The Tribune

Planning is one of the most underrated features of success. In many instances, an idea -be it good or bad - should always be paired with a plan. The same applies for countries, including The Bahamas. There have been many talks, speeches, conversations and even ad-hoc legislation created to facilitate ideas that are derived from leaders, private and public stakeholders, and other government officials. But is there always a plan put in place behind these ideas? Sometimes, planning from a single body such a government may become overwhelming for those working behind the scenes. Therefore, the option of decentralisation is favourable for those in the Family Islands, especially for those under the impression that their contribution to the nation is as significant as those in the capital. But decentralisation is not an overnight task, and it requires a strategy that should be developed before those in charge can have a serious discussion surrounding the idea. That is why it is important for each Family Island to have its own development plan.

The National Development Plan (NDP)

Almost two years ago, the Government of The Bahamas launched the National Development Plan (NDP). The Bahamas was playing a game of “catch up” in this field but, nevertheless, the plan can now be used as a tool to help provide a sense of direction. For some, it may be difficult to understand how a plan can be used to bring the change this country needs in areas of economic prosperity, education, food security, healthcare, Immigration, tourism and the environment. But the NDP is more than just a plan. It is the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis that has been long overdue. That being said, each inhabited island of The Bahamas should have a development plan that puts forth short, medium and long-term goals. A collaboration of this size takes time, money and lots of hard work, but it is doable. In fact, it is needed to help capture what areas can be pushed, strengthened or removed in an effort to create economic growth.

Family Islands: Not to be forgotten

The Bahamas currently has 14 inhabited islands, and most of the focus is geared towards New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco, which combine to help contribute significantly to Bahamian GDP. This is not to say that other Family Islands do not help to contribute as well. While their contribution may not be as large as the top three, there is the possibility for increased GDP contribution.

To achieve this, a development plan for each island would help to garner available resources and maximise them to their full potential. Such plan should identity the necessary infrastructure needed to help facilitate growth, as well as the risks associated with urban planning. The state of healthcare, social planning, road works and utilities across all Family Islands are in dire need of improvement. While foreign investments have helped to attract visitors to these islands, there is much more work to be done outside of those edifices/attractions.

As it stands, the economic value of each island is not being properly captured. The Government is aware of this, and decisions such as partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on a sustainable development plan for Andros prove there is hope for tapping into the potential these islands possess in terms of economic contribution. There is so much ignorance surrounding the economic value in coastal and marine ecosystems, pine forests, mangroves, agricultural products, trade and inter-island connectivity because these areas have yet to be thoroughly developed.

Ragged Island: A Unique Opportunity

The passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017 was a devastating experience for many of our Caribbean neighbours and those in the southern Bahamas, particularly Ragged Island. This storm left the island in a state deemed “unlivable”. As part of the Government’s solution to rebuilding the island, it was proposed to make this island the first “green island” of The Bahamas. There are a few things to take in here. Firstly, a solution of this kind has to be weighed by pros and cons, mainly because the biggest “con” is funding. Another objection is that pumping funds into an island that is subject to the brunt of hurricanes, which appear to be strengthening year after year, may not be the smartest idea.

Nevertheless, if the Government does decide to go ahead with its eco-friendly option to rebuild, it should consider that Ragged Island really needs a holistic development plan that would encompass more than environmental modifications. The Government is faced with a unique opportunity because it now has the ability to start afresh and develop Ragged Island in a way that other islands can mirror. A development plan for Ragged Island can include solutions to problems that Family Islands generally are faced with. While each island is unique, this plan can act as a foundation for how the Government should go about tackling certain issues familiar to most Out Islands.

Progress

The idea of each Family Island having its own development plan has already made some headway. In fact, there are 11 pending drafts created under the Government’s national development team. There has been no public update on the status of these drafts, although those for Andros and Eleuthera were partially privately funded. This progress indicates that the Government understands the importance of each island having its own development plan. But one could argue if this move is entirely sensible based on the environmental risk that each island faces.

The Environmental Risk

Every year, hurricanes and natural disasters continue to shock governments around the Caribbean by increasing in frequency and strength. Global warming is a real concept indeed. Therein lies the problem for those countries that are heavily exposed to this risk, particularly island states such as The Bahamas. According to the general manager of the IDB’s country department Caribbean group, Therese Turner-Jones, the financial impact of climate change on The Bahamas could reach $19bn by 2020. Another study showed that between 1980 and 2012, The Bahamas experienced 12 major storms and one flooding event, which resulted in damages equivalent to $2.5bn or 30 percent of overall gross domestic product (GDP).

These facts all lead to one question: Is it worth it to invest and develop these islands based on the possible reality that climate change could wipe out their existence in the next 20 years? It is a controversial argument, but the beauty of research and technology is that it allows for the improved mitigation of risks including global warming. Therefore, the Government should go ahead with completing the development plans for each island notwithstanding the environmental risk, mainly because it is important to create economic stimulus among all areas of The Bahamas as a short to medium-term goal. Who is to say that research or technology cannot provide the mitigation that is needed in years to come?

Public and Private Collaboration

An initiative of this size requires funding from both the Government and private stakeholders. Without this type of collaboration, it could collapse or be easily put to the side. This is not something to be taken lightly considering that The Bahamas is slowly running out of options for economic growth in the two largest pillars of the economy - tourism and financial services. These fields are becoming heavily saturated, more risky, and international measures have become more stringent, making it difficult to do business easily for foreign investors. Therefore, development plans for each island are needed to ensure that effective decisions are made for the future of The Bahamas. Without partnership and working together, nothing will be achieved and The Bahamas could be left behind as other island nations, such as Jamaica, continue to advance.

Conclusion

As countries continue to take advantage of the modernisation in social planning concepts, The Bahamas should do the same. With developments such as blockchain technology becoming increasingly relevant, it is time to bring these innovative ideas to this country in an effort to leave future generations with more than just service-based industries. Planning is the first step to doing so. Planning allows for new ideas to be incorporated into an overall plan for economic growth. With no plan, there is no vision. With no vision, there is no solution. The world is a much bigger place than The Bahamas and we do not want to deepen the “brain drain” by having our talented minds go elsewhere because they see no future prospects in their own country. A plan for each island will set the pace to a brighter future for The Bahamas. It is time to get rid of old processes, red tape and antiquated laws. Let us start afresh. Let us have a new plan.