Fifty thousand Guyanese emigrated in 2000 and it is estimated that annually, 20 000 to 30 000 persons are leaving these shores. In this exodus are 77% Guyanese with a university education.

World Bank Country Director for Guyana, Caroline Anstey, argues that rich countries benefiting from these skills should compensate the poorer countries by way of increased aid and support.

Never has capital by itself been able to develop a nation and transform its potential into any tangible outcomes. The World Bank is planning a conference in May, which will bring together the diaspora to look at the impact of migration on the Caribbean and hopefully find solutions.

But what is the Guyana government doing to stem the tide of emigration? Guyana, with a population under 800 000 and a low birth rate can ill afford to have this trend continue.

The country's brain drain began in the 1950s and continues to this day unabated. It is difficult to fill crucial positions and the government itself finds it difficult to implement projects because of the lack of skilled human resource capital.

Every university graduate is looking for an opportunity to leave and so is every Guyanese. People are living their lives waiting on time, checking with the embassies to determine which year's sponsorships are being worked on. No one sees a future in Guyana. Few have any hope.

No amount of talking about macro-economic stability, low inflation and the stability of the exchange rate is going to hold Guyanese back. These statistics mean absolutely nothing to them. What is important is the income they earn and the ability to eke out a decent life from this, to own a car and their own home and not living on handouts by foreign relatives.

A car, a necessity in developed countries, is considered a luxury in Guyana. Owning a G$2M (US$10 000) home, a dream come true. Yet, with US$10 000 to US$15 000, Guyanese can gain an illegal entry into the US where that sum can be repaid within a year and even as an illegal immigrant, they can work, buy a home, a car and live a decent life and yet have cash to send back home for relatives.

Public servants' minimum wage, which is used as a yardstick in the private sector, is still below $30 000 (US$150) per month. Even the World Bank recognizes the need to pay public servants higher wages but argues that it has to be a public service of the right size.

The watchword in Guyana today is affordability. The country cannot afford to pay better wages and cannot afford to provide the security for its citizens and cannot afford the health care and education standards necessary. As it continues the affordability cry, more of its teachers, nurses and doctors are leaving and even its businessmen are giving up hope.

The issue of retaining skills is not about affordability but rather creativity, finding ways and means to hold on to the skills that you do have and keep producing each year.

An estimated 3 000 students are enrolled at the university each year. This means a similar amount of graduates each year. The technical institutes also have graduates coming out each year.

The government ought to work with the private sector to determine which category of skills are most needed for the country and to provide incentives in kind to have these persons stay on, even for a five year period, so as to allow the economy to catch its breath.

Concessions are available for returning Guyanese but there are none for those who are at home waiting on the opportunity to leave. Why are concessions not available to university graduates to allow them to stay on and to help develop the country, albeit for a short period of time?

Why can't the government come up with a package of providing say duty-free cars and a house lot to each `required' graduate once they can sign a contract to remain in Guyana for a stipulated period? Such concessions can be revoked once the terms are breached.

It does not need a rocket scientist, as we say, to find solutions. We are capable of finding creative ways of keeping our people, especially our graduates.