INTRODUCTION

Definition

Mass migration refers to the relatively permanent spatial vast movement of people across

national boundaries. It includes permanent migration and temporary or labour migration.

(Labour Market Information Newsletter).

International migration has become a global challenge as the United Nations estimated that in

the year 2000, the total number of migrants worldwide was 175 million. (Statistical Institute

of Jamaica, Demographic Statistics 2003).

Migration has become deeply embedded in the psyche of Caribbean peoples over the past

century and a half. It has evolved as the main avenue for upward mobility through the

accumulation of capital – financial and social. Thus the propensity for migration is high and

there is a general responsiveness to the opportunities for moving whenever they occur. The

migration to countries outside of the Caribbean region was dominated in the 1950s and 1960s

by movement to the United Kingdom from their former colonies. The decline in movements

to the United Kingdom after 1962 was accompanied by a sharp increase in the movements to

Canada and the United States due to increased opportunities in their immigration legislation.

To this day Caribbean people continue to migrate to North America and the United Kingdom

to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.

Migration has proved challenging for us as a region and has impacted positively and
negatively on family life and poses ethical problems for us as a society. Not only do the

students and the elderly migrate, but also skilled workers. In fact, the governments of the

United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have made a deliberate effort to selectively

recruit professionals, such as nurses and teachers in order to satisfy demands in their labour

market and to promote their own nation building.

ETHICAL ISSUES

Ethical problems arise as “brain drain” phenomenon as skilled citizens do not get to

contribute to economic and sustainable development.

Migration of parents is also unethical. Parents who find it difficult to earn a substantial

income locally always seek to “fill the gap” by migrating and working abroad. Although this

move benefits the child financially, it may impose severe implications on the child in other

respects. The loss of parents overseas has also left grandparents and older siblings with the

child rearing and nurturing responsibilities, thus affecting the socialization process, often

negatively. If the parent does not make necessary plans to ensure that the child is well

supervised then that child can become delinquent and led astray. In this sense, it is unethical

for parents to go abroad to earn money without putting plans in place to secure the entire well

being of the child.

It has also seriously altered the family structure, leaving a gap where the parent or household

head should be. The social problems of low educational attainment and maladjusted

behaviour among a group of students referred to as “barrel kids”. In one setting, some
students are demotivated to attend school and to learn as they see their presence as temporary

and are awaiting their papers to migrate abroad.

This mass migration takes away the skilled citizens within our society thus eroding the

economy. This puts the country in an impoverished state as fewer citizens would be earning

a steady income. Subsequently, the local government will not earn enough revenue through

the tax scheme. This proves bad for our regional Caribbean economies which are already

deficient.

Another implication of mass migration of skilled persons in our region is that it causes the

dependency ratio to rise. Thus, those unemployed individuals who directly depend on the

government for grants will not be able to have their basis needs met. This leads to an

impoverished lifestyle and degrades the country. Therefore, the mass migration of local

skilled doctors, nurses and teachers to the United States of America and the United Kingdom

is unethical.

Another ethical issue is cultural identity. Often there is conflict as the migrant wants

preserve their culture in the receiving society. There could result in racial issues.

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Majority of the times when parents leave their children to go abroad it is due to a low
socioeconomic status they are a part of. When parents leave their children on their own,

children may not receive the proper nurturing they require and persons in charge of them may

mistreat them. Thus the second order principle, “Justice or Equality” which speaks of being

fair and giving equally to others regardless of age, sex and socioeconomic status would be

violated. Another second order principle that may be violated when parents leave their

children behind is “parentalism.” Parentalism requires us to care for and safeguard the

interest of those who cannot do for themselves (eg. the children). In cases where children are

left behind without parents making adequate provisions, “parentalism” would be breached.

Parents may leave older relatives (including siblings) in charge of children who have no real

authority over their activities. This can cause negative implications on the children as they

feel neglected. This neglect of children is one of the major contributors to illegal adolescent

drug abuse and to the increasing reported involvement of young men and women in

prostitution and pornography. Although parents send remittances to help relieve the financial

burden, the human cost of material goods such as clothes and shoes, is too high in terms of

the social , emotional, psychological damage to those who wear them and who receives very

little care, protection, guidance and love.

Other principles that are violated when parents, teachers and nurses migrate is

“Nonmaleficience” and “Beneficence.” Nonmaleficience speaks about avoid doing harm and

include refraining from actions that may lead to clients being hurt while beneficence refers to

promoting good for others.

Migration does not only affect the immediate family lifestyle but also the health sector and

the educational system. When teachers and nurses migrate they leave a void in the

educational and health sector which proves detrimental to our fragile economy. When our

teachers leave the classroom the ratio of teachers to students decrease. This means that

teachers may have to control more than one classrooms and students will not get the

necessary attention they need to excel in learning. This problem is compounded as younger

students may be autistic or dyslexic and need that special attention from teachers. Therefore,

the school system begins to breakdown and more disruptive students emerge in our

society( students who will not be useful citizens of society in the near future).

On the same hand, migration of our nurses prove detrimental to our society. As such, the ratio

of nurses to patients decreases and this reduces the efficiency of the health sector. Thus,

many patients remain unattended to due to the staff shortage and the patients' recovery takes

longer to be attained. Patients are made to suffer under these harsh health conditions and

numerous casualities may occur. These conditions are inhumane and harmful to our society.

Indeed, it is obvious that migration of our teachers as well as our nurses degrades the

education and health sectors respectively. This proves harmful for patients and students.

Therefore, the two second order principles "nonmaleficience," and "beneficience" are

breached as the students and patients are harmed due to the migration of our professional

teachers and nurses.

The United States of America and the United Kingdom are unethical in taking skilled,

educated immigrants to fill vacant posts. The US and the UK being First World countries can

thrive economically without recruiting skilled nurses and teachers who are very few in our

country. The currencies of the US and UK are inevitably much stronger than the currencies

within the region thus they are being unfair in recruiting skilled persons from our region.

Both the US and UK are cognizant of the economic crises facing Caribbean countries so they

should not continue this unethical practice. Although the local economy gains foreign

exchange through remittances, it does not suffice because there will always be a gap within

the local labour force. There will be a shortage of particular services such as health care and

teaching which further degrades the society as well as local economy.

The government of the United States and United Kingdom owe a lot to our Caribbean region

when they take away our skilled professionals. Such governments should make investments

in the health and education sector which will boost it. They should use the revenue earned

from Caribbean workers abroad through tax to purchase technological aids in sectors

deficient of professionals. For example, they should donate projectors and other multimedia

devices to enhance learning within the region and they should also supply the hospitals with

necessary equipment (eg.dialysis machines etc.) In addition to technological aids, the

international government should use revenue earned to make solid investments in the region.

For example, they should build up the regional infrastructures including proper housing

facilities for teachers and nurses. The US and UK government should also make provisions

so as to improve the working conditions of our professionals. This would appeal to our

regional professionals and they would