Overemphasized Focus on Tourism and Adjacent Service Sectors causing National Brain Drain and Intellectual Disenfranchisement

It’s hard not to feel invisible in a country where my skills as an engineer seem irrelevant. Trinidad and Tobago’s focus on tourism and service industries leaves no room for growth or innovation in fields like Aerospace and Electronic Engineering—areas where I know I could contribute immensely. There’s so much potential here, but it’s all being wasted because the government only seems interested in sectors that promise quick returns. They say STEM is important, but when the grants and resources are funneled toward industries with “low investment risk,” where does that leave someone like me, who wants to build something lasting?

I’ve spent years honing my craft, but with no real investment or career opportunities in these fields, I’m left wondering if there’s any point in staying. It’s painful to see young, talented engineers constantly forced to leave for countries where they actually value innovation, where technology is seen as a cornerstone of future growth. The brain drain is real, and yet no one seems to notice. How can we expect any kind of sustainable growth if we’re losing the people who could drive it?

Instead of fostering a culture of long-term innovation, we’re left chasing quick, shallow profits that may look good on paper but do nothing for the future of this nation. Tourism might bring in visitors, but what happens when the sun sets and we’re still here, stuck relying on an outdated model that holds us back? We have the potential for so much more, but it feels like the door to opportunity has been slammed shut. How much longer can we keep pretending that this is enough?