Guest editorial
Guyana Chronicle
June 12, 2001

THE brain drain, which started decades ago, is today haunting all Guyanese as they go about their daily routines.

The last two or three decades saw us losing some of our best sons and daughters to other nations which had not turned a straw in helping them go through their academic life.

This state of affairs is not good for any nation, especially developing countries like ours, which, since 1992 has been making desperate efforts to lay attractive tables to keep them home.

This, of course, fetches a high price because keeping needed skills or professionals from going abroad means meeting certain conditions.

The end result is that you have to give in, simply because you need them.

We do not have any qualms about this.

After all, a doctor is a doctor, an engineer is an engineer and a teacher is a teacher, and after qualifying, each in his own right would want to receive the best compensation for his services.

What bothers us, however, is the nationalism of some of these people.

At least some consideration should be given to country before these people take the hard decision to leave for "greener pastures."

Although salaries of teachers, nurses and other professionals have increased tremendously since 1992, these categories of our population grab offers in foreign countries.

What would happen if everybody were to behave in the same manner?

While it is their democratic right to leave the country whenever they wish, we feel that a little more consideration should be given and they should join forces with other Guyanese in finding solutions to bringing about a society where all could be better off.

Because of the exodus over the years, Guyana has had to ease the situation, especially in the health sector by getting doctors and other professionals from other countries to work here through technical cooperation protocols.

We are sure that all Guyana is happy with the help these professionals and skilled people from other countries are providing for us here.

Over the years we have been getting these people from Korea, Cuba and China, among other countries which are sympathetic to our cause.

They continue to do yeoman service in their areas of operation, which none could overlook.

Only recently a batch of some 39 Chinese doctors completed the first of their two-year stint in Guyana. They have done tremendously well, and they have made a big difference in our health sector.

While we salute these brave people for their sterling contribution, we would also like to see our own people staying home and delivering their services to society.

As well as our foreign friends who have come to help us with a clean heart, we would like to see our own people helping their own people, whether in the health, education, engineering or the agriculture sector. Our professionals need to stay home.