The global population is now 6.6 billion and more than half of the global population lives in urban enclaves. Further, this phenomenon is taking place to a greater extent in developing countries. The question facing global bodies like the United Nations is the reason or reasons people are attracted to cities and the role governments should play in recognizing this fact.
Despite the level of poverty and unemployment in urban centers, governments have to accept the facts that people have the right to migrate and governments should adopt long-term policy initiatives to address internal migration and immigration, be it legal or illegal. In The Bahamas illegal immigration has negatively impacted inner city living conditions.
In The Bahamas, 85 % of the population resides between New Providence and Grand Bahama. Our governments recognize this fact and have implemented economic development programmes like anchor projects to halt or stymie the migration of people from the Family Islands to New Providence or Grand Bahama. These policies have been effective from two aspects; firstly the need to migrate to the urban centers has declined and secondly residents of urban centers have resorted to seeking employment in those islands where anchor projects have spawned new jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.
A major incentive for moving to an urban locale is the option of livability. Livability covers a range of possibilities. Despite the label, it all boils down to opportunities. New Providence is the melting pot of The Bahamas. Every island or cay in our archipelago has representatives in New Providence. In past years, these island or cay representatives congregated in certain locales or areas of New Providence. This enables them to maintain a certain island identity which was reflected in speech patterns, property development, religious affiliation etc. It encouraged cohesiveness and a sense of community.
It is the process of urbanization which has transformed The Bahamas, specifically New Providence, from a fishing village type of society to that of city or small metropolis. This urbanization process has dramatically altered our society and the way we view ourselves. A different sense of identify has come to the fore front in our perception of our communities
One of the features which have become obvious is the presence of the informal economy. Throughout New Providence there has been a proliferation of vendors on virtually every major street corner. This type of business activity gives New Providence the appearance of being junky, cluttered, disordered and unkept. In locations like Potters Cay, Montague Foreshore, East Street, particularly the area just south of the East-West Highway, Poinciana Drive, just opposite the College of The Bahamas, Prince Charles Drive east of Soldier Road opposite the shopping centre and just in front of the Elizabeth Estates Clinic; vendors can be found selling fish, conch and crabs, fruit and vegetables under unhygienic conditions. On any New Providence construction site, one can find some lady selling food out of the back trunk of her car. The R.M Bailey Park has become a virtual flea market selling from clothes to furniture during the peak shopping seasons of the year. Then there are the Rastas who have cornered the peanut market and when, in season, guineps, sea grapes, hog plums and other exotic fruits like tamarinds and jujus.
At any location where taxi cabs assemble, there is the car cleaner with his plastic bucket, shammy cloth and pocket broom. There is also the shady tree mechanic who works from his home resulting in the build up of derelict cars thus creating an eye sores, the junk car appearance further between the neighbourhood.
Some economists say that the informal society is an important component in the economies of developing countries, particularly in cities. It has been estimated that in developing countries the informal economy accounts for one third of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It will be interesting to know what the informal economy contributes to the Bahamian economy. There are economists who interject that, if there were no informal economy, unemployment would sky rocket, as there are thousands of people who just cannot perform in a formal work enviroment. Many of the marginalized end up in the informal economy as the creators of their own employment.
The business or operations, which comprise the informal economy, are usually functioning without permits or licenses. Its owner/operator avoid national insurance payments as they function outside the realm of legal business.
Governments must plan for urban growth and development and must produce policies, which will enhance sustainable land use and minimize ecological degradation. Urbanization is a cross-road which government cannot ignore.
