NASSAU, Bahamas -- Research and design experts from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design are collaborating with the Bahamas National Trust and the Government of The Bahamas on a multi-year project aimed at developing a sustainable land use plan for the Exumas that they hope could be adapted for other islands in The Bahamas.
On Tuesday, February 19th, those partners held interactive, think tank session at the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre at The College of The Bahamas, advancing initial discussions that began two years ago.
The message from Neil McKinney, President of the Bahamas National Trust was poignant: The Bahamas needs to plan for its future.
"Far too often on many or most of the islands the population is declining, not because there is anything wrong with the islands but it's because there are no jobs. There is no economic activity and people leave those islands and they come to New Providence to look for work," Mr. McKinney told an audience of dozens of academics, researchers, environmental protection and development advocates and governmental and non-governmental representatives.
"Any of us would do the same thing and what happens is the islands or settlements shrink and as they shrink we become more and more crowded in New Providence and the settlements in some ways become less and less sustainable simply because those who remain are the very young and typically the grandparents taking care of the children. If we are going to have a sustainable future on the islands, that is a trend we need to reverse," he added.

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