What the Heck Are You Going to Haiti For?
Since last week's interview with Mill Polyne, I've come across other links about second generation haitian-americans who take an interest in Haiti professionally.The first is an article about Pascal Antoine, founder of www.haitixchange.com. Much like Mill, he tells of discovering Haiti as an adult (in his case, via a trip) and against his relatives' advice.
Then, still on HaitiXchange, rapper Mecca a.k.a. Grimo, born in Brooklyn and raised in Miami, talks about rapping in Creole.
Brain Drain through Caribbean Lens
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the New York Times article on the World Bank's stats that 80% of Haitian and Jamaican college graduates and over 85% of Surinamese and Guyanese college graduates live abroad. (Compare with 3 to 5% for India and China.) According to the article, the World Bank's report seems to make a causal link between the brain drain and some developing countries' developing status.
Today's Jamaica Gleaner has a rather interesting editorial about this issue which unveils a caribbean perspective --one of many, I'm sure--on the World Bank's stats. The article suggests that Jamaica's saturated job market cannot absorb all the "brains" produced anyway and that high volumes of remittances sent home by Jamaican migrants (about 1.4 billion for Jamaica and 1 billion for Haiti) may make the "drain" worthwhile. It also talks about Jamaica being in the "business of education for export" and mentions that it might not be a bad idea for migrant "brains" to compensate Jamaica for the education somehow. Hmmm...
one question the Jamaican, Guyanese, or Haitian government should ask the people who leave their country is WHY?
ReplyDeleteI know that many of my friends envisionned living the rest of their lives back home; I had that fantasy myself at one point. Nevertheless, reality kicked in. The opportunities and the security that North America offers is a great pull when one is living in kidnapping-crazy Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Not to say that I would never go back but not right now, that's for sure....
Interesting,mb.
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ReplyDeleteMs. Backer,
ReplyDeleteThis is Pascal Antoine from HaitiXchange.com and I was very glad to see that you have visited the site. The comments about the Brain Drain that the Caribbean, and especially Haiti is suffering could not be more on point. Although I go to Haiti often, and always have a great time, when I am there, I am always aware that I will be back home in the U.S in a couple of days. Would I be as passionate about the country if I lived there without a way to get out? I don't know. I appreciate your comments.
Hi Pascal,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you here. Hopefully, you'll come back. Keep up the good work! Oh and call me Alice, will ya?
A.
Well I'm back! I visit your blog every once in a while to read the interesting posts. And you too, keep up the good work.....Alice.
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