THE EDITOR, Madam:
I READ in your paper of June 16, of the increasing migration of our nurses, as well as the unfortunate events within the island's prison system, and wondered if there was a connection between the two.
On one hand, we have young professionals trained in Jamaica, and considered to be capable to work in the USA or any other developed country which may require their services. They decide to go, and there is not much anguish in making a choice to relocate to a place where you can actually chart a course for your future and achieve it.
The same is true of the best Jamaican athletes who are whisked away to foreign lands on scholarships. Most of them get a sound academic education and the possibility of a career in professional sports. The same is true of our architects and engineers, who are not just going to the very popular USA, but to good paying jobs in Africa, Europe and Asia.
The saddest thing about this condition is that as a country, we then have to turn to Cuba, Nigeria and India to get medical personnel as a result of some trade deal, because we are unable to provide for ourselves. It appears that we can educate our own, but are unable or unwilling to make use of them by paying them. Before we do, we usually pay great wages to someone from far away to do what we could do ourselves.
On the other end of the scale, we are faced with those who are in the prison system for lack of an education.
Here we have ignored the infrastructure of the inner city and ignored children, begging on the streets, devoid of the family circumstances which goes such a far way in training young minds in the way of their ancestors, thus allowing for societal continuity. This trend also happens when well-off busy parents, are not able to spend the time with their children, to nurture them through the formative years.
The paradox of losing our brightest due to not paying them or not educating them, leaves us with a bigger problem.
The cost of running a prison to feed, house, rehabilitate, conduct inquiries etc. A considerably higher price to pay for not having educated so many. It appears that we have sufficient historical evidence to clearly illustrate the need for education, at any price necessary, since an educated individual is more likely to become a contributing member of society, instead of one which has to be paid for. And secondly, we must pay our Jamaican professionals. This will have to be based on how we value our own resources, and determine what is best for us as a society.
In past days of kingdoms and empires, great leaders inspired their people to great things. The Pharoahs built great buildings and societies, as did the Greeks, Romans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, Africans and Asians. In times of tribulations or threat, great leaders rode at the front of their armies to mount the charge against adversaries, they could have ridden at the back, but then their soldiers would have had to be looking back for inspiration, a bad idea if you need to be looking at a forward charge.
Today, we face no less of an adversary in maintaining a civil society from the perils of marauding multinational corporations, declining living standards and providing a future for our children. Our leaders' quest may appear Quixotic, were it not for the reality of our external and local financial debt, which bridles our economy, and our calamitous murder rate which paralyses development.
I am etc.,
HUGH M. DUNBAR
E-mail:
hmd-energy@erols.com
West New York, New Jersey
Via Go-Jamaica
