Bermuda is the eighth most densely populated place in the world according to the Government’s Sustainable Development Director.Yesterday, Charles Brown told Caribbean Tourism Organisation delegates Bermuda’s average population density per square mile is 3,140. This compares to Macau’s population density of 48,450 per square mile and Singapore’s 17,650.“Population projections between now and 2024 show a steady increase,” he said. “We should ask ourselves, what are the effects of being even more densely populated?”Mr Brown told the delegates a lot has changed in Bermuda over the past 30 years.Since 1991 the percentage of non-Bermudians has risen from 17 percent to 25 percent. At the same time Bermuda’s birthrate has been declining.The number of dwellings has increased from 20,534 to 30,690, up 50 percent. As of 2008 there were 52,000 vehicles on Bermuda’s roads, up from 45,000 in 2004.Mr Brown said it was important the Island started asking serious questions about ways to sustain the quality of life currently available.“Every Government policy and programme initiatives be considered through the lens of sustainable development,” he said. “We need a holistic and integrated approach. We need to strike the right balance between international business and tourism.He added: “Bermuda needs to look beyond the numbers and consider the social economic and environmental implications of choices and decisions.”Mr Brown added that 28 percent of the 140 recommendations of the Sustainable Development Blueprint have been completed, the majority of them are in the process of being implemented and 20 percent have not been implemented so far.Mr Brown said going forward the Sustainable Development Department would be producing annual reports.He added: “We support the Public Access to Information process and when that is in place we will comply with any requests.”Related websites:www.sdbermuda.bmwww.caribbeanstc.com