The Inter-American Development Bank's meeting at the Baha Mar convention center this week has been stimulating. There were a number of meetings that we, as Joe public, could attend. Sadly, there were few of Joe public who took that opportunity. We sit around and complain about the fact that these things go on here, that we spend money, that the government did this without consulting with the public, all of which are probably valid points, but when things come we need to take advantage. That meeting represented an opportunity for us to be a part of the conversation.

As the event winds down and the important folks head off into the sunset let us hope that we can keep the information; the knowledge gleaned from the speeches; the facts shared over the Internet are important to our development. It was an invaluable event, an expensive moment that should be put in the annals of Bahamian history.

One of the invaluable moments in the event was a presentation that focused on creating sustainable cities that work. The need for integrated and multiuse cities where there are areas of mixed usage, not solely houses or businesses. The presenters, some of the most important persons internationally in this area of development, discussed the need to integrate housing with restaurants, shops, businesses and other attractions.

This underscores the ideas and concepts in the Sustainable Nassau plan as produced by the IDB in collaboration with the Urban Lab at the University of Vienna that brought students and professors to The Bahamas to re-examine sustainable land use and how we could revitalize Nassau. They worked on this project in collaboration with architecture students from The College of The Bahamas. Both groups of students were excited by the collaboration and the possible outcome. The project fits in so well with what the IDB is doing in so many other countries and cities in this region.

Firstly, we cannot continue to segregate areas as we have done. The plan speaks to breaking down barriers to participation in the city so that residents from Bain and Grants Towns feel equally empowered to be in the city. In this plan, the color barrier created by official segregation in the 1940s, 50s and 60s would be removed. In order for a vibrant city to ascend from the damaged and decaying, dead at 6 p.m. city of Nassau where Bay Streets holds no homes but only made-in-China shops that offer very little in the way of locally produced goods, even though we talk about empowering local entrepreneurship, little has been done to really create a feeling of belonging among Bahamians.

We must bring Bahamians and especially young Bahamians along with us. We may empower young people, but we are not empowering the young people who inhabit Over-the-Hill neighborhoods, and that is what they tell us daily. We are entrenching huge social and cultural inequalities that create barriers to participation. But this is not what the IDB wants or encourages.

The IDB encourages young entrepreneurs with bold ideas to move to the fore in national development. As shared at the meeting, it is hoped that the National Development Plan will work in tandem with the Sustainable Nassau initiative and create a new, vibrant, well-planned city that can adapt to the threats of climate change, a reality and awesome challenge for an archipelagic nation where many islands and many parts of the capital sit at or below sea level.

Further, we cannot continue to ghettoize areas and people. By ghettoizing these sectors of our society, we say to them that they are worth less than Bay Street or Lyford Cay, and in many cases than tourist/resort areas. This thinking and style of development kills initiative, enthusiasm, promotes crime and violence, delinquency and inequality and holds foreign direct investment as the only answer to local development. Further, it creates no-go zones where tourists are told they should not trod because they will be attacked. This says that all residents who live in these areas are criminals, a theory or belief that is not supported by fact.

By creating spaces where people from all walks of life participate in Bahamian life and culture, we create a more dynamic, more interesting and more successful city and then country. Our island will thrive because of the positive transformation created through fuller youth participation where youth are currently overwhelmingly unemployed. We put souls back into communities by creating new businesses and allowing easier licensing processes.

We incentivize community-based development over resort- and tourist-focused development. This is one of the answers to many of our problems. Moreover, should we plan more adequately. We can address concerns such as an overtaxed power grid and can use natural elements to produce cleaner more sustainable power.

We cannot continue to build ginormous all-inclusive areas where locals are unwelcome and visitors are kept under "tight control" almost void of Bahamian businesses. This does not promote a healthy local economy nor a place where visitors wish to travel. Mixed use modeling must be included in our cities and neighborhoods.

We must change the way we speak that says that all young, black males are criminals in waiting and all young women are victims of violence. These are the youth that will own and develop this country. Once current leaders pass on, if we choose not to adapt to a more sustainable model of development, we will be digging ourselves into a hole that cannot be dug out of.

The IDB meeting served to show how we can integrate young people, energy and enthusiasm into national development as well removing barriers through deconstructing mental no-go zones where people can own businesses and homes and be proud participants in their own country. If we do not want the brain drain to continue or worsen, if we wish more money to remain in the economy and if we really wish to be participants in a booming Bahamas, we must change the development model along the lines promoted by the IDB. There are already many young people who are engaged in this positive transformation. Let's move with them.

o Ian Bethell-Bennett is a professor at The College of The Bahamas.

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