THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM alarmed that the Ministry of Education continues to think in the past, seeing the recruiting of educated Jamaicans for overseas employment as being bad for the country.
Why don't officers in that ministry and the entire government take a leaf out of the book of India and Nigeria? Train adequate numbers of professionals to fill the local need and to meet export demand. Without the benefit of scientific study, I feel confident that in a short while the remittances from the exported workers will pay for the cost of training.
Also, having professionals in these countries would help to remove the stigma of all Jamaicans being in drugs or are a bunch of happy-go-lucky, rum-drinking, ganja-smoking jokers.
These professionals would make friends in these countries and help to spread the positive news about Jamaica, a most efficient way of marketing a country.
At a time when "educated" persons are complaining about lack of employment opportunities, it would be good to reduce the social pressure by exporting those who can be exported and filling the gap with those who are left.
It is time that the economists and other social scientists within the government do some work and look at the cost involved and prepare a document on how to get the best return out of exporting our trained labour.
I suspect that exporting low-end skill is not giving us the best returns.
I am etc.,
MARK NELSON
marknelson67@yahoo.com
17 Auburn Ave.
Kingston 20
Via Go-Jamaica
