By Long Islanders, For Long Islanders
Community Governance
How Long Islanders — whether on-island or in the diaspora — serve on facility boards to ensure every enterprise remains locally owned and operated.
See the Transformation
Drag the slider to see what Deadman's Cay looks like today versus what the blueprint will create.
Your Voice Matters
How to Join a Facility Board
Every facility is governed by a community-elected board. Here's how Long Islanders can step up and lead.
Open Nominations
Any Long Islander over 18 — whether living on-island, in Nassau, or abroad in the diaspora — can be nominated to serve on a facility board. You do not have to live on the island to serve. Nominations open 60 days before elections.
Community Election
Board members are elected by registered Long Island residents through transparent ballot. Each settlement gets proportional representation.
Board Training
Elected members receive governance training: financial oversight, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and cooperative management principles.
Facility Oversight
Each board oversees hiring, budgets, operations, and community benefit distribution. Quarterly town halls keep the community informed.
Board Structure
Each facility board includes 7-9 members with defined roles ensuring balanced representation across generations and settlements.
Chairperson
Elected by board members. Leads meetings, represents facility publicly.
Treasurer
Manages finances, presents quarterly reports to community.
Secretary
Records minutes, manages communications, ensures transparency.
Youth Representative
Ages 18-25. Ensures young voices shape facility direction.
Elder Advisor
Respected community elder providing cultural and historical guidance.
Settlement Representatives
2-3 members from different settlements for geographic balance.
Technical Advisor
Industry expert (non-voting) providing operational guidance.
Youth Board
Apprenticeship Program
Every facility board reserves one seat for a youth apprentice (ages 18-25). They attend meetings, vote on decisions, and learn governance firsthand. After two years, they're eligible for full board membership.
Local Ownership Protections
Built-in safeguards ensure these facilities remain in the hands of Long Islanders — forever.
51% minimum local ownership requirement for all facilities
No single investor can hold more than 15% of any cooperative
Board members can serve from anywhere — on-island, Nassau, or the diaspora — with virtual meeting provisions
Annual community audit with results published publicly
Youth apprenticeship seats guaranteed on every board
Elder cultural advisory council for heritage preservation
Profit sharing: 60% reinvested, 25% community fund, 15% dividends
Foreign investment welcome but never controlling — always minority stake
Implementation Roadmap
This isn't a dream — it's a plan with clear milestones and accountability.
Laying the Groundwork
- Complete airport terminal & runway extension
- Expand road and waterworks infrastructure
- Establish Trade School with first cohort of 50 students
- Launch Homecoming Initiative outreach to diaspora
- Solar farm Phase 1 installation & Hurricane Resilience Centre
- Hospital Phase 1: primary care, emergency, telemedicine
- Population stabilises at ~3,200
Building Core Infrastructure
- Seafood Cold Storage & Processing Plant operational
- Dry Dock & Marine Repair facility opens
- LIIMES research station Phase 1 — first university partnerships
- Digital Hub opens with co-working & training programs
- Night Market pilot season in Deadman's Cay
- Salt harvesting & packing house operational
- Fibre-optic internet reaches all settlements
- Population reaches ~3,500
Growing the Economy
- Hospital Phase 2: surgery, maternity, specialist clinics
- Tropic of Cancer Seafood brand enters export markets
- Craft Distillery first commercial production
- Eco-Lodge network: 3 lodges operational
- Sponge farm cooperative & aquaculture systems established
- Marina expansion & yacht services operational
- Trade School graduates 300+ skilled workers
- Population reaches ~4,000
Scaling & Diversification
- LIIMES Phase 2: full marine research campus
- Wellness Retreat & Halotherapy Centre opens
- Observatory & astro-tourism programme launches
- Food Processing Plant & Abattoir at capacity
- Blue carbon credit programme generating revenue
- Full renewable energy grid (solar + battery storage)
- Artist Residency & Cultural Centre established
- Population reaches ~4,500
A Thriving Island
- All 42+ facilities fully operational & community-governed
- Population target: 5,000 residents — surpassing the 1943 historic peak of 4,564
- Museum of Long Island Heritage opens
- Tropic of Cancer brand recognised internationally
- Tourism sector: 50,000+ annual visitors
- Full export capacity across seafood, salt, sponge & spirits
- Long Island recognised as model for Out Island development
- Generational wealth established through cooperative ownership
This Is Your Long Island
Every facility, every product, every job — created by Long Islanders, governed by Long Islanders, benefiting Long Islanders. The future is in your hands.