The Caribbean must find a way to stem an exodus of nurses seeking higher-paying jobs in Europe and North America, regional officials said yesterday.

A study by the 15-member Caribbean Community found that 50,000 nurses left the region from 1996 to 2005, creating shortages and depriving the small countries of a return on investments in nurse training.

Edward Greene, a community assistant secretary-general, said that Caribbean leaders will discuss a 'managed migration' of nurses to wealthier nations during a three-day conference next month in Washington.

According to a study last year by the International Monetary Fund, the Caribbean is losing up to 40 per cent of its highly skilled workers in fields such as education, medicine and law.

- AP

Taken from the Financial Gleaner, Friday, May 18, 2007