CABINET has approved the appointment of the chairman and members of the Town and Country Planning Authority for a period of two years with effect from January 2, 2006.

Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman, who made the announcement at Monday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said Ruth Potopsingh, newly appointed group managing director at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, has been appointed to chair the 15-member body.

The other members are:

. Earl Patterson, vice-chairman, a mechanical engineer at the National Works Agency;

. Elizabeth Steer, chief executive officer of the National Land Agency;

. Carl Chen, architect;

. Michael Lake, representative of the Jamaica Developers’ Association;

. Norman Shand, city engineer at the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation;

. Constance Trowers, an attorney-at-law;

. Lorna Perkins, chief physical planner, Ministry of Local Government;

. Doreen Prendergast, president of the Jamaica Institute of Planners;

. Rollin Alveranga, senior director, Ministry of Land and Environment, ;

. the Jamaica Institute of Engineers,

. the Local Planning Authority,

. National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), and

. Jamaica Promotions Corporation, who have not yet been named.

Senator Whiteman said the main functions of the authority are sustainable development planning and development control as it relates to designated areas.

“Two of these areas, in particular, are the Portland and St Mary coastal areas and the area covered by the Negril and Green Island Area Development Area Authority,” said Whiteman.

He added: The Authority will carry out the functions of planning and monitoring and will also assist other bodies in giving policy advice to the government in ensuring that the planning development and infrastructure standards throughout the country are the best that they can be.”