Dear Editor,
Former local journalist, Godfrey Wray’s letter from the diaspora titled, ‘Remi-grants don’t expect to be confronted with bottlenecks and indifference; (SN, August 14) got me thinking.
As recently as last Sunday right in this publication ‘It is time for self-sacrifice’ I called on those in the diaspora to return and serve. My emphases were on serving and self-sacrifice. Along the same lines, there were news reports highlighting the appeal of Mrs Cathy Hughes, Minister of Tourism, to the Canadian diaspora to “Come home…”
Now I hear Mr Wray’s disappointment, if not consternation, as outlined in his writing referenced above, and ask him to bear in mind the following very relevant things: a) he might have to be wired, have an inside fast track, to get where he desires; b) he may have to abandon thinking of his interest as a job search, and more of a patriotic gesture; c) given the state of the state’s coffers inherited, financial austerity (remuneration offered) could be a deterrent; d) this revolves right back to the small matter of self-sacrifice involved in serving here; e) unless there is a large scale purge, professional positions would be highly competitive, if not out scarce and out of reach; f) the government might be looking for specific skills and talents, but more interested in entrepreneurial investment, as called for at the community level; and g) the local toilers and foot soldiers known loyalists with access have priority for what is available.
Having said all of this, I still believe (like the writer) that the administration needs to move urgently to establish a home, process, and personnel through a diaspora unit to deal efficiently with interested, busy, impatient, and time sensitive individuals. It is my belief that such a unit should be best manned by persons who are familiar with both worlds (here and over there) and can effortlessly bridge the gap through firsthand experience and solid knowledge. With appropriate respect to what flows through the Foreign Ministry and its New Garden Street officials, I do not believe that it is anywhere near enough. The whole GRA process, other nooks and crannies, the overall pluses and minuses, the resettlement environment, the culture, the conditions, and the expectations require handling by those who know from living with all of them, and are familiar with the temperament of those from expatria. Thus, it is imperative that the government quickly moves beyond talking and get down to doing something comprehensive in this vital sphere involving remigrants.
As an aside, when I indicated an interest in serving several years ago, the then government did not know what to do, even though it was on a purely volunteer basis. Perhaps, that was the problem, as it was unheard of and triggered suspicion and all manner of vacillating, particularly as I had no intervening Rabbi. Unsurprisingly, I had to take matters in my own hands to move forward.
Last, to give this remigrant homecoming business some traction, and make it work, I recommend that there be open and clear understanding on both sides (local and foreign), as to what is involved, how to manage expectations all around, and how to ensure an unambiguous meeting of the minds.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
