After exploring the Exempt app, I wondered if I'd even purchase anything the next time I traveled to the US. In the article and some of the comments, my fears that the process is both cumbersome and burdensome were confirmed.

As one who has to travel with a laptop, it would be helpful to have access by this means. At least, it would be possible to have multiple screens open.

A bit cynical but, if the majority of users were visitors, I bet the app would be considerably more user friendly; as in, say, type in your items and the price paid (e.g., kyodoled Suggestion Box with Lock, $25.99 -- something clearly needed at LPIA) and have technology do the work for you.

A link to the article referenced above: "Dreams and Deadly Seas."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/i…

Hopefully, the authors of the revised code won't start from scratch, and will build on the commendable work done for the 51 page "Guide to Housing Standards for The Bahamas: Build Back Better" (a "precursor to the fourth edition of The Bahamas Building Code") published by the Ministry of Works in August 2020.

See https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskg…

A way of making those of us, especially those who travel extensively for pleasure, feel good because we've "neutralized" our impact on the environment? Greenwashing? Another money making scam?

As a February 22, 2023 New York Times story about studies regarding the effectiveness of carbon offsets noted:

"In most cases, carbon offsets do not capture or reduce real emissions, and they have a dismal record when it comes to actually averting future emissions. Air-travel carbon offsets are no different, as our colleagues at The New York Times concluded. What’s worse: Even if the projects these offsets supported were effective, they are so inexpensive (about $19, for instance, for a round trip on Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to New York) that what you pay wouldn’t come close to negating your share of environmental damage caused by flying."

Those interested in a logical discussion of the topic of reparations might want to take time to listen to The Guardian's (UK) podcast "Cotton Capital: the Guardian and reparations" where journalist Maya Wolfe-Robinson looks at the subject of reparations.
(See https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/….)

Among other people, she talks with Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah, a leading figure in the reparations movement in Jamaica, and Laleta Davis-Mattis, chair of Jamaica’s national council on reparations which advises the government on the path towards reparatory justice and Jamaica's representative on the wider regional Caricom council. for reparations.

Perhaps because Carey is a paid consultant for the south Long Island project??!

Your assertion is accurate, Mr. Prime Minister. How about being original, though. So much of what you say is after the fact - especially after other world leaders have broached the subject.

By the way, beyond speechifying and using Haitians - especially immigrants - as a political football, what concrete leadership are you providing in terms of meaningful assistance to neighborus like Haiti? What are you suggesting be done to meaningfully reduce the carbon footprint of our tourism industry? I don't, for example, see your administration prioritizing the development of eco and scientific tourism.

Be careful about cherry picking news. Yes, Charles III did meet with these five leaders on Saturday, but he met with more leaders of the Commonwealth Realm, including prime ministers Gaston Browne (Antigua and Barbuda), Kausea Natano (Tuvalu) and James Marape (Papua New Guinea) on Sunday. Note, too, that, of the 56 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, only a quarter (including the UK) are still part of the Commonwealth Realm -- countries that recognize the British monarch as Head of State. So it makes sense that he would meet with these leaders.

Worth a read: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202…

Again, where are the facts? If the Right Honourable Prime Minister has evidence -- an independent audit or one completed by the Auditor General -- that "50 percent or more of it is connected directly to climate change" then share it. Otherwise, stop deflecting responsibility for irresponsible government spending and waste by both FMN and PLP governments.

Perhaps the Right Honourable Prime Minister should have recognized experts such as those at the University of The Bahamas as his spokespeople or sources of science and fact based information about climate change. For he doesn't appear to understand basic concepts that he bandies about, such as green economy, blue economy, and climate change.

Also, he appears unwilling to talk about the need to reduce and, more importantly, put into place policies to reduce the The Bahamas' per capita carbon footprint. We rank in the top 25% of global carbon dioxide emitters per person because, even though we aren't a fossil fuel producer or an industrial economy, we are a carbon-based economy. Consider our electricity production, our transportation, our tourism-based economy, and our consumption patterns.

So, as I have asked elsewhere, Mr. Prime Minister. What is the your government’s plan to reduce CO2 emissions? to create a more sustainable Bahamian society? While individuals can reduce carbon footprints, only government policies and laws and national action can bring about meaningful, sustained change -- change needed to ensure a better life for present and future generations.