THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS IS in response to the article by Mr. Delroy Chuck entitled 'Exporting Human Capital'. Sometimes I think we here in Jamaica cannot see the forest for the trees. As Mr. Chuck rightly pointed out, human capital is our best resource. Numerous others have said many times, how special our people are. I do not wish to repeat the litany of accomplishments of our people over time but only wish to emphasise that it is our people that have made us known worldwide.
I agree fully with Mr. Hill in his suggestion that instead of complaining about our people migrating we should be training them to fill positions available abroad and not just hotel and farm workers. There was an article recently published that made mention of a power company in Virginia that was in need of high-voltage line crews. Positions such as these are easily trained for and are relatively high-paying jobs. There are other types of work available worldwide that the host countries cannot fill with their own. Since there are few jobs available here in Jamaica, what is so wrong about seeking opportunities elsewhere?
Jamaica has obviously lost many highly qualified individuals to better opportunities elsewhere. Many others have migrated because of the crime and violence here. Instead of complaining about brain drain, we should be looking to fix our problems so that our citizens would want to stay here.
So what is my solution to the problems? In one word, EDUCATION.
All businesses look to maximise their returns on assets. Jamaica's greatest asset is its people, therefore we should spare no effort or resources to maximise the potential of our people. Our leaders obviously do not know the value of an educated population or else they would have done much better in providing the resources to get the job done. We can scout the world for the employment needs and train our people to fill them. If we had been doing so with our nurses and teachers, we would have been able to meet the demand without draining the country of those skills. We would also have more of our people in productive endeavours worldwide instead of hanging out on street corners creating havoc for the rest of us.
Mr. Chuck has pointed out the major benefits of our people abroad, especially the remittances they send home, which is a saving grace for our country now. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Can you imagine if our people decided to return in droves because we were no longer a violent society and there were opportunities here for them? How would that affect our country? Imagine!
I have spent many years abroad and can testify that there are many Jamaicans living overseas who are dying to return home but not under the current conditions. It is up to our leaders, but I am weary that they only have their own interest at heart. It is much easier to pull the wool over an uneducated population that an educated one. That may be the reason why we are where we are.
I am etc.,
ANDRE BELL
andrebell7@hotmail.com
37 Seaview drive
Bull Bay, St. Andrew
Via Go-Jamaica
