Dear Editor,
I could not believe my eyes when I read in the October 3 edition of the Official Gazette that the Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Surely, the persons making the recommendations and appointments of persons to state boards must realise that this is a clear conflict of interest situation. How can the mayor, who chairs statutory meetings of the city council, also be Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority?

When one wishes to erect a building, one has to submit three copies of the plan to the Mayor and City Council to begin the application process. After the Mayor and City Council, chaired by the mayor, approves this plan, it is then forwarded to the Central Housing and Planning Authority for their approval. Here again, it will run into Hamilton Green, who will this time be wearing the hat of the CH&PA Chairman, as the plan seeks to get its second approval. Where will the checks and balances be? There is no separation of powers.

Hamilton Green can approve a faulty plan at City Hall, and then go over to the Central Housing and Planning Authority and approve it a second time. This madness has to stop.

Nadine Jerrick