THE EDITOR, Sir:
WASN'T IT Minister John Junor, who, commenting on the situation in which several nurses and doctors were migrating to the US, UK, and Canada, claimed that there was "no problem", no 'crisis' that would ensue as a result of these losses?
Well, what about now? This crisis should bring forth an important truth to the Government and people of Jamaica. If the country's best and brightest are driven away, what quality of people will be left to govern the country's clinics, the hospitals, and the state-run children's homes? Can we now see the connection between the loss of our doctors and nurses, and the declining state of health-care in Jamaica?
It wasn't just the Health Minister; the Education Minister was just as un-alarmed about the flight of teachers from the country. What has become of the quality of education in Jamaica, as her most well-trained teachers hold classes in New York City, Toronto, and London?
This practice of encouraging migration of our most skilled people for the purpose of getting remittances from abroad is a long-standing practice throughout the developing world. It even harks back to the days of slavery, when the most promising of blacks were purchased from their captors (some of whom were black) and placed on ships bound for the New World.
But this is but one of the many reasons why developing countries like Jamaica will continually fail to develop. Jamaica needs not just foreign money, Jamaica needs Jamaica, particularly her best and her brightest and who are willing to stay and use their craft to improve the country.
I am, etc.,
D EDWARDS
Tboyland37@aol.com
Brooklyn
Via Go-Jamaica
