DIRECTOR General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, has commended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for its assistance in addressing the impact of the “brain drain” on Jamaica.

Dr Hutchinson said the organisation has been instrumental in assisting Jamaicans in the Diaspora resettle home and contribute to national development.

He said Jamaica’s admission to full membership in the IOM, after several years of observer status, commenced the “journey” to strengthen collaborative efforts between the organisation and government, as migration issues on the international development agenda, gained increased focus.

He pointed out that, over the years, the IOM has worked with several ministries, departments and agencies to facilitate the creation of the Diaspora network, in addition to addressing several other areas of concern. These include: border management; migrant transnational trafficking networks; and re-integration assistance.

The Director General further said the government received “overwhelming” support from the IOM in the process of developing a National Policy and Plan of Action on Migration and Development for Jamaica.

The proposed policy and plan of action is intended to address areas relating to Diaspora engagement and development; the return and re-integration of migrants; family migration and development; labour mobility and development; remittance and development; human rights and social protection; governance and policy adherence; and data research and information systems.

“To date, Jamaica has received significant recognition in the international community for its approach, in particular, the development of an extended migration profile, which will enhance government’s capacity to effectively manage migration and to develop a framework for data collection and analysis, which is groundbreaking for Jamaica and the Caribbean,” Dr. Hutchinson said.

“We look forward to the final outcome of this policy and plan of action, in time for the United Nations high level dialogue on international migration and development, scheduled for 2013,” he added.

Dr Hutchinson said that the focus of the collaboration needs to be viewed within the context of the country’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica, which seeks to position the nation as the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business.

“The outcome is to ensure that international migration is adequately measured, monitored and influenced to service the development needs of Jamaica. It must be evidence-based in how we track what we do,” he informed.