Thomas Street Project Sparks Row Over Local Government’s Role

By Mark DaCosta-The Georgetown City Council was involved in the initial planning of the Thomas Street redevelopment but was subsequently sidelined from key decisions concerning the project’s final design and execution, a city councillor has disclosed, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability and respect for local government.

The concerns have been reinforced by former Mayor and Prime Minister Hamilton Green, who, in a letter published on October 7, 2026, criticised what he viewed as the failure to meaningfully involve municipal authorities in decisions affecting the capital.

At the heart of the controversy is a troubling question: what value does consultation have if an elected municipal authority participates in the early planning of a project but is excluded when critical decisions are made?