The Tribune

SOME Family Island community leaders say satisfactory accommodations and more government support are needed to attract residents back to the southern islands, which have experienced significant population declines.

The 2022 Census showed a population decline across many of the southern islands, particularly Mayaguana and Ragged Island, which have experienced a decrease of 26 and 22.2 percent, respectively.

Chief Councillor Alfred Francis said the primary issue preventing people from returning to Ragged Island is a lack of accommodations as residents continue to rebuild following Hurricane Irma.

“If we can get more accommodations, more people would be interested in moving back home,” he told The Tribune.

Since Hurricane Irma struck in 2017 and severely damaged homes and infra- structure, the rebuilding process has been slow. Mr Francis believes that addi- tional housing provided by the government could accelerate the island’s recovery and thereby increase the population.

The primary industry on Ragged Island is fishing, which remains a lucrative trade that supports many locals.

“There’s a lot of money in it,” said Mr Francis.

In addition to the housing shortage, some of the island’s government build- ings have yet to be fully restored.

Although the new school and clinic are nearly completed, Mr Francis said the administrative offices and police station must be rebuilt.

Charlene Lockhart Bain, a clerk in the Administrator’s Office, also linked the population decline to Hurricane Irma’s impact.

She noted that many seniors relocated to New Providence after the storm to be closer to medical care and their families.

She is hopeful that the recent completion of a school that now offers education up to the 12th grade will decrease the migration of young people to New Providence.

She is also optimistic that the population will gradually increase as more homes and businesses are rebuilt.

Ms Lockhart Bain believes that regular flight services would also encourage more people and visitors to come to the island.

“Flight services would be good as opposed to having to deal with the mail boat, which takes longer,” she said.

She was optimistic about the island’s potential, particularly in such untapped areas as tourism, agriculture, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“There is a market for Airbnb. Ragged Island is still untapped, quiet, and tucked away, but  ight ser- vices will help with that,” she added.

Former Acklins local government councillor Anita Pratt said they are seeing more and more seniors returning to the island.

“I found that some of the seniors are returning home while the younger ones travel to New Providence for a better way of life or to go to school,” she said.

She advocates increased government support to sustain local businesses and keep younger residents on the island, especially by facilitating small grants and micro loans.

“I have been advocating for SBDC to come here,” she said. “The Bahamas Development Bank came one time about two years ago. If we can get some of the government agencies that could assist people who want to stay on the island and help start small businesses, we can keep some people here.”

Acklins and Crooked Island both suffered a decline in population after Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. However, there has been minor growth in Acklins, according to the 2022 Census.

According to Ms Pratt, Acklins’ population may be stable, but the challenge lies in bolstering economic development and retaining younger residents.

She said the harvest and processing of Cascarilla bark has significantly improved the lifestyle of many people in Acklins.

According to the former chief councillor, the cascarilla bark trade has become a significant source of supplemental income for Acklins and Crooked Island residents.

The bark’s essential oils, which are used in high-end perfume and the bitters in Compari, are sold to European buyers in such countries as Italy, France, and Germany.

Ms Pratt also believes that online learning and skill-building for local residents, particularly in such trades as cosmetology, air conditioning repair, and plumbing are needed.

“I think dissemination of information, that is where we are lacking on the island,” she said, adding that access to online education could offer more pathways for the younger population.

Ms Pratt believes tourism presents another potential growth area, especially with an influx of visitors during the bone fishing season from October through May. However, the lack of accommodation limits extended stays, she said. “One other challenge is that some people come asking about second homes or where they can spend more time. They want to come, but the accommodation is limited,” she said. “These southern islands need attention. That is the bottom line. We need support and attention and the quicker we get it, the quicker we can move ahead.”

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI), which presented the official 2022 census on population and housing, reported that small Family Islands faced population decreases, including Mayaguana, Ragged Island, Crooked Island, Inagua, Long Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay and Spanish Wells. It also found that despite minor population growth in such islands as Acklins and Eleuthera, Family Islands’ share of the national population continues to shrink.