Brain Drain and Economic Loss

Brain Drain: The Silent Depletion of the Caribbean

[00:00–02:30] Why the Caribbean is losing its future. Explore the economic impact of the brain drain and why our best minds are leaving for the North.

The Caribbean is a factory for the world, producing elite doctors, nurses, and engineers—only to watch them walk away. In this episode of THE HISTORY OF THE CARIBBEAN, we go beyond the turquoise water to examine the "Care Drain" and the silent extraction of our intellectual wealth.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The Post-Colonial Void: Why independence in the 1960s triggered a massive exodus of the professional class.

• The Harvest of Experts: How the UK and USA actively recruit our nurses and teachers, leaving local systems in crisis.

• The Remittance Trap: Why the billions of dollars sent back home might be standing in the way of real economic growth.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 - The Invisible Tide: Introduction to Caribbean Depletion 2:45 - 1960s Independence and the First Great Exit 15:20 - The "Push-Pull" Theory: Why our architects are leaving 28:10 - The Care Drain: Foreign recruitment of nurses and teachers 42:35 - The Barrel Children: The emotional toll on Caribbean families 55:50 - Remittance Economy: Is the money worth the loss? 1:10:15 - The Future: Can we stop the brain drain?

Join the Conversation

Is the diaspora a strength or a weakness for our islands? Have you seen the effects of this depletion in your own community? Let us know in the comments.

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