By Hon E.P. Chet Greene
August 9 2026 | Editorial
In last week’s issue of this paper I addressed the imperative of a cultural renaissance and treated with the subject in relation to the 70th anniversary of our Summer Festival, Carnival. This week, I will turn my attention to, and hopefully trigger a national conversation on the importance of a deeper dive into the world of AI as we build capacity, modernize and embrace the national renaissance.
The question before us is not whether Artificial Intelligence will reshape our world because admittedly before our very eyes we see it happening. The question is whether Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean will be shared architects of this new era or simply and simplistically passive consumers. There is a dangerous myth that AI is a “tomorrow tool.” This lethargy is a luxury we cannot afford. We must embrace the “now factor” and that begins with an urgent, foundational shift in our educational system.
Data reveals a critical skills divide across the Caribbean. While 85% of regional workers feel confident about their job prospects, nearly 70% of employers believe their teams lack the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven economy. This disconnect is a direct threat to our economic aspirations and must be brought in line with our ambitions for an economic and global lifestyle powerhouse.
As a country, we have already shown commendable foresight. We have appointed an AI policy focal point, engaged with UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology and are actively participating in regional frameworks like the OECS Digital Harmonized Curriculum, which uses AI to support teachers. These are positive first steps but require more. We must move from pilot projects to a national ethos.
We must revolutionize our education system from its first contact. It is not enough to add a coding module in secondary school; we need to embed AI literacy, ethics and application from primary education upwards. The recent launch of the Digital OECS Harmonized Primary Curriculum, which features an AI assistant named Pearl, is a promising development. This must now be the new standard and not the exception. As the UNESCO Caribbean AI Policy Roadmap emphasizes, “Education and Upskilling” is a core pillar for our survival, requiring us to foster a skilled workforce by integrating AI education across all sectors. Equipping our teachers as the frontline of this revolution with the frameworks and training needed to guide our youth is a natural next step. Initiatives like the Commonwealth of Learning’s support for a regional AI curriculum framework and code of conduct are vital, giving us a “shared foundation for implementation.”
This twin-island state has the chance to become a case study for the Caribbean. Our strong legal openness and constitutional commitment to human rights position us as a regional leader in the ethical and transparent deployment of AI. This opportunity must be matched by a modernized legal framework which addresses AI-specific challenges and sizable investments in the technical infrastructure needed to support it.
This is quintessentially about empowering our people to compete and thrive. Our Education Minister, Daryll Matthew has rightly noted that education systems are being reshaped, requiring bold steps and that we must teach students to use powerful tools wisely, critically and ethically. We cannot simply be consumers of technology. We must become producers, creators and innovators. By prioritizing AI education now, we are not just preparing for the future; we are actively building it.
The wait and see approach is an abdication of responsibility. History will not remember us for our intentions but for our actions. For the sake of our youth and the prosperity of our nation, Antigua and Barbuda must boldly declare that the age of the “tomorrow tool” is over. The time is now. Let our declaration of a renaissance be powered by intelligence, artificial and human.
Next week, I will continue to explore our renaissance with a dive into our food security and the modernization of our agriculture sector. This is indeed an exciting period to be a citizen or resident of Antigua and Barbuda.
