Why and should we migrate from developing countries?

That is a good question, especially when you migrate from a warm tropical paradise to the cold, gloomy climates of Europe and North America. In my case, it was first to England and later to Canada.

People migrate for various reasons: to seek further education, better economic opportunity, political asylum, to travel the world and even as fugitives from the law. From developing countries, however, the two main reasons are to further education and for economic opportunity.

In my case, education was the driving force. Our young men and women were, and probably still are, driven to obtain the highest level of education possible. Our current Prime Minister has declared that his dream is to have at least one degreed Dominican in every family. A lofty goal, indeed.

I have absolutely no quarrel with people migrating to further their education. But, my concern is with those who choose not to return after attaining their goal. Let me explain. The vast majority of those who migrate are products of the education system in these developing countries. The benefits of the investment in their formal education cannot be recovered. It is money down the drain, to say it graphically. This is a major cause of the phnomenon we call, aptly, the Brain Drain.

This has raised the controversial question, should young men and women be made to return the investment in their formal education before migrating? Or, should they pledge to return home to give service to their country as compensation? We have yet to resolve this issue. But, this pledge applies to students who receive government scholarships. So, what is the distinction between a government scholarship and government investment in formal education? A difference of amount, I'd say!

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