In a small country and where you are
elected onto a committee that makes laws and upholds laws, it is
inevitable that you won't have a conflict of interest.

If it is the Planning Board you are on
it doesn't matter one bit, even if the Auditor General, both present
and past, raises extreme concerns.

However, local architect Andrew Gibb,
was on a different board – The National Trust. Even worse, he was
the chairman.

When the proposed development at Beach
Bay, next door to a peaceful residential area, where turtles nest and
access to the beach was threatened, came before the Planning Board,
who do you think agued strongly on behalf of the developers?

A development that comprised an hotel
and residency buildings.

Yes, you've guessed it. Andrew Gibb.

There was already considerable
opposition to the development and the National Trust has preached
forcibly against over development, especially along the coast.

One can only question why Gibb was
appointed to the board in the first place and even worse, became
chairman.

I understand he gave the Trust valuable
insight on planning issues but surely somebody else who is now
retired, or just a consultant to the Board also with this “valuable
insight”, could be found?

Considerable public controversy was
stirred up when he argued forcibly in favor of the hotel development
being approved. It was he who presented the plans!

How about that for a conflict of
interests?

Well, Gibb, has done the noble thing
and has tendered his resignation.

After the National Trust’s annual
general meeting last week, when members voted for their new board
officials, a press release was issued Tuesday saying that during the
meeting Gibb “tendered his resignation from the council due to the
public controversy surrounding his involvement with the proposed
Beach Bay resort development”.

When the Trust holds its next meeting
his resignation will be discussed.

However, the the Trust’s executive
director, Nadia Hardie is quoted by The Cayman Compass as saying she
does not believe Gibb’s professional role as an architect should be
a concern.

“All council members have day jobs
and working on this small island, conflicts of interest will arise at
some point. This is a fact that many boards and statutory authorities
have to deal with in Cayman,” she added.

Amen, to that.