Ryland Campbell, chairman of Capital & Credit Financial Group.
WE SHOULD not view migration of our human capital as 'brain drain', but as 'brain gain', says group managing director of National Commercial Bank (NCB) Patrick Hylton.
He was speaking to expatriates at the second annual Jamaican Diaspora Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Friday.
"We should be mindful," said Hylton, "that in countries such as Singapore, India and China, many expatriates have returned home and have added tremendously to its development."
Therefore, Jamaicans should embrace the fact that its nationals living abroad are actually an asset. Hylton said this is in light of the fact that Jamaica has never adequately developed the infrastructure to absorb the wealth of talent and human potential that it has at its disposal within its national boundaries.
Hylton's view was supported by Ryland Campbell, chairman of the Capital & Credit Financial Group. He said Jamaicans should consider migration, "as something that will be an advantage as opposed to being a disadvantage."
He added that "the issue of forging linkages means that we should seek a stronger connection with our brothers and sisters abroad, which essentially will be beneficial to all of us."
Hylton also mentioned that, with the increasing flow of global capital, Jamaicans at home and abroad need to grasp opportunities globally. "If we do this," he added, "we will be able to invest more in our country."
A view of the waiting area in the immigrant visa section of the American Embassy in Kingston during 1967, showing the large number of persons seeking to emigrate to the United States. - FILE
- N.R.
Taken from The Sunday Gleaner, June 18, 2006
