Culebra Mayor Edilberto Romero Llovet told Primera Hora that the island municipality's Centro de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento (CDT) will not close, despite concern after the Grupo Menonita this week sent layoff letters to CDT employees, effective August 31. Romero Llovet explained that Grupo Menonita's contract with the Department of Health to administer the CDT and handle emergency room billing was not renewed, reportedly due to lack of funds to pay an administrator.
As a result, the Department of Health will take over administration directly, while doctors and emergency room operations—already run by Health—will continue unaffected. The mayor said Health has committed to "absolving" (rehiring) employees who received termination notices, and a transition plan has been established to protect jobs and ensure continuity of services.
The controversy arose after Fundación Culebra spokesperson Luz Cantwell said Grupo Menonita has provided the community's best healthcare service, including doctors, nurses, weekly lab services, and daily pharmacy services, and warned the change could critically affect the population.