[Senator Bannister] said a national average was “the silliest thing that we ever did” and noted that “no other country in the world does it” and there is no scientific basis of doing it.

The school grade scale and the BGCSE grade scales are not identical. One is quantitative (percentage) and the other is qualitative.

The BGCSE examination is graded on a seven (7) point scale, i.e., A – G. All grades indicate a measure of positive achievement. Grade ‘A’ denotes the highest level of performance while grade ‘G’ denotes the lowest level.

The History of BGCSE is posted online.

Here is a general guide to what each of the seven grades indicates:

**A**-Knowledge is specific, appropriate and comprehensive; evidence of exceptional comprehension skills, and outstanding high order skills – problem solving and critical thinking skills.

**B**-Knowledge is specific, appropriate and comprehensive; evidence of exceptional comprehension skills; very good high-order, problem-solving, critical thinking skills.

**C**-Knowledge is specific and appropriate to the task – evidence of sound comprehension skills; good high–order, problem-solving skills.

**D**-Knowledge is specific and appropriate to the task – comprehension evident, critical thinking / problem-solving skills satisfactory.

**E**-General basic knowledge exhibited, also evidence of ability to comprehend this knowledge and limited problem solving skills.

**F**-Basic knowledge still limited – goes beyond the recall, recognition level to show some understanding of this basic knowledge; very limited problem–solving skills evident.

**G**-Limited basic knowledge about the tasks required and only at the recall or recognition level – with no comprehension and no problem-solving skills evident.

Source: [link text][1]

[1]: http://www.bahamaslibraries.org/images/…

Ferguson, I beg to differ. Re-nationalisation is correct. Re-nationalisation or reverse privatization occurs when state-owned assets are privatized and later nationalized again. *Oxford Dictionary* Other sources add further clarification,*re-nationalisation occurs often when a different political party is in power.*

- 1879 (BaTelCo) BTC 100% government owned;
- 2011 FNM government sold 51% to CWC.
- 2012 PLP government initiate process to acquire 2% to become majority shareholder.

example
“Argentina is to **renationalise** YPF, its biggest oil company, ousting the Spanish group Repsol as majority shareholder…Christina Fernande, Argentina’s president, ... sent a bill to Congress on Monday to put 51 percent of YPF in state hands” *Financial Times*. ft.com, April 17, 2012

YPF:
Founded in 1922

Privatised in 1993

Purchased in 1997 by Repsol

Re-nationalisation began in 2012

I listened to Mr. Smith who purported to be an expert of the Bahamian constitution because he is a lawyer. Hog wash!!

I find Mr Smith's perspective interesting but, I am still waiting for a "constitutional lawyer" to add his/her interpretation of the events. A non partisan response!

Mr. Thompson, thanks for your contribution. However, this is another age--the 21st century. We recognize our history, but we cannot ignore the changes and challenges we face. Change must happen, otherwise we will continue our slide down the slippery slope of outdated policing whilst our criminals, trained via Cable TV and the Internet, armed with weapons used in face-to-face combat in war etc. terrorize the country.

Bahamians must consider whether we want our commissioner to be a political puppet or an independent anti crime boss. The recent slip by the Commissioner (Urban Renewal), raises many questions.

One of the government's negotiating team members was on a talk show and used Argentina as an example of a nation that reneged on a government's contractual agreement. Missing from the discussion was the complete story---a country that failed to meet its international debts, a country whose currency was devalued, a country whose people plummeted from middle class to poor.

More importantly, the gentleman said that the government wants to create jobs in the telemarketing industry. Also, using his 18 month old granddaughter as an example of a generation with computer skills, he said that we (The Bahamas) can compete with Indians and Chinese. He failed to state that the Asians' ascension to the top of the technology ladder is based on specific skills--mathematical, critical thinking and problem solving. They are not only end users, they are innovators. They create computer programmes and devices. They improve existing programmes and devices.

The PLP was not given a mandate to buy back BTC. Sorry Mr. Prime Minister, this was not an item on the ballot. Other than the hole-filled agrument by the team member mentioned above, when will Bahamians be told the pros and cons. We deserve better.

Bahamians, let's hope that this process does not culminate in the sole view of the commission or the PLP movers and shakers. We must insist on open and transparent discussions. For various reasons (time, distance etc.), most Bahamians cannot attend town meetings or view reruns of televised meetings. Also, attending a meeting is not a guarantee that our voices are heard. Therefore, the commission's Web site should include videos if the town meetings and discussion blogs.

And yet you are on a spending spree! What happened to fiscal responsibility?

Cronyism?

My fellow Bahamians, the lessons:
Do not leave your job in the private sector for a job with The Bahamas government--especially if you are offered the job by a politician.

If you accept a contractual job, do so at the beginning of the government's term in office. This will guarantee you at least four (4) years of employment.

If you accept a position because of your relationship with or to a politician, prepare for a termination of your employment when the other party gains control.

Beware, job favours by politicians have a shelf life which expires when the politician loses favour (ministerial changes or fail to be re-elected).

Remember, despite what the PLP government says, the role of government includes the following: create policies that enables economic and social development i.e. provide health, education, infrastructure, safe environment (as crime free as possible), laws.

Governments are not employment generators. The private sector generates employment, hence the desperate search for foreign direct investment (FDI).

242, not ascribing the apparent decline to UR. The criminals have reached an equilibrium. The cull is at a stand still, for now.