THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE in reference to the sentiments articulated by Mr. Patrick Hylton who referred to migration from Jamaica as a 'brain gain', as opposed to the widely-held view that migration leads to a 'brain drain'. I agree with Mr. Hylton.
However, I would go further to suggest that the failure of many educated Jamaicans who desire to emigrate to more developed nations would result in 'brain in the drain,' which consists of formal education, knowledge, and skills that are wasted in an environment with scarce job prospects, where limited extrinsic value as remuneration is rarely commensurate with qualifications. This situation has latent deleterious consequences that are arguably worse.
RIGID-TIER SYSTEM
The status quo of operations that seems prevalent in Jamaica can be characterised as a rigid-tier system with restricted upward mobility. The associated dysfunctions of cronyism, nepotism, coercion, corruption and parochial self-interest may exist in all nations, but the systemic nature of them in all of Jamaica's societal institutions leads to a more entrenched problem that undermines the overall effectiveness of the nation.
Accordingly, Jamaica does not have a macro-level infrastructure that is conducive to the accommodation of highly-educated masses, as wages are drastically undermined, based on supply and demand for the labour force in a relatively small economic market.
The migration of Jamaicans in this context can be the key to the nation's development and the realisation of human potential. Remittances and foreign direct investment, as well as other linkages, lead to the economic sustainability of the country, for which Jamaican migrants make contributions in a multiplicity of ways. This is the best solution for nation-building for a developing nation in a globalised post-industrial economic climate.
I am, etc.,
A. BROWN
brown.ant@gmail.com
