As Jamaicans continue to migrate to greener pastures in the hunt for better opportunities, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is now turning to Jamaica’s youth to help reduce the current brain drain in the country.

Last year, Jamaica was ranked second on the Global Economy Human Flight and Brain Drain Index with a score of 9.5, behind Samoa at 10.

Holness, who was speaking during a rap session at Rusea’s High School in Hanover on Friday, January 19, said youths are an important part of the country’s success.

“All of you here are Jamaica’s talent and if the businesses are to grow and expand Jamaica needs your talent. But what has happen to Jamaica’s talents over the years in fact from the last 100 years of Jamaica, most of the have migrated,” Holness said noting that Jamaica is a net exporter of talents.

The prime minister further told the cohort of students and teachers that there is scarcely a place in the world where there is not a Jamaican occupying a role in a prominent field.

While acknowledging the fact that Jamaicans are constantly seeking opportunities for the betterment of themselves and their future, Holness pointed out that the migration of Jamaica’s human capital slows the growth of the local economy.

“When the skills migrate the economy can’t grow. I’m not here saying to you, you should not seek exposure to the world, its good that you get access to the best education, the best colleges, the best training in the world, indeed there may be professions that are not available in Jamaica that are overseas, I believe you should have the full opportunity to develop yourselves. But I also believe that we should build Jamaica as well so that it becomes the place of choice for not just you but anybody in the world to live, work, raise families, do business and I say retire in paradise,” Holness said.

He also urged the students to utilise their talents efficiently to become productive citizens.