To this end, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) have undertaken to fund a study, Guyana's Foreign Minister, Mr. Rudy Insanally said last night,

He lamented that while the developed nations fund programmes in the social sectors in the developing countries, the fact that they end up recruiting some of the same people who benefit from the training is "like giving with one hand and taking back with the other".

"I think all Guyanese are aware of the approaches made by a number of developed countries, which have resulted in a haemorrhage of our human resources, whether they be nurses, teachers, highly skilled professionals," he told a news conference at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, to report on progress in the Third Caribbean/UK Forum.

"We cannot prevent people from leaving, but I think we have to find a way out since we are providing so much capacity for the developed countries. It's a kind of service, and there is a cost to that service", Insanally added.

According to the Foreign Minister, the study has become "necessary" and will serve to quantify the loss to the Caribbean because of the "brain drain" and determine what Caribbean countries can do to attract back their human resources.

"We don't mind exporting our minds, providing we can have them back and that our own needs are serviced", he said, adding that the UK and EU representatives attending the forum have been very sympathetic to the concerns of the Caribbean on this issue.

"We in the Caribbean should find ways of keeping the people and the skills that we need for development", he stressed.

Explaining Guyana's position on the issue, he said that while people cannot be denied from seeking economic betterment, the Government can ill afford to let the investment that it has made be lost, as there is a cost to the taxpayers of the country through the provision of education to citizens.

And when they leave it is a loss not only to the Government but to the entire community.

"We have to find some answers," he reiterated, adding that he suggested to the meeting that the Caribbean which has experienced this difficulty for many years, should make a conscious effort to hone in on a way by which to identify the problems, instead of the usual talking.

"I think we have reached the stage where recruiters are now sensitive to the issue, and I hope the study will provide the kind of information to allow for the Caribbean to make some meaningful decisions."

In his address at the opening Wednesday evening at the same venue, Insanally, who is co-chair of the forum, listed the issue of establishment of a Caribbean Inward Investment Office, (CIIO) to attract financial flows to the region as one of the proposals that will arise for consideration by the meeting.

He said then too, that at a time when such flows are highly competitive and concentrated, an effort has to be made to encourage interest and investment in the Caribbean, adding, "we are now called upon to say which of the options that have been presented to us would best satisfy our requirement."

Yesterday, he explained that the CIIO will be the kind of system through which countries can use the Internet and have the technical tools to reach out for investment.

It will, however, entail having to establish an office where matters can be dealt with at a tactical level, Insanally added.

He is extremely pleased with the level of cordiality displayed at the meeting, to the extent that persons were being referred on a first name basis.

"We talked about enhancing the consultation mechanism and have agreed that we will find a way of communicating our concerns to the British on the eve of important meetings such as the G-8, or conferences of the EU so that they (British) because of this connection will be able to serve as an advocate or to communicate our concerns, at a higher level", he said.