Ja: The brain drain goes on

WENTWORTH GABBIDON, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, says he does not believe the impending exodus of almost 200 Caribbean teachers from the United States will deter others from going there.

The teachers, who are from Guyana and Jamaica, were told last month that their services would be terminated as they had not upgraded their J1 visa to the H-1B which they needed to be allowed to work in the United States.

"Once you understand the reasons why they have come back," he said, "then it would not deter you."

The situation was unfortunate, he said, adding that he hoped the teachers had terminated their contracts properly so that if they returned to the region they would be able to get jobs.

RECRUITING

The New York Board of Education is recruiting new teachers through advertisements on television in that city and elsewhere.

Some teachers believe the new administrative hurdle would discourage others from leaving.

"It's not worth leaving your personal job for the uncertainty," said Claudette Billion, a teacher from Clarendon.

Both she and Mr. Gabbidon noted that the uncertainty was difficult to deal with, especially after the teachers had endured significant difficulties in adjusting to the different educational system in the United States.

Also, the teachers had complaints about federal taxes.

The affected tea-chers say the problem they now face is as a result of their following advice from the New York Depart-ment of Education, which placed them in a bureaucratic nightmare.

If you want to know why they're going to the U.S., in Guyana, the exchange rate is $191 to $1 USD; in Jamaica it is $65 to $1USD. Nuff said.