Dear Editor,
Based on the information on the Department of Statistics' website, Jamaica's birth rate in 2006 was 17.37 per 1,000 and in 2011 15.23 per 1,000 people in the population. This data is showing a decreasing trend in birth since 2006. The death rate, however, shows an overall increase. In 2006 it was 6.13 as against 6.61 in 2011. And migration also increased; 2006 was 6.42 as against 6.58 in 2011.
In the six years, 2006 to 2011, our nation has been adding approximately 44,000 people per year. And approximately 1.1 million of the population is between the ages of 35 and 75 plus years old.
In the six years, 2006 to 2011, our nation has been adding approximately 44,000 people per year. And approximately 1.1 million of the population is between the ages of 35 and 75 plus years old.
It seems to me that in another six years, all things remaining constant, over 400,000 Jamaicans will move into the 35 to 75 plus year-old groups, whilst less than the 263,260 births will be registered.
Some countries in the world are relaxing their immigration requirements, particularly to entice young, educated and skilled people to assist in their building processes, which adds even more to the depletion of our human resources and skills.
We can be wilfully blind and not give any attention to this phenomenon, or we can creatively harvest the skills of our young, educated people to provide answers to the problems we face in industry, technology, development, research, and export competitiveness. We must find ways to keep them gainfully employed in Jamaica.
Suggestions about forcing people to take family planning are not only ill-informed and ridiculous, but if implemented, would be against our rights as human beings. Even if we needed to reduce our birth rate dramatically, which in my view we do not, the proven best strategy is to empower our females. Give them training, jobs, increased status, especially considering that they are at least 50 per cent of the population, and most of their income goes towards looking after their children and households.
We need to take better care of our children; this can only redound to the further development of the society. It is not beyond us to look after them. The State must lead and set the example.
Carlton Stewart
stewart.carlton@gmail.com
Protect the Jamaican species
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Based on the information on the Department of Statistics' website, Jamaica's birth rate in 2006 was 17.37 per 1,000 and in 2011 15.23 per 1,000 people in the population. This data is showing a decreasing trend in birth since 2006. The death rate, however, shows an overall increase. In 2006 it was 6.13 as against 6.61 in 2011. And migration also increased; 2006 was 6.42 as against 6.58 in 2011.
In the six years, 2006 to 2011, our nation has been adding approximately 44,000 people per year. And approximately 1.1 million of the population is between the ages of 35 and 75 plus years old.
In the six years, 2006 to 2011, our nation has been adding approximately 44,000 people per year. And approximately 1.1 million of the population is between the ages of 35 and 75 plus years old.
It seems to me that in another six years, all things remaining constant, over 400,000 Jamaicans will move into the 35 to 75 plus year-old groups, whilst less than the 263,260 births will be registered.
Some countries in the world are relaxing their immigration requirements, particularly to entice young, educated and skilled people to assist in their building processes, which adds even more to the depletion of our human resources and skills.
We can be wilfully blind and not give any attention to this phenomenon, or we can creatively harvest the skills of our young, educated people to provide answers to the problems we face in industry, technology, development, research, and export competitiveness. We must find ways to keep them gainfully employed in Jamaica.
Suggestions about forcing people to take family planning are not only ill-informed and ridiculous, but if implemented, would be against our rights as human beings. Even if we needed to reduce our birth rate dramatically, which in my view we do not, the proven best strategy is to empower our females. Give them training, jobs, increased status, especially considering that they are at least 50 per cent of the population, and most of their income goes towards looking after their children and households.
We need to take better care of our children; this can only redound to the further development of the society. It is not beyond us to look after them. The State must lead and set the example.
Carlton Stewart
stewart.carlton@gmail.com
Protect the Jamaican species
-->