it means using our skills and talents to make a positive difference in the world. to stay true to this value, it's essential to practice empathy and understanding. try to put yourself in other people's shoes and consider their perspectives. volunteer your time and resources to help those in need, and be a positive influence on those around you. remember that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on someone's life. how can we practise compassion in our daily lives? one way is to cultivate a growth mindset. instead of judging others or labelling them, try to see them as individuals with unique experiences and challenges. by approaching others with an open mind and heart, we can build empathy and understanding and make a positive impact on the world around us. 2 / 3 bis - central bankers'speeches building community lastly, this school has taught us the value of community. former south african president nelson mandela said, " no one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. people must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. " building community means reaching out to those around us, regardless of their background or beliefs. it means finding common ground and working towards a common goal. to stay true to this value, it's essential to stay connected with others and build strong relationships. find ways to support and encourage your peers, whether it's offering help, attending events, or simply being present. join clubs or organisations that align with your interests and passions, and get involved in community service projects that make a difference in the lives of others. building community also means being open to diverse perspectives and ideas. don't be afraid to engage in civil discourse with those who hold different views than your own. seek to understand their perspectives and find common ground where you can. by building bridges and connections with those around us, we can create a more inclusive and harmonious society. so, how can we stay connected to our community and build strong relationships? one way is to be present and engaged. attend events and activities, and participate in group discussions or projects. listen actively and ask questions, and be willing to share your own experiences and perspectives. another way to build community is to be vulnerable and authentic. don't be afraid to share your struggles and challenges with others, as it can help

economy, low energy prices and a global decline in conflicts. energy costs in the case of energy, the current level of oil prices must be of concern as the cost of utilities, operating costs and investment have constantly been an issue with respect to their cost impact on the tourism product in barbados. therefore, continued buoyancy in the price of oil will impact on economic prospects. government earlier this year passed on some of these price increases to the consumer. this had an impact on all sector of the economy, including tourism. this was however prior to the since galloping increase in oil prices. even the airlines have imposed a fuel tax but it is unclear whether this will have far - reaching implications. in a simulation run by the economists at the central bank it was found that a 25 % rise in domestic fuel prices reduces nominal gdp by approximately one percentage point, implying that higher oil prices do impact on overall output. an analysis by sector has not however been conducted so we are unable to say what proportion of this impact would borne by the tourism sector. exchange rate changes meanwhile exchange markets have been dominated by declines in the us dollar. not withstanding some rebound since last february, world economic outlook, an imf report, notes that the us dollar depreciated by 3 1 / 4 percent in trade weighted terms since september 2003 and by 16 ½ percent since its peak in february 2002. the dollar depreciated significantly against the euro and against the yen. this would have made travel from these source markets more attractive, and because the barbados dollar is tied to the us, would not have affected travel from the us market. the report also indicates that in developed economies ( our main source markets ) business confidence is rising, unemployment is improving, consumer confidence is up and global investment is promising. this augurs well for travel in late 2004 and 2005. the latin american market while latin america is not a major source market for the caribbean, eclac reports that rising commodity prices in latin america have resulted in the highest surplus in goods and services in 13 years and the best current account surplus in half a century. this would have positively affected discretionary income available for travel. however, it is not clear that the improvements are sufficiently significant as to lead to greater travel to the caribbean from those markets, but the information should be noted and monitored when future strategies involving that market are being developed. many caribbean markets also provide a continuing growth opportunity, particularly since some of our neighbours to the south are experiencing prosperous times