OUR ISLAND · OUR VISION · OUR TIME
Long Island Unleashed
The 7-Pillar Progressive Blueprint
Authored by Reneika Knowles
PLP Candidate for Long Island
Long Island Unleashed: The 7-Pillar Progressive Blueprint
Our Island. Our Vision. Our Time.
Authored by Reneika Knowles, PLP Candidate for Long Island
© 2025 Reneika Knowles. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
First published: March 10, 2025
Concept imagery depicting future developments are artistic renderings for illustrative purposes only and represent the author’s vision for Long Island’s potential transformation.
Dedication
“To every Long Islander — past, present, and future. To the fishermen who know the sea, the farmers who understand the soil, the elders who remember our greatness, and the children who will build upon it. This blueprint is yours.”
To the People of Long Island
A Message from Reneika Knowles
To my fellow Long Islanders,
This document is not for the outside world. It is for us. It is for the families who have built this island, for those who have left to find opportunity, and for the children who deserve to build their future right here at home.
This blueprint did not come from a boardroom. It was not written behind closed doors. Over the last four years, I have sat with you — in your living rooms, at your kitchen tables, on your docks, and at your church yards. I have listened to our fishermen who know the sea better than any textbook. I have spoken with our farmers who understand this soil. I have called our young people studying off at college — at Embry-Riddle, at the College of The Bahamas, at universities across the United States and beyond — and asked them one question: “What would bring you home?”
I have heard from our elders who remember when Long Island fed itself, when our spongers were the pride of The Bahamas, and when our salt was known across the world. I have listened to our mothers who worry about healthcare, to our fathers who want better roads, and to our young families who dream of building a life right here.
Every idea in this blueprint carries the fingerprint of a Long Islander. Your voices, your frustrations, your dreams, and your brilliance are woven into every page. I am the author of this document, but you are its architects. This is not my vision alone — it is our collective vision, born from hundreds of conversations with the people who know this island best: you.
For too long, we have seen our potential overlooked and our resources undervalued. This blueprint is a declaration that our time has come. It is a detailed, realistic, and interconnected plan to transform Long Island into a beacon of prosperity, innovation, and cultural pride — not by changing who we are, but by becoming the best version of ourselves.
This is not a list of empty promises. It is a vision built on concrete, achievable pillars, each one reinforcing the others. It is a plan to create generational wealth, to bring our children home, and to build a future that is worthy of our past.
This is our blueprint — yours and mine — and together, we will build it.
— Reneika Knowles
PLP Candidate for Long Island
The Author
About the Author
Reneika Knowles is the PLP Candidate for Long Island, The Bahamas. Over the past four years, she has conducted hundreds of conversations with Long Islanders — fishermen, farmers, elders, young professionals, students, and families — to understand the true needs, dreams, and potential of her island home.
This blueprint is the product of that deep listening. It represents a comprehensive, interconnected vision for Long Island’s transformation — one that honors the island’s rich heritage while boldly embracing innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Reneika believes that Long Island’s greatest asset is its people, and that the island’s best days are not behind it but ahead. She is committed to building a future where every Long Islander can thrive — where children can build their dreams at home, where culture is celebrated as a global brand, and where the economy is as resilient and powerful as the Atlantic tides.
OUR ISLAND · OUR VISION · OUR TIME
Our Identity
The Unifying Brand: Tropic of Cancer, Long Island
Our identity is our most powerful asset. We are one of the few places on Earth where the Tropic of Cancer meets the sea, creating a unique duality: the rugged, powerful Atlantic to the north and the calm, gentle Caribbean to the south. This is more than a line on a map; it is our global brand.
This approach is not without precedent. Jamaica transformed “Jamaican Jerk” from a local cooking method into a globally protected Geographical Indication (GI) in 2016, followed by “Jamaican Rum” in 2024. Research shows that GI-protected products command price premiums of up to 50% over generic equivalents. We will be next — and we will do it under the most powerful geographic brand in the Caribbean: Tropic of Cancer.
| Brand Family | Target Global Market | Market Value |
|---|---|---|
| Tropic of Cancer Seafood | Premium seafood export | Multi-billion dollar global seafood trade |
| Tropic of Cancer Salt | Gourmet, spa, medicinal, halotherapy | $1.4 billion gourmet salt market |
| Bahamian Blue Sponges | Luxury cosmetics, baby care, wellness | $1.2 billion natural sponge market |
| Tropic of Cancer Wellness | Health tourism, retreats | $4.4 trillion global wellness economy |
| Tropic of Cancer Experience | Heritage, astro, eco-tourism | Record 9.9M Bahamas visitors (2024) |
The Foundation
A Thriving Community — Before we can build our economy, we must invest in our people.
Before we can build our economy, we must invest in our people. A strong community is the bedrock of a prosperous future. This pillar ensures that every Long Islander has the essential services and infrastructure needed to live a healthy, connected, and dignified life.
Healthcare for Every Long Islander
No Long Islander should have to leave the island for basic medical care. We will establish a modern healthcare system by upgrading our clinics with Digital X-Ray, Ultrasound, and Telemedicine capabilities; recruiting a full-time resident dentist and radiologist; securing at least two modern, fully-equipped ambulances; and building two new fire stations to protect our communities.
The national government has already renovated 14 Family Island clinics across the country, and Long Island will receive the full benefit of this commitment. We will also establish a Mobile Health Unit that travels the length of the island on a regular schedule, ensuring that no settlement — no matter how small — is left without access to care.
Stronger Communities, Better Facilities
A stronger, more connected community will be fostered by investing in first-class facilities for student athletics, public recreation, and community engagement. This includes building a modern athletics track at North Long Island High School, revitalizing community parks with solar lighting and free public WiFi, and fully upgrading the baseball field at Miller’s Park.
Modern Infrastructure: Roads, Water, Airport & Internet
We will build on the progress already made to create a truly modern, resilient island by ensuring the on-time completion of the $12 million airport terminal and runway extension; expanding the $25 million road and waterworks project; and bringing Fiber-Optic or high-speed satellite internet to every home and business.
The Homecoming Initiative
We will launch a targeted program to attract diaspora Long Islanders back home, offering business incentives, land grants for new home construction, and a streamlined process for investing in the new industries created by this blueprint. Our greatest export has been our people; it is time to bring them home.
The Ocean Economy
Our Greatest Asset — Long Island’s waters hold the wealth of generations.
“The Ocean Is Our Economy. From world-class bonefishing to deep-sea charters, premium seafood exports, sustainable sponging, and marine science — Long Island’s waters hold the wealth of generations.”
The “Tropic of Cancer Seafood” Brand
We will revolutionize our fishing industry, transforming it from a local operation into a global export powerhouse under one, legally protected brand: “Tropic of Cancer Seafood.”
The centrepiece of this transformation is a modern, IoT-monitored Cold Storage and Flash-Freezing Facility. Today, our fishermen are forced to sell their catch at whatever price the market offers on the day, because they have no way to store it. With cold storage, they sell when the price is right, not when the fish will spoil.
We will build a Value-Added Processing Hub where raw catch is transformed into premium, export-ready products — cleaned, filleted, vacuum-sealed, and branded with QR Code Traceability so that a customer in Miami, New York, or London can scan the package and see exactly which Long Island fisherman caught their dinner, when, and where.
A dedicated E-Commerce Platform will allow us to sell directly to high-end restaurants, hotels, and consumers worldwide. We will also develop world-class fishing charters — bonefishing, deep-sea, and spearfishing — as a high-value tourism product. Finally, we will invest in land-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for grouper and snapper, ensuring year-round supply.
The Billion-Dollar Sponging Revival
The Bahamas was once the sponge capital of the Western Hemisphere. In 1938, at the industry’s peak, over 5,000 Bahamians worked in sponging, operating more than 300 vessels and exporting over 1.5 million pounds annually — representing 90% of the global supply. A devastating fungal blight in 1939 wiped out 90% of sponge beds and collapsed the industry overnight. But the sponges have recovered, and so will we.
We will reclaim our sponging heritage and turn it into a billion-dollar future by following the successful $1.25 million IDB Andros pilot project. We will establish a Sponger’s Cooperative and Processing Facility, ensuring our spongers own the value chain. We will create a “Bahamian Blue” Geographical Indication for our five commercial species — hardhead, grass, wool, reef, and yellow.
We will target the highest-value global markets: luxury cosmetics (L’Oréal, Chanel), premium baby care, spa and wellness, and the emerging pharmaceutical sector. We will also invest in sustainable sponge aquaculture, following the model of Zanzibar.
In Tarpon Springs, Florida, a single town built a $20 million annual tourism economy around its Greek sponging heritage — and they don’t even harvest sponges commercially anymore. We still do, and we will do it better.
Blue Carbon Credits: Monetizing Conservation
The Bahamas is pioneering the sale of “blue carbon” credits, and Long Island is perfectly positioned to lead. Our vast, healthy seagrass meadows and mangrove forests are powerful carbon sinks. By scientifically quantifying this carbon storage, we can sell credits on the voluntary market. This is a revolutionary new revenue stream that pays us to conserve our pristine marine environment.
The Land Economy
Food Sovereignty & Heritage Industries — Building true food security and reviving our heritage.
Food Security: The Food Processing Plant & Abattoir
We will achieve true food security and create a thriving agricultural sector by building a modern packing house, food processing plant, and abattoir. This facility will allow our farmers and livestock producers to process, package, and create value-added goods for local consumption and export. The Prince Edward Island food model in Canada shows that a strong animal production sector can create over 5,000 jobs and contribute over $500 million to the local economy.
Modern Farming with Integrated Technology
We will deploy the latest agricultural technology to maximize our yields and conserve our precious freshwater resources. Solar-Powered Drip Irrigation will deliver water directly to plant roots with minimal waste. Hydroponics and Greenhouse Farming will allow year-round production of high-value crops. Precision Agriculture using drones for aerial crop monitoring and in-ground sensors will give our farmers real-time data.
The national government has increased the agriculture budget by 40%, and Long Island will be a flagship demonstration site for these technologies.
Reviving Salt: From Heritage to High-Value
Long Island’s salt ponds are a heritage asset with enormous untapped commercial potential. We will build a central salt packing house that transforms our salt into a premium, branded product — “Tropic of Cancer Salt” — for the $1.4 billion global gourmet salt market. Our salt will be marketed for gourmet cooking, spa treatments, medicinal use, and the booming halotherapy wellness industry.
Cooperatives: Strength in Unity
Our fishermen, farmers, and producers will no longer stand alone. We will support the formation of Producer Cooperatives, allowing them to pool resources, share equipment, secure better prices, and access financing. This model is proven worldwide to increase the income of small producers by 20–40%.
The Knowledge Economy
An Island of Innovation — Positioning Long Island as a place to learn, discover, and innovate.
This pillar is the most transformative in the entire blueprint. It positions Long Island not just as a place to visit or to fish, but as a place to learn, to discover, and to innovate. We will build a Knowledge Economy that attracts the brightest minds in the world to our shores — and trains our own young people to stand among them.
LIIMES: Marine & Environmental Studies
We will establish a world-class research and education hub, modeled on the successful Forfar Field Station in Andros, which has served over 10,000 students since 1971. At a conservative estimate, a similar facility on Long Island could generate over $2.5 million in annual revenue.
In 2023, Mission Blue — the international ocean conservation organization founded by Dr. Sylvia Earle — declared Long Island a “Hope Spot”, recognizing its extraordinary marine biodiversity across a proposed 100,000-acre Marine Management Area.
The Tropic of Cancer Astronomical Observatory
We will leverage our pristine dark skies to build a research-grade astronomical observatory on the Tropic of Cancer line. This facility will serve as both a hub for international astronomical research and a powerful anchor for our astro-tourism industry. The Tropic of Cancer’s unique latitude provides optimal viewing conditions for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere celestial objects.
Trade School & Vocational Academy
A vocational institution focused on modern, in-demand skills: Solar Technology, IT Support, Marine Mechanics, Sustainable Aquaculture, Hospitality, and Food Processing. The school will use cutting-edge VR Simulators and offer apprenticeship placements in every new facility built under this blueprint. Every industry we build will train the next generation of Long Islanders to run it.
Young Aviators Club & Aviation Academy
The Long Island Young Aviators Club — based in Gray’s Settlement — already operates a state-of-the-art, FAA-certified BATD Gleim Virtual Flight Simulator. Young Long Islanders are learning to fly, completing 40 Private Pilot lessons, and training with live Air Traffic Control through Pilot Edge.
The results speak for themselves. Kaiden Shearer completed his first solo flight in May 2023 and is now attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Antonique Greenslade earned her A&P License from Embry-Riddle. Kadron Rahming earned his Private Pilot License in February 2024. Stefano Fox completed his first solo in June 2024 and is also at Embry-Riddle.
We will expand and fully support this programme, integrating it into the Trade School and providing scholarships for every Long Island student who wants to pursue aviation. With our airport expansion to a 6,000-foot runway, Long Island will be a destination for flight training.
Youth Ambassador & Heritage Guide Programme
We will train young Long Islanders as certified heritage guides, marine naturalists, and brand ambassadors. These young people will be the face of our tourism industry, equipped with the knowledge and skills to share our story with the world.
LIIMES Research Opportunities
| Opportunity | Unique Asset | Potential Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Extremophile & Astrobiology Research | Dean’s Blue Hole (one of world’s deepest) | Texas A&M, NASA Ames Research Center |
| Endangered Species Conservation | Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregations | Scripps Institution of Oceanography, REEF |
| Freediving & Sports Science | Vertical Blue Competition Venue | University of Windsor (Kinesiology) |
| Climate & Solar Research | Tropic of Cancer Ocean Intersection | University of Bath (ISCC), ANL |
| Archaeology & Anthropology | Hamilton’s Cave (Lucayan site) | George Mason University (BERC) |
The Destination
Sharing Our Story with the World — Heritage, culture, and natural wonder as our tourism anchors.
The Tropic of Cancer Experience
We will build a beautiful, artful National Landmark on the Tropic of Cancer line, creating a must-see destination for cultural tourists, photographers, and astronomy enthusiasts. This landmark will be the anchor of our entire tourism strategy.
Our Heritage Economy
We will create a “Long Island Heritage Pass” that provides access to a world-class trail connecting Dean’s Blue Hole, Hamilton’s Cave, and a future Museum & Shipwreck Salvage Center. We will also create a formal fee and permit structure for international universities to conduct sanctioned archaeological and marine research.
Restoring & Protecting Our Historic Sites
Long Island is dotted with plantation ruins, historic cottages, and pristine gothic churches that tell the story of our people across centuries. These are not just old buildings — they are the physical memory of our ancestors, and they are disappearing.
A 2024 UNESCO study confirmed that integrating cultural heritage into tourism is a powerful catalyst for sustainable development in the Caribbean. We will establish a Long Island Heritage Trust — a local body with the authority and funding to identify, register, restore, and protect our historic buildings and sites.
Astro-Tourism: The Billion-Dollar Night Sky
We will develop a world-class Astro-Tourism industry by creating designated Dark Sky Zones and offering guided stargazing tours. The global Dark Sky Stargazing Tours market was valued at $10 billion in 2023 and is growing at 12% annually.
The Tropic of Cancer Wellness Retreat
We will establish Long Island as a premier wellness destination, creating a unique “Tropic of Cancer Wellness Retreat” concept that combines our natural assets: halotherapy (salt), spa treatments (sponges), mindfulness (dark skies), and blue mind therapy (ocean). Wellness tourists spend 53% more than average tourists.
Heritage Sites for Preservation
| Site | Significance | Proposed Action |
|---|---|---|
| Adderley’s Plantation Ruins | 1790s cotton plantation; 15 buildings remain intact | Stabilize ruins, create interpretive walking trail |
| St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Church | Believed to be the oldest church in The Bahamas | Full restoration, UNESCO tentative list nomination |
| St. Peter & St. Paul’s Catholic Church | Designed by Monsignor John Hawes, completed 1943 | Ongoing maintenance fund, heritage designation |
| Dunmore Plantation Ruins | Former slave plantation; vivid wall drawings | Stabilize, create interpretive centre |
| Hamilton’s Cave | Lucayan Indian artifacts and prehistoric drawings | 3D laser scanning, controlled access, university partnerships |
| Columbus Monument | 19-foot stone obelisk on the northernmost tip | Maintain and enhance with interpretive signage |
The Creative Economy
Culture as Commerce — Transforming our creativity and heritage into economic engines.
The Digital Nomad Programme
With our new high-speed internet, we will launch a Digital Nomad Visa Programme, attracting remote workers who stay longer, spend more, and integrate into our community, reducing our dependence on seasonal tourism. Barbados’s Welcome Stamp program has proven the success of this model.
The Tropic of Cancer Artist Residency
We will create a prestigious artist residency program, inviting international artists, writers, and musicians to create work inspired by Long Island’s unique environment. This will generate global cultural capital and create a vibrant creative scene.
The Annual “Tropic of Cancer Festival”
We will create an annual international festival celebrating our unique culture, heritage, and industries — featuring our seafood, salt, and sponges; our music and art; and our unique place in the world on the Tropic of Cancer.
The Long Island Culinary Trail
We will create a unique farm-to-table and sea-to-table culinary trail that connects our farms, fishing docks, and local restaurants, creating a new tourism product where visitors can experience the authentic taste of Long Island.
The Resilient Island
A Model for the Future — Clean energy, climate resilience, and a community for all ages.
Clean Energy & The Smart Grid
The intense solar irradiance at the Tropic of Cancer is not just symbolic — it is an economic asset. We will build large-scale solar farms, connected to a Smart Grid with Modern Battery Storage, providing clean, affordable energy for all our new industries. The national government has committed $2 billion to clean energy investment; Long Island’s solar farms will be a flagship project in that initiative.
Climate Resilience & Disaster Preparedness
We will become a global leader in small island climate resilience. This includes investing in hurricane-resilient infrastructure, developing early warning systems in partnership with our Marine Science Institute, and implementing a community-based disaster preparedness program modeled on the successful EnRiCH framework.
A Community for All Ages: Elder Care & Retirement
With our world-class healthcare, safe communities, and beautiful environment, Long Island is an ideal location for a modern retirement community. This will create jobs in healthcare and hospitality, generate year-round economic activity, and provide a dignified and beautiful place for our elders to live.
Our Time Is Now
This blueprint is ambitious, but it is achievable. Every major initiative in this document is grounded in a real-world success story: the IDB’s sponging revival in Andros, Jamaica’s Jerk GI, Tarpon Springs’ heritage tourism, Prince Edward Island’s food economy, Barbados’s digital nomad programme, Zanzibar’s sponge farming, and the Long Island Young Aviators Club that is already sending our children to Embry-Riddle.
This is a plan that honors our past, empowers our present, and secures our future. It is a vision of a Long Island where our children can build their dreams right here at home, where our culture is celebrated as a global brand, and where our economy is as resilient and powerful as the Atlantic tides.
This is more than a plan; it is a promise. A promise to every Long Islander that our best days are not behind us — they are ahead of us. Let’s build it together.
How It All Works Together
The Interconnected Vision
This blueprint is not a collection of isolated projects. It is an interconnected system where each pillar reinforces the others. A reliable water supply enables modern farming. Modern farming feeds the food processing plant. The food processing plant supplies the culinary trail. The culinary trail attracts tourists. The airport brings the tourists. Solar energy powers it all. The research institute trains the workforce. The workforce runs every new industry.
| Investment | Enables | Creates |
|---|---|---|
| Airport expansion (6,000 ft runway) | Larger aircraft, direct flights | Tourism access, seafood export capacity |
| Fiber-optic internet | Digital nomad programme, e-commerce | Year-round economic activity, global market access |
| Solar farms on Tropic of Cancer | Clean, affordable energy | Power for all processing facilities, lower costs |
| “Tropic of Cancer Seafood” brand | Cold storage & processing hub | Direct export revenue, higher fishermen income |
| Food processing plant & abattoir | Value-added agricultural products | Food sovereignty, reduced imports, new jobs |
| Sponger’s cooperative | “Bahamian Blue” brand | Premium market access, heritage revival |
| Salt packing house | “Tropic of Cancer Salt” brand | Gourmet, spa, and halotherapy revenue |
| LIIMES research institute | University partnerships, student revenue | $2.5M+ annual revenue, global prestige |
| Heritage Pass & landmark | Unified tourism product | Visitor spending across all sites |
| Wellness retreat | Combines salt, sponge, dark sky, ocean | High-spending wellness tourists |
| Trade school | Skilled workforce | Local talent for every new industry |
| Cooperatives | Collective bargaining power | 20–40% higher producer incomes |
| Blue carbon credits | Revenue from conservation | Environmental stewardship that pays |
| VR flight simulator & aviation academy | Pilot training, aviation careers | Long Islanders at Embry-Riddle |
| Heritage Trust & historic restoration | Preserved sites, UNESCO recognition | Heritage tourism revenue, cultural pride |
| Homecoming Initiative | Diaspora return, investment | Population growth, new businesses |
“This is more than a plan; it is a promise. A promise to every Long Islander that our best days are not behind us — they are ahead of us.”
Reneika Knowles
PLP Candidate for Long Island
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