However, Wanderer, I think that you will find that Barbados’ much vaunted 98% literacy rate is a mere fable these days. Probably 20 years ago 98% of Barbadians were at least functionally literate (even if we all could not read “Pride and Prejudice” with ease we could read signs, warning labels, names, etc), but I would hazard a guess that these days there is at least 5-10% of the Barbadian population in Barbados who would struggle to read “Beware of the dog”. I am 38 years old and I know two people a little younger than I am who fall into this category. I don’t know if they suffer from undiagnosed dyslexia, but on the surface they appear no less mentally capable of reading than I am – they just never managed to learn how to read properly.

Governments in the region need to make sure that delivering quality education is a social priority.

There is what I would term a “cultural backlash” in Hawaii that I sense that CARICOM faces similarly. Some have come to resent the “barbs” of economic success. Outsiders aggressively acquire wealth and property. Local islanders struggle to make ends meet as the cost of living soars. The pockets of isolation become hotbeds for restrained unrest.

The struggle becomes choosing between growth and economic opportunity versus preservation of culture and lifestyle. Exploit or be exploited. Finding balance is not always easy. Not even in Hawaii.