Dear Mr Brown,

I am sending this email to find out what you think about the recent comments from the Montego Bay Deputy Mayor Richard Vernon about Jamaican expatriates who seek to migrate being cowards and unpatriotic for not staying to build Jamaica. He made the comment about going to America, but I wanted to learn of your thoughts.

Peter Bunting has responded that people are merely searching for better lives for themselves and their loved ones as an indication that Jamaicans are not pleased with the Government’s ability to address the social and economic issues affecting the country.

DWE

Dear DWE,

I believe that Jamaicans should pursue legitimate opportunities that are in the best interest of their families. I would not label or stigmatise anyone for being cowards for pursuing better-quality lives. It actually takes a lot of courage to relocate and start over in another country. I believe there are more Jamaicans who live outside of Jamaica; as such, I would not ascribe the migration trend to one political party over another.

For example, a teacher in Canada can make over $100,000 CAD per year, which is the equivalent of J$12 million. Canada also offers increased security, civil rights, human rights, employment rights, as well as quality public education and health care. I think that labelling the desire to migrate as a lack of patriotism is overly simplistic. Moreover, I do not think that patriotism means that one must forego educational or career opportunities or the prospect to increase one’s life chances.

Brain in the drain

I use the term ‘brain in the drain’ to describe the phenomenon which consists of having a tertiary education, knowledge, and skills that are wasted in an environment with scarce job prospects, in which limited extrinsic value as remuneration is rarely commensurate with qualifications. This situation has latent negative consequences that are arguably worse than the consequences of the migration of educated Jamaicans.

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. I state this fact as an observation, rather than a criticism.

Brain gain

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. Jamaican migrants of all socio-economic levels make contributions in a multiplicity of ways to sustain the Jamaican economy. I refer to this as ‘brain gain’. I believe that this is the best practical solution for nation-building of a developing nation in a globalised, post-industrial economic climate.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian permanent residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study & Work programme, visas or appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com.