TT facing serious brain drain

He also stressed that there was no morality in the country at this time "as everyone wants to be exempted from the Integrity Legislation."

"Trinidad and Tobago is facing one of the worst brain drains that this part of the world has ever experienced, " said the UWI Pro Vice Chancellor, while addressing the annual Christmas dinner of the Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday at Kam Po Restaurant in Chaguanas.

He said people who were running away were "seeking better opportunities while some were running away from crime, others want wider exposure and greater challenge."

Some felt under-appreciated, oppressed, alienated, discriminated against and politically victimised.

He said that the migration figure in Guyana among the educated is 77 percent; in Jamaica and TT it is about 50 percent and "on a per capita basis the brain drain from the Caribbean is the highest in the world."

Tewarie said the reasons are varied, noting some regard migration to the USA, Canada or the UK as an investment in their children’s future.

He noted that this phase of migration will have significant impact on development in the region and pointed out that notwithstanding TT’s huge revenues from oil and gas, the long-term impact on this country’s prospects for sustainable development could be costly.

He noted, "As we move to build tertiary capacity and expand tertiary access, we need to be aware that this is the group that is migrating at the faster rate.

"Our rationale for education shows that larger numbers at the tertiary level are, therefore, being significantly undermined by massive migration." The UWI Principal suggested an incentive programme "to unleash , nurture, develop, retain and attract talent."

Tewarie pointed out that an artricle in the Financial Times (March 23, 2005) stated that Trinidad and Tobago was identified as having the third highest brain drain in the world.

He said that murders and kidnappings were increasing in the country and chances are that few would be held for the alleged offences. As far as criminal activities were concerned, "It means that the whole society has been turned upside down, and in such a scenario trust in the Police has virtually diminished and the will of the State to do what is required is under question."