica

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, May 11, 2020 (CMC) – The Director-General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Didacus Jules, said, today, the death of a member of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Dominica, earlier this month, “has been painful to thousands of persons, across the OECS”.

The Director-General said that the St. Lucia-based OECS Commission had expressed “deep sorrow” at the sudden passing of Yoet Michel Ramos Cordero on May 5.

“While Yoet was not known, personally, to us, his death has been painful to thousands of persons across the OECS, because the medical brigade, of which he was part, brought great hope and courage to thousands of our people, from Anguilla in the north to Grenada in the south,” Jules said.

Yoet Michel Ramos Cordero. CMC file photo.

He said that Cuba has always been “ready and willing – even at its own sacrifice – to share its expertise with all who need it, and we will never forget that, that Cuban blood was shed in the liberation of Africa from Apartheid”.

“Yoet has become a symbol of that generosity of spirit, that is part of the Cuban personality, and the people of the OECS will forever remember his service,” Jules added.

Dominica’s Health Minister, Dr. Irving McIntyre, said that the 42-year-old Cuban health worker, had collapsed and died, mere hours after completing a second 14-days in quarantine.

The health worker had arrived, here, in March, as part of the “Henry Reeve” Cuban Medical Brigade, providing assistance in the fight against the coronavirus.

“On behalf of the government and people of Dominica, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Cuban Medical Brigade in Dominica and the Cuban people as well,” McIntyre said, describing the death “as an unfortunate incident”.