Caribbean wants to prevent nurses from taking jobs in Europe and North America

Caribbean wants to prevent nurses from taking jobs in Europe and North America

The Caribbean must find a way to stop an exodus of nurses seeking higher-paying jobs in Europe and North America.

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 percent of its highly skilled workers in fields such as education, medicine and law.