Canadian envoys say Ottawa mishandled ‘Havana Syndrome’ crisis, demanding nearly 30 million damages

Canadian Embassy in Havana. (AFP)

After being recruited to Cuba, they complained of severe headaches, vision troubles and nausea – nearly 20 Canadian diplomats claimed their government had failed, and others they said victim of the mysterious “Havana Syndrome” to this day.

Officially, Canadian authorities recognized 14 cases of unexplained distress, with the last being recorded in December 2018.

But diplomats are suing the government in Ottawa for taking too long to evacuate them and treat them, saying the number is close to 30 and growing.

Paul Miller, a Toronto attorney representing 18 Canadian diplomats claiming damages and profits of more than CAN$28 million, told AFP he continues to receive calls from alleged victims.

“We have some very recent cases, from 2021,” he said.

A source close to the case told AFP that just this year there have been two reports of diplomats being forced to end a mission in Havana earlier than expected after experiencing symptoms.

Still inexplicable, excruciatingly painful cases dubbed “Havana Syndrome” in the media first appeared in Cuba in 2016.

Diplomats from the United States and Canada, some of whom claimed to have heard a high-pitched sound at the start of their symptoms, began complaining of migraines, dizziness and nausea.

In some, brain lesions were diagnosed.

Later, cases were also reported among diplomats in China, Germany, Australia, Russia, Australia and even Washington.

‘Strange vibrations’

A former Canadian envoy, who has lived in Cuba for four years, said he woke up one morning in 2017 with dizziness and a “heavy nosebleed”.

“I haven’t had a nosebleed since I was a kid,” she told AFP on condition of anonymity. The symptoms got worse, she said, and “I realized I couldn’t continue working at that point so that’s when I left.”

Another said she started “feeling my ears vibrate strangely at the same time every night” just weeks after arriving in Havana in 2017, and noticed her previously perfect eyesight was failing. reduce.

She said: “I have never worn glasses, never had any vision problems and since being in Cuba I have to wear green glasses as much as possible, and even then my eyes I’m still blurred.”

‘Collective hysteria’

Several theories have been put forward to explain the symptoms – from electronic weapons possibly used by an American adversary like Russia, to mass hysteria caused by stress or the effects of insecticides. coincide.

There is still no definitive conclusion and the Cuban authorities deny the existence of such a syndrome.

In September, a 16-member expert panel convened by the communist government issued a report saying the claims were “scientifically unacceptable.”

It said “neither Cuban police, FBI nor Royal Canadian Mount Police have discovered evidence of ‘attacks’ on diplomats in Havana despite intense investigations.”

In Washington, the case is far from over.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to “get to the bottom” of the matter and appointed two veteran special envoys to coordinate the response and ensure anyone who reports symptoms gets medical attention. suitable.

No help

The Canadian diplomats involved said their complaints were not treated with equal urgency.

“I think our biggest complaint was that we weren’t offered any form of help,” one person said.

Another, who said she had been asked not to talk about her health concerns with anyone, including healthcare workers, said: “I think Canada has been very reluctant to say: ‘Yes. , our diplomats … are affected.’ I think they prioritize the relationship with Cuba over their own people.”

While Cuba’s relations with the United States are notoriously strained, apart from a brief period between 2014 and 2016, the island’s relations with Canada have remained warm.

Ottawa has never severed ties since the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959, and has historically been the main source of tourists to the island.

Miller agreed the treatment of alleged American and Canadian victims was “very different.”

“Here (in Ottawa) the government says: ‘We will do everything to take care of our diplomats.’ They do not have. “

In a written response to AFP, Foreign Affairs Canada said it “takes the health, safety and security of Canadians very seriously” and “continues to monitor the health and safety of our diplomatic staff.” their station in Havana.”

In January 2019, Canada announced it had reduced staffing at its embassy by about half due to unexplained symptoms, but since then the numbers have started to rise and are expected to return soon. with full staff.

(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)