In the IMF report, it states that " inflation has fallen back below pre-pandemic levels." Perhaps overall, but there is little evidence of that for the average retail customer, especially in the grocery stores.

(Source: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/20…)

Perhaps the Ministry could begin by asking AI. For example, a summary response by OpenAI’s ChatGPT:

Note: It was generated in less that 15 seconds.

1. Ethical and Academically Sound Uses of LLMs/AI:

Writing Assistance: Students can use LLMs to improve their writing by getting suggestions for structure, clarity, and coherence. Teachers can encourage students to use AI to enhance their own ideas, focusing on grammar, organization, and transitions, rather than outsourcing original thought.

Research Support: LLMs can help students explore topics by summarizing complex articles, explaining difficult concepts, and suggesting relevant readings. This is academically sound as long as the AI is used to guide research, not to replace original source engagement.

Idea Generation: Teachers can guide students to use AI for brainstorming essay topics, questions for research, or creative approaches to assignments. It can offer different angles on a topic, sparking critical thinking and further exploration.

Peer Feedback Simulation: Teachers might ask students to use LLMs to generate feedback on drafts as part of revision. This can mimic the process of receiving peer feedback, allowing students to iterate on their work before final submission.

Tutoring and Concept Clarification: LLMs can act as supplemental tutors, explaining difficult concepts in different ways. Teachers can encourage this as a learning tool to reinforce lessons rather than as a replacement for classroom instruction.

2. Ways LLMs/AI Should Not Be Used:

Plagiarism or Ghostwriting: Students should not use LLMs to generate essays, papers, or project content and present it as their own. This undermines academic integrity, as the work is not reflective of the student’s own thinking and effort.

Avoiding Critical Thinking: Over-reliance on AI to complete assignments diminishes students' ability to engage deeply with content. Teachers should discourage students from letting AI do the hard thinking for them, especially in subjects that require analysis, argumentation, or personal reflection.

Cheating on Assignments: Using LLMs to answer test questions, solve problems, or provide immediate answers to homework assignments without understanding the material is academically dishonest.

Unverified Information: Teachers and students should avoid using AI as a primary source without verifying facts. Since LLMs are based on a large corpus of data that may not always be accurate or up-to-date, it is crucial to cross-reference information with trusted academic sources.

In both cases, transparency and guided use are key, with teachers fostering an environment where AI tools supplement rather than replace student learning.

When unaccompanied by reason, ambition is folly.

Or, on a more profound level: "For folly that he wisely shows is fit; But wise men, folly-fallen, quite taint their wit." William Shakespeare,

"She said only a few areas remain to be completed, including Rolleville, Barraterre’s main road, Harts, Mount Thompson, and Ramsey." Hmm. I wonder what residents of the eastern half of the island think about this?! Then there's the busiest place on the island: George Town, which has the worst roads on the island. Kerbump. Kerbump. Kerbump. Then clunk, clunk as cars shed body parts. And when it rains, some sections are impassible by small cars.Decades ago, in one of his songs, Eddie Minnis noted that the George Town road had more potholes that Nassau had thieves. Feels the same today.

Interesting. Over the past 6 months US gasoline prices have dropped by 13% on average. Since the beginning of the year crude oil prices have also dropped. Our prices go up when prices go up elsewhere. Makes sense. How often do they go down?

Election campaigns should be funded by taxpayer dollars and all private money in politics should be eliminated, including that of candidates. The playing field must be leveled, allowing competitive candidates of all backgrounds to equitably participate regardless of access to personal or influencer money.

Also, as with all other government actions, transparency is vital. Robust regulations governing campaign spending must be enacted, and funding and spending must be audited by independent electoral commissions. Stiff penalties on abusers should be levied, including disqualification.

Influencer money - including access to resources such as private aircraft -- especially from foreign nationals has been a long-standing problem. In this sphere, we resemble the United States.

Hmm. The story notes, I quote, "Ms Bowers was the Charge d’Affaires for The Bahamas from 2018 to 2020." Check your knowledge of contemporary US history.

As with so much from our leaders, so hypocritical given our fossil fuel based economy. Almost everything about tourism - from cruise ships to private jets to high powered tour boats to huge resort complexes - and our high consumption, import driven lifestyles.

The finger pointing, whether it be at the cruise lines, government officials, or the United States is unsettling. The disturbing thing is that when a fellow Bahamian is murdered in Nassau (which has one of the highest violent homicide rates in the world), there are not nearly as many comments/discussions about what violent crime is doing to our people.

Yes, we need to be concerned about negative publicity surrounding the tourism industry, but our greatest concern and empathy should be turned inwards. Somehow Bahamians, particularly residents of6New Providence, need to work collectively to make the island a safer place for ALL people, especially our youth and, particularly, our young men.

The population of New Providence is equivalent to that of a small city in the USA. City newspapers would be covering the murders especially as the murder rate per capita in NP is alarmingly high.